BEST ATHLETIC SCHOOL and BEST RECORD-BREAKING/HISTORIC PERFORMANCE FINALISTS
After eight days of taking Twitter suggestions for 16 categories for the second annual Acey Awards for the 2013-14 school year, today marks Day 6 of the official voting period. We move on to BEST ATHLETIC SCHOOL YEAR and BEST RECORD-BREAKING/HISTORIC PERFORMANCE today. The Best Athletic School Year award is making its Aceys debut this year and the premise of it is pretty clear: What school had the best all-around sports year in 2013-14? We’ve got some pretty good record-breaking/historic performances this year, too — both from individuals and teams.
To be fair to the other Acey categories, both polls below will remain open for just 24 hours, so cast your votes for who you believe should win the Best Student Section and Best Coach awards within that time from your computers, smart phones and/or tablets. You can also vote on Twitter, @VarsityAces (essentially able to cast multiple votes per category), by retweeting the tweet that has your pick for each respective finalist. Only retweets that occur within 24 hours of being posted will count — again, to be fair to the other Aceys categories. Category winners will be determined by the highest combination of Retweets on Twitter and poll votes right here on the blog. All 16 Acey Award winners will be revealed at our Aceys Award party on July 16, held at Moe’s Southwest Grill at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join. Let us know if you plan on coming.
With that, good luck to all the finalists. And if there are any questions going forward, feel free to tweet us @VarsityAces.
In Case You Missed It
Tuesday:Â Official Best Game and Best Play Finalists (Polls now closed)
Wednesday:Â Official Best Upset and Best Championship Performance Finalists (Polls now closed)
Thursday:Â Official Best Male Breakthrough Athlete and Best Female Breakthrough Athlete Finalists (Polls now closed)
Friday:Â Official Best Moment and Best Breakthrough Team Finalists (Polls now closed)
Saturday: Official Best Student Section and Best Coach Finalists (Poll now closed)
OFFICIAL BEST ATHLETIC SCHOOL YEARÂ FINALISTS
Note:Â Numbers in parentheses are where each respective team finished in The Record season-ending polls, which factors in regular seasons and county and state tournament performances. Schools are listed in alphabetical order.
BERGEN CATHOLIC: Despite only fielding boys teams, the Crusaders had four teams finish at No. 1 in The Record final polls, placed seven teams inside the Top 5 and nine inside the Top 10. The Crusaders’ wrestling, swimming, boys lacrosse and golf teams all finished as The Record’s No. 1 teams.
Fall: Boys Soccer (6), Boys Cross-Country (10), Football (24)
Winter: Wrestling (1), Boys Swimming (1), Boys Basketball (4), Hockey (5)
Spring: Boys Lacrosse (1), Boys Golf (1), Baseball (2), Boys Track (12)
DEMAREST: Demarest placed 12 teams in the final polls during the 2013-14 school year, including seven inside the Top 10. The highest-ranked Norsemen teams were boys swimming (2), girls volleyball (4), boys golf (4), boys tennis (4) and boys and girls spring track (5).
Fall: Girls Volleyball (4), Girls Tennis (6), Boys Cross-Country (13), Girls Cross-Country (15)
Winter: Boys Swimming (2), Wrestling (18), Girls Basketball (19)
Spring: Boys Golf (4), Boys Tennis (4), Girls Track (5), Boys Track (5)
DON BOSCO: Despite only competing in boys sports, Don Bosco had 10 teams in 2013-14 inside the Top 5 of The Record final polls. The Ironmen held the No. 1 spot in cross-country and hockey, the No. 2 spots in wrestling and fencing and the No. 3 spots in baseball and boys golf.
Fall: Boys Cross-Country (1), Football (4), Boys Soccer (7)
Winter: Hockey (1), Wrestling (2), Boys Fencing (2), Boys Basketball (3)
Spring: Boys Track (2), Baseball (3), Boys Golf (3), Boys Golf (5), Boys Lacrosse (6)
IMMACULATE HEART ACADEMY: Despite only competing in girls sports, IHA had eight teams in 2013-14 inside the Top 5 of The Record final polls, including two — girls volleyball and girls swimming — in the No. 1 spot. The Blue Eagles also had four teams finish in the No. 2  spots, including girls soccer, girls basketball, girls lacrosse and softball.
Fall: Girls Volleyball (1), Girls Soccer (2), Girls Cross-Country (4), Girls Tennis (15)
Winter: Girls Swimming (1), Girls Basketball (2)
Spring: Softball (2), Girls Lacrosse (2), Girls Golf (4), Girls Track (10)
INDIAN HILLS: The Braves had one team finish as the No. 1 team in North Jersey (softball) and six teams overall finish inside the Top 5 — including boys cross-country (2), girls fencing (2), boys bowling (3), gymnastics (4) and boys fencing (5). Indian Hills had 13 teams overall finish ranked in The Record final polls.
Fall: Boys Cross-County (2), Gymnastics (4), Girls Cross-Country (6), Girls Soccer (23)
Winter: Girls Fencing (2), Boys Bowling (3), Boys Fencing (5), Hockey (14)
Spring: Softball (1), Baseball (8), Girls Lacrosse (8), Boys Track (11), Girls Track (25)
NORTHERN HIGHLANDS: Northern Highlands finished with four teams in the No. 1 spot in The Record final polls — girls soccer, boys soccer, field hockey and girls track — 13 teams overall in the final Top 5 and 16 teams overall inside the Top 10, not including the girls winter track Group 3 sectional championship team and Record Team of the Year (winter track did not have rankings).
Fall: Girls Soccer (1), Boys Soccer (1), Field Hockey (1), Girls Tennis (4), Girls Cross-Country (5), Girls Volleyball (6), Boys Cross-Country (25)
Winter: Girls Basketball (3), Girls Swimming (3), Boys Swimming (3), Boys Fencing (6), Wrestling (12), Boys Basketball (14), Girls Indoor Track Team of the Year and North 1, Group 3 sectional champions* (no rankings)
Spring: Girls Track (1), Softball (3), Boys Lacrosse (2), Girls Lacrosse (4), Girls Golf (6), Boys Tennis (3)
OLD TAPPAN: The Knights had 11 teams finish inside the Top 15 of The Record final polls during the 2013-14 school year, highlight by the girls volleyball and boys track teams — each of which finished at No. 3. Old Tappan had six teams within the Top 17 in the spring.
Fall: Girls Volleyball (3), Boys Cross-Country (4), Football (12), Girls Soccer (12), Girls Cross-Country (12)
Winter: Girls Basketball (15), Girls Indoor Track 5th in North 1, Group 3 (no rankings)
Spring: Boys Track (3), Boys Golf (5), Boys Tennis (10), Baseball (11), Girls Track (12), Softball (17)
RAMAPO: The Raiders finished with four No. 1 teams during the 2013-14 school year — the girls tennis, gymnastics, boys fencing and girls fencing teams — and eight teams in the Top 5. Ramapo had six teams within the top 18 during the winter season, not including its Group 2 state champion girls indoor track squad.
Fall: Girls Tennis (1), Gymnastics (1), Girls Soccer (3), Boys Soccer (4), Football (19)
Winter: Boys Fencing (1), Girls Fencing (1), Boys Basketball (6), Boys Swimming (6), Hockey (13), Girls Basketball (18), Girls Indoor Track overall Group 2 champions* (no rankings)
Spring: Girls Track (2), Boys Lacrosse (5), Boys Tennis (12), Boys Golf (13), Softball (25)
RAMSEY: Despite being only a Group 2 school, Ramsey had nine teams inside the Top 10 in The Record final polls, not including the Rams boys indoor winter track team, which won Bergen Team of the Year. Ramsey’s field hockey (3), girls soccer (5), hockey (2), boys golf (2), boys track (4) and baseball (5) teams all finished inside the Top 5.
Fall: Field Hockey (3), Girls Soccer (5), Boys Cross-Country (6), Girls Cross-Country (7), Boys Soccer (10)
Winter: Hockey (2), Wrestling (20), Boys Indoor Track Bergen County Team of the Year* (no rankings)
Spring: Boys Golf (2), Boys Track (4), Baseball (5), Softball (11), Girls Track (21)
RIDGEWOOD: The Maroons placed 10 teams inside the Top 5 and 14 inside the Top 10 of The Record final polls during the 2013-14 school year, including three at No. 1 — girls lacrosse, girls cross-country and boys track.
Fall: Girls Cross-Country (1), Girls Tennis (2), Gymnastics (2), Boys Cross-Country (3), Girls Soccer (4), Football (6)
Winter: Hockey (6), Wrestling (11), Boys Indoor Track Record Team of the Year* (no rankings), Girls Indoor Track 2nd in Group 4* (no rankings), Boys Indoor Track 2nd in Group 4* (no rankings)
Spring: Girls Lacrosse (1), Boys Track (1), Boys Lacrosse (3), Girls Golf (3), Softball (5), Boys Golf (6), Boys Tennis (8), Girls Track (15), Baseball (19)
RIVER DELL:Â The Group 2 school placed five teams inside the Top 10 in The Record final polls, not including the girls indoor track team, which took third in North 1, Group 2 last winter.
Fall: Girls Soccer (7), Girls Volleyball (9), Boys Cross-Country (12), Boys Soccer (15), Football (16), Girls Cross-Country (23)
Winter: Wrestling (9), Hockey (11, co-op with Westwood), Girls Basketball (24)
Spring: Boys Track (6), Girls Track (6), Boys Golf (12), Baseball (13)
WAYNE HILLS: The Passaic County school had six teams in the Top 5 of the The Record final polls and 11 in the Top 10. In the fall, the Patriots placed seven teams inside the Top 12, including the girls cross-country and field hockey teams which both finished at No. 2. Out of a possible 32 county titles, Wayne Hills won a Passaic County-best eight in 2013-14.
Fall: Girls Cross-Country (2), Field Hockey (2), Gymnastics (6), Boys Soccer (8), Boys Cross-Country (8), Girls Soccer (9), Girls Tennis (12)
Winter: Boys Fencing (4), Girls Fencing (5), Girls Swimming (5), Hockey (9), Boys Basketball (20), Girls Indoor Track 3rd in Group 3 (no rankings), Boys Indoor Track 3rd in Group 3 (no rankings).
Spring: Girls Lacrosse (5), Boys Track (14), Girls Track (17), Boys Tennis (13)
WAYNE VALLEY: The Indians had 16 ranked teams in The Record’s final polls during the 2013-14 school year, including seven during the spring season. Wayne Valley had four in the Top 5 and seven in the Top 10s, and out of a possible 32 county titles, the Indians won seven. They also had individual state champions in girls swimming and girls fencing.
Fall: Field Hockey (5), Boys Cross-Country (7), Girls Cross-Country (12), Girls Volleyball (15)
Winter: Wrestling (5), Girls Swimming (5), Boys Bowling (9), Girls Basketball (14), Boys Basketball (16)
Spring: Boys Volleyball (2), Boys Lacrosse (8), Girls Track (11), Boys Golf (11), Boys Tennis (14), Boys Track (16), Baseball (17)
WESTWOOD: The smallest school on the list, this Group 1 school placed eight teams inside the Top 10 of The Record final polls during the 2013-14 season, not including the Cardinals’ girls winter indoor track team, which captured the North 1, Group 1 sectional title and finished second in Group 1 overall.
Fall: Football (7), Field Hockey (7), Girls Volleyball (10), Boys Cross-Country (14)
Winter: Girls Bowling (4), Boys Bowling (5), Girls Basketball (10), Hockey (11, co-op with River Dell), Boys Basketball (13), Girls Indoor Track sectional champions and runner-up in Group 1 overall (no rankings)
Spring: Boys Golf (8), Girls Track (9)
* * *
OFFICIAL BEST RECORD-BREAKING/HISTORIC PERFORMANCEÂ FINALISTS
– Tenafly’s Josette Norris breaks 11-year-old Darlington Park record at the Bergen County Group Championships record on Oct. 26 by running a 17:36 in cross-country, eclipsing the former mark of 17:38 held by 2002 Hawthorne Christian graduate and former state champion Lindsay Van Alstine. Norris became the first girl to run sub-18 minutes at Darlington Park and later won the Bergen Meet of Champions with a 17:57. Norris also smashed the Group 3 and Bergen County record in the 3,200 with her 10:25.57 at the Group 3 state championships in spring track.
– Paramus Catholic’s Jabrill Peppers becomes only the second male in State Meet of Champions history to capture the 100 and 200 meter gold medals in back-to-back years, winning the 200 in 21.13 and the 100 in 10.55. Peppers, who spent two years at Don Bosco and two at Paramus Catholic, also was on four state championship football teams.
– Westwood football’s Nolan Borgersen breaks New Jersey all-time record in single season with 26 touchdown receptions during the Cardinals’ North 1, Group 2 state championship season.
– IHA pitcher Steph Thomas becomes North Jersey’s and New Jersey’s all-time wins leader with 113, breaking the record against Lyndhurst in the Blue Eagles second-to-last game of the season. She finished her career with a 113-7 career record and was named Gatorade State Player of the Year. More on Thomas.
– Ridgefield Park’s trio of Luis Escarret, Chris Diaz and Raul Ferreira combine to pole vault 40 feet at the Twin Boro Relays, breaking 41-year-old record by 18 inches.
– Saddle Brook football’s Chris Jacobsen accounts for 58 points by himself in consolation state game vs. Wallington in 76-56 win, believed to be a state record. Jacobsen scored eight touchdowns — seven rushing, one interception return — with one two-point conversion and was 8-for-10 on PAT attempts — 58 points.
– Don Bosco hockey goalie Jarred Liscio becomes the winningest goalie in program history, finishing his four-year career with 65 career wins. Liscio was in net for Don Bosco’s Gordon Cup final win over Delbarton, where he made 21 saves in the Ironmen’s 3-2 overtime win. Finished with a 1.33 goals against average and .944 save percentage in his senior season.
– Northern Highlands girls soccer finishes third straight unbeaten season, sharing Bergen County title with IHA after 1-1 tie in county final and winning third straight Group 3 state title. The Highlanders have not lost in three years and will take a 72-game unbeaten streak into next season.
– Indian Hills softball finishes 34-0, becoming first team in New Jersey history to win 34 games and were just the 18th team in state history to finish undefeated. They will enter next season on a 36-game winning streak.
– Ramsey hockey wins 28 games, breaking the public school state record for most wins in a single season. The Rams reached the Public B state final before falling to Morristown, 1-0.
– Bergen Tech football defeats Snyder, 82-46, to move to 4-4 on the season — just three years after going 0-10 and finishing an entire season with 75 total points. Junior RB Kenichi Hirose carried 16 times for 301 yards and scored six touchdowns.