Multi-Sport Star Bartlik Sparking Ridgewood Revival

Before the frost of winter enveloped the Ridgewood soil, Evan Bartlik was torn. The junior athlete couldn't decide: indoor track or basketball?

For one of the leading high jumpers in Bergen County, it might have sounded an easy choice.

"That was a tough decision because part of me wanted to go out for indoor track," said Bartlik. "Another part of me wanted to play basketball."

When the ground solidified, his mind was made: he'd use his athleticism to power a Ridgewood basketball team needing a scoring punch after losing its top scorer James Albano to graduation.

Although he gave up the track for the hardwood this year, the same quandry will present itself again in his final RHS season. He still plans on competing in track while at college and is eyeing nationals with a goal of 6-feet-6 inches.

He might have had second thoughts about basketball when he broke his arm during the first preseason scrimmage.

The team struggled while he was out recovering from injury, head coach Mike Troy told Patch. But since returning, the Maroons have gone 12-5, defeating Westwood Saturday to earn a bid to the Final Four of the Bergen Invitational Tournament.

"Evan is really a special player," said Troy of his top scorer. "He's such a dynamic player and gives us such a spark. He's just so athletic."

Before the Westwood game, Bartlik's been hitting from beyond the three-point arc, knocking down 56 percent of his three-attempts in the past seven games.

After returning from the injury, the junior said that he was hitting the three-pointer, but added that it took longer to perfect his follow through, which did not come around until the beginning of February.

Despite having one of the best three point shots in the area, the junior Maroon said that his favorite move is slash downing the lane and driving to the basket.

Bartlik scored 19 points to lead Ridgewood to a 51-48 victory over Westwood in the final of the Mall division of the BIT on Saturday at St. Joseph‘s High School in Woodcliff Lakes. And it could have been higher, but Bartlik had to sit during the third quarter after collecting his third foul.

"We're really confident that we are going to win this tournament," said Bartlik.

While he excels at basketball, the junior is looking at track and field for college. In the early going he is eyeing Wagner University in Long Island, but he said he'll continue to look around at other schools as well.