When the winter sports season began, there was optimism across the board at Glen Rock High School. The teams were ready to compete for the first time as a member of the NJIC conference.
The result was a strong winter season that saw success on both the team and individual level.
Let's take a look at how some of the teams fared:
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Girls Basketball
The Lady Panthers came into 2010-2011 with high expectations following a trip to the North I Group II Sectional Final last year.
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When we spoke with the team early in the season it was their goal to get back to the state tournament and do well in the counties and they did just that.
Glen Rock shocked the county when they knocked off sixth seeded Pascack Valley in the second round of the county tournament behind a tremendous team effort (There’s a video to go along with the win in case you haven’t seen it.)
The team did lose to eventual runner-up Holy Angels in the third round, but they made a statement with their run to the third round of the tournament.
The team headed into states with a lot to prove as well as they grabbed the number 5 seed in the North I Group II tournament.
After an opening round win against Manchester, the team traveled to take on the fourth seeded Lady Knights of New Milford.
Once again Glen Rock came up big with a win, defeating New Milford 50-35 to move on to the semi-finals.
Though the Lady Panthers season ended with a loss to eventual champion Pascack Hills, two impressive tournament runs, both, which included upsets, should be looked at as a huge positive for a talented team.
They achieved an impressive 21-6 record and the outlook for the team is bright, as talented junior Margi Rivara and sophomore Sophie Lederer will take the lead next season as the team loses Jackie Carosotto, Jess Maitner, Kerrie Jones and Erica and Julia Machi to graduation.
Girls Basketball Quote of the Year: "It feels so great, I’m so proud of these girls, we worked so hard in practice yesterday. We were determined, we had a goal that we wanted to beat Pascack Valley” – Jackie Carosotto after her team’s win over Pascack Valley in the second round of the Bergen County Tournament.
Boys Basketball
Though it was a long, and sometimes trying, season for the Panthers, they hung tough despite adversity.
When we first met with the team during our season preview, first year head coach Jason Mittleman stressed that he wanted his team to play tough every night and that was certainly the case.
Though the team did suffer through their fair share of losses on the season, the 2010-2011 campaign was highlighted by some tough gut-check wins.
The team notched a 61-59 victory over Mahwah on January 8, using a comeback to defeat the Thunderbirds.
Another standout win was a 41-40 win over Hawthorne on January 25, proving that the team had the mettle to win close games.
The team closed out the season with a 56-52 win over Harrison to exit on a high note.
Though the team will lose many seniors, with a new system in place and ready to go for next year, look for the Panthers to come out strong in the 2011-2012 season
Boys Basketball Quote of the Year: “When every game ends, we want everyone that’s in the gym to say two things," said head coach Jason Mittleman. "One, that they’re the toughest kids around and they never quit, and two that they know how to play the game.
Wrestling
When we first talked to the team during the season preview, their goal was to bring home a third straight district title, and they were able to do just that, in impressive fashion.
After a great season during the dual match season which saw them go 17-2, the “second season” began with Glen Rock/Saddle Brook looking to defend their title.
The team took home the district 6 title with a 77.5 point win over the next closest team, Hawthorne.
To make things even better, they also sent 12 wrestlers on to the Region 2 tournament as well.
GR/SB was also well represented in Atlantic City, as four wrestlers — Mike Andreano (103,) Matt Jacobson (130,) Matt Dickman (152) and Alex Cimiluca (160) — advanced to Atlantic City.
Mike Andreano was the lone wrestler to make the podium down in AC, as he finished in eighth place.
Though the team was denied a spot in the North I Group III State Tournament, they showed just how good they were in both the districts and the regions.
The three winners (Andreano, Jacobson and Dickman) in Region 2 were the most by any team in the region.
All in all, a tremendous season for a team that began the season as a team of rivals from the football season and ended it as three-time district champions.
Wrestling Quote of the Year: “We work so hard in the [practice] room. The captains are making sure everyone is working hard, the coaches are making sure the lineups are right and everybody has to stay on weight,” said junior Matt Dickman. “It takes a lot of work, but when it all comes together, this is what happens: We blow out the districts.”
Ice Hockey
After a strong 2009-2010 campaign, Glen Rock entered this season with a young roster that included only one senior.
Though there was talent, they knew that they would grow as the season went on, and that was certainly the case.
The team suffered through some growing pains early on, as they started the season 0-3-2.
They quickly rebounded to even their record at 3-3-2 after winning three straight.
In a sign that this young squad is maturing for a big run next season, the Panthers went 9-4-1 in regular season games after January 1.
They made it to the semi-final round of the Big North Green Division cup before losing a hard fought game to Mahwah, 2-1. In that game, goaltender Harris Nebbia stopped 38 shots in one of the most impressive performances of the season.
In the opening round of the state tournament, the team fell to West Morris 5-1, but they set themselves up for a tremendous season next year.
For this team to finish 12-10-4 after a rough start is a true testament to the growth of this team and the coaching of Sergio Fernandez.
Ice Hockey Quote of the Year: “We’re moving along OK, what we're looking for right now is consistency,” said coach Sergio Fernandez. “We’re putting together some good periods, and now it’s just a matter of putting three of them together."
Bowling
For three decades there was no bowling team at Glen Rock, but after a long delay 2010-2011 marked the first time that the Panthers would send a team to the lanes since the mid 1970s.
Though they didn’t have high expectations coming into the year, the team was quite impressive.
Led by sophomore Tyler Blind and freshman Jake Rollins, the team finished among the top in the NJIC Colonial Division, a tremendous feat considering that prior to the season they didn’t even know if they would have a team.
Look for the team to push for an NJIC title next year as they continue to build off of their solid season.
Bowling Quote of the Year: “I didn’t even think we were going to have a team, and to have people come out was great, and it completely exceeded my expectations,” said Blind. “Everyone has just gotten a lot better since the first practice, and everyone’s average has just shot up."
Male Athlete of the Season: Matt Dickman, wrestling
The talented junior grappler was a terror on the mat. He took first place in both the district and region tournaments before faltering in Atlantic City. The best part about Matt? He’s a junior and he’ll be back to lead the team next year as he looks to add to his win total that has already surpassed 100 wins in just 3 seasons.
Female Athlete of the Season: Jess Maitner/Jackie Carosotto, basketball
It’s too hard to pick just one of the two captains of the girls basketball team, because they both meant so much to the team in different ways. Maitner played tremendous on-the-ball defense, could shoot the 3-ball and run the floor. Carosotto was able to rebound, defend the other team’s center and score with consistency from the paint. These two seniors gave Glen Rock a tremendous 1-2 punch that helped them to their great season.
Though the skates and sneakers are hung up for the winter season, we saw some incredible performances by Glen Rock athletes.
We will be back shortly with season previews of both girls and boys lacrosse, softball and baseball.
