By Rick Bliwise on BLOOMFIELD
Photos by Jerry Simon: Bloomfield vs. West Orange, Dec. 20, at BHS. BLOOMFIELD, NJ – At Bloomfield High, excellence in sports is a school tradition. Bengal fans still talk about the exploits of such people as Frank Tripucka in football, and his son, Kelly, in basketball. One of those sports with a great tradition at […]
By Rick Bliwise on MAPLEWOOD, SOUTH ORANGE
MAPLEWOOD, NJ – When a team with potential gets off to a poor start, that can be discouraging for the coaches as well as the players. But for Nutley/Columbia, a new co-op high school ice hockey team in the tough New Jersey Interscholastic League, that’s far from the case. Despite dropping its first six games, […]
By Rick Bliwise on WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Ed Scafidi, the head hockey coach at West Orange High School, readily admits that the Mountaineer ice program hasn’t been all that strong over the years. But Scafidi, who hails from the Bronx, feels things are about to change. West Orange has a good feeder program going, and interest in the […]
By Rick Bliwise on GLEN RIDGE
VERONA/GLEN RIDGE – In talent-rich Essex County, one of the most successful high school hockey programs over the years has been the one at Verona/Glen Ridge. Under the guidance of Steve Ruggiero, who is now the manager at Codey Arena in West Orange, the team won two Cup championships in the New Jersey Interscholastic […]
By Rick Bliwise on WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ (updated Tuesday Dec. 5, 10:42 a.m.) – In the winter of 1977-78, Seton Hall Prep emerged for the first time as a state power in high school hockey, capturing the Gordon Cup in the New Jersey Interscholastic League. A key player for John Warchol’s squad was a superb freshman forward named […]
By Rick Bliwise on HEADLINE NEWS, NUTLEY, NUTLEY
NUTLEY, NJ — As a little kid, one of the fondest sports memories for Phil Cuzzi was watching the 1963 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. Led by Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, two of the best pitchers in Major League history, the Dodgers swept the Bronx Bombers, despite the presence […]
By Rick Bliwise on WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ – As the head varsity soccer coach at Seton Hall Prep, Marty Berman has experienced a number of top seasons. The 2017 campaign will go down as one of the best for the West Orange parochial school. The Pirates won conference and county titles, and finished 21-3-1. The only disappointment was a […]
By Rick Bliwise on MAPLEWOOD, SOUTH ORANGE
MAPLEWOOD, NJ – When people talk about the top schools for sports in Essex County, institutions like Montclair High and Seton Hall Prep always seem to top the list. Another school in the county with a rich tradition in athletics is Columbia High School. The school dates back to 1885, but the “new” CHS […]
By Rick Bliwise on WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ – At Seton Hall Prep, the philosophy in sports has always been to play the most competitive schedule possible. In the long run, that helps a team get ready for post-season games. This coming winter, that will certainly be the case for the SHP hockey team. The Pirates, who first became a […]
By Rick Bliwise on MAPLEWOOD, SOUTH ORANGE
MAPLEWOOD, NJ – At Columbia High School, fans always look forward to the cold winter months, because the Cougars have a winning tradition in both boys’ and girls’ basketball. This season, CHS sports fans will also be interested in another big winter activity – hockey. For the first time in school history, CHS will be […]