GLEN RIDGE, NJ – There’s certainly an air of excitement surrounding the Glen Ridge High School football program.
Under new head coad coach Steve Trivino, the Ridgers are looking to build off last year’s 6-4 playoff season with a new-look squad that boasts talented athletes.
Trivino succeeds Duke Mendez, who retired after serving 26 seasons in two stints as the GRHS head coach. Trivino was the associate head coach at Caldwell for the past four years and previously was a head coach at Dayton in Springfield and Newark Academy in Livingston.
The Ridgers officially kicked off practice earlier this month, with daily double sessions.
This summer, the team participated in a 7-on-7 league at Morristown-Beard every Wednesday, facing such teams as Hanover Park, Whippany Park and Parsippany.
The players had the opportunity to learn Trivino’s football vocabulary. In addition, Trivino and his staff also got a good look at the players’ strengths on the field.
Following their game scrimmage at Morristown-Beard on Friday, August 24, the Ridgers will bus back to Glen Ridge and have a team barbecue with the players’ parents.
The Ridgers will kick off the season August 31 when they host Shabazz, the reigning North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 state champions who finished 12-0.
Indeed, the Ridgers are excited about the upcoming season.
“The kids are looking forward to some new things being added,” said Trivino. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Photos by Steve Ellmore.