GLEN RIDGE – Capping a great season, the Glen Ridge High School varsity golf team tied with Nutley High School for the team title at the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division Championships at East Orange Golf Course in Short Hills on May 26. The Ridgers and Nutley each shot a total score of 312.
GRHS junior Dean Cerimido won the individual title with a score of 71, which was one over par.
GRHS senior Jacob Ruiz shot 75 for a three-way tie for fourth place with Nutley’s Michael Purcell and West Orange’s Tyler Galantini.
The rest of the Ridgers included sophomore Ryan Twitchell, who shot 81; and seniors Alex Conte (85) and Eric Shaara (91).
In addition, the tournament determined the regular-season division champion. Due to rainouts with Caldwell, Bloomfield and Belleville, the Ridgers were able to match cards with those teams for the front nine score during the tournament. As a result, GRHS and Nutley were declared co-champions for the regular-season divisional title. During the regular season, GRHS and Nutley split their two meetings (Nutley beat GRHS by two strokes at Hendricks Gourse in Belleville. GRHS beat Nutley by 10 strokes at the Glen Ridge Country Club).
The Ridgers this season also beat eventually county champion Montclair, in addition to beating Montclair Kimberley Academy and Livingston.
Cerimido this season took second overall at the county tournament and won the state sectional title. GRHS also competed at the state Tournament of Champions.
Indeed, it was a special season for head coach Steve Reitberger’s team.
“We knew we had guys who can play,” Reitberger said. “Dean is very good; Jacob brings in great scores; Eric, at different points, can score well. Twitchell is coming on. Alex was up and down, but lately was coming in with a good score. So we knew we could contend with anybody in our division.
“Going in, we knew we could contend, but it’s really great to see and really satisfying to see your players contend with basically anybody and have some success, especially Dean. It’s really great to see them accomplish those feats.”
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