MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The Columbia High School varsity baseball team has enjoyed success for the past few seasons. CHS went 17-10 last spring, sharing the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division title with Verona after winning the division crown outright two seasons ago. This season, the Cougars are facing a tougher challenge as they move up to […]
Boosters president criticizes baseball coach-hiring process
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of James Whalen as the new head baseball coach for Columbia High School during its Nov. 16 meeting, putting an end to months of speculation that coach Joe Fischetti would not be rehired amid allegations he and his coaching […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Columbia High School baseball coaching staff has denied that it repeatedly bullied a former player in court documents filed in response to the former player’s lawsuit against the coaches. In both the original answer and an amended version filed by attorney Ed Thornton in June and July, coaches Joe Fischetti, Matt […]
Parents, players come out in droves to support coaches
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The attorney for two of the Columbia High School baseball coaches accused of bullying and the parent of one of the players they allegedly targeted are both appealing some of the findings from the independent investigation conducted into the coaches’ actions. Steve Farsiou, the lawyer for the head varsity coach, Joe Fischetti, […]
No decision yet, final choice to be made in February
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood residents are concerned about the positions of Columbia High School varsity baseball coaches Joseph Fischetti and Matthew Becht, following an email sent by the team’s booster club president to parents of returning players, in which he mentions that Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. may not recommend […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ – Maplewood native Matthew Becht has been named associate director of marketing of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges, the largest association of YMCAs in New Jersey. Becht, who joined the Metro YMCA in 2012 as marketing specialist, “uses his creative talents to advance the Y’s six branches and promote the organization as […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The independent investigator hired by the South Orange-Maplewood School District to look into allegations of bullying against the Columbia High School baseball coaching staff submitted his final report during an executive session of the Board of Education at its special meeting July 7. District spokeswoman Suzanne Turner confirmed to the News-Record that […]
Former CHS baseball player claims that he was bullied by his coaches
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The father of a former Columbia High School baseball player, who has long said his son was repeatedly bullied by his coaches, is now demanding to know why the results of the special Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigation into the coaching staff have still not been reported roughly four months after they […]
MAPLEWOOD – The Columbia High School varsity baseball team enjoyed another successful season with a 17-10 overall, clinching a share of the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division title with Verona. CHS and Verona each finished 13-3 in the division. It marked the second straight season that the Cougars won the SEC-Liberty Division championship. In 2015, the […]
MAPLEWOOD – The Columbia High School varsity baseball team worked hard during the course of the season. Indeed, the Cougars’ diligence paid off as they won the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division title for the second year in a row. The Cougars shared this year’s title with Verona. CHS ended its season on a winning note, […]