Sports

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Sports

WITH Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

The Observer | www.theobserver.com & Recreation

Lyndhurst football looks to rebuild it all back up again

Sylvia takes over as new coach, but Kardinal girls soccer rolls on

It’s a new era for the Kearny High School girls’ soccer team, as former boys’ assistant coach Mike Sylvia has taken over for Stefanee Pace Kivelhan.

“I did a little bit of double duty,” Sylvia said. “This wasn’t something that I had planned. But when the position opened up, I thought it was a great opportunity. My roots are firmly set in Kearny. I thought I could move in pretty well. I know most of the core group pretty well. I’ve taught some of them. I think they know my style and know my personality. I’m happy that they have someone they knew.”

It certainly appears as if the Kardinals have responded well to their new coach. Just three games into the Mike Sylvia era and the Kardinals are on an absolute roll, outscoring their opponents by a total of 31-0 over the three games.

That’s called making a splash.

But to the new head coach, soccer is more than putting the ball into the back of the net.

“I believe in building character,” said Sylvia, who gained his reputation as being a solid goalkeepers’ coach. “I believe in having values and what it means to be a Kearny soccer player, what it means to wear the Kearny crest, the Kearny badge. I want the players to do everything like it’s the last time they’ll ever play the game.”

So far, it looks as if the message has hit home.

Sylvia is so fond of goalkeepers that he’s kept three on his roster for the 2020 season.

“Working with these girls and my goalkeeping background, I know what they have to do,” Sylvia said. “So we get on the field before everyone and train earlier before practice. I think we get a lot from that. We’ve had a good goalkeeping tradition here with players like Jen Pettigrew and Meaghan McClelland (both of whom had stints with the United States National Team). I hope to stoke that flame a little.”

The Kardinals will utilize all three in sophomores Natalie Osorio and Gabriela Matias and freshman Aracely Vazquez in goal. Natalie Osorio is the younger sister of Samantha Osorio, last year’s Observer Female Athlete of the Year.

“It’s definitely an adSee VIEW, Page 11

Photo by Jim Hague

The Lyndhurst High School football team will look to rebound after a tough 0-2 start. Front to back are linemen Angel Velez, Izaak Castellon, Ethan Rodriguez, Kledis Leka, Daniel Martinez and Karam Daoud. Head coach Rich Tuero is to the left.

By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

It was a mystical, magical 2019 high school football season for the Golden Bears of Lyndhurst High School, tying the school record for wins in a season with 11 and capturing the school’s first NJSIAA state sectional championship since 1983.

But that season is history. The trophy is tucked away nicely and the banner hangs in the gym as a reminder. It’s a new season and the Golden Bears were ravaged by graduation, losing an unfathomable total of 26 kids to the Pomp and Circumstance that was eventually held with social distancing guidelines in July.

When one football team loses 26 kids to graduation, that team is usually known as Penn State University, not a small NJSIAA Group II school.

“We lost a lot,” said Lyndhurst head coach Rich Tuero, who begins his seventh season as the head coach at his alma mater. “It is what it is. We knew this was going to be an uphill battle.”

Sure enough, the Bears have already lost more games this year than they did last year. The Bears have already lost to neighboring rival Rutherford (45-24) and Waldwick (41-20) in the first two games of the abbreviated COVID-19 season.

“We have only two returning varsity starters,” Tuero said. “We have a very young team.”

And the poor get poorer. Starting two-way lineman Danny Martinez suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee during the first set of downs in the Rutherford game.

“It was a non-contact injury,” Tuero said. “He just turned awkwardly and went down. It was devastating. I feel bad for the poor kid.”

But Tuero remains upbeat.

“The kids are getting better,” Tuero said. “The coaches, the players, we’re all excited to build it back up again. Lyndhurst is a small town. These things happen. But we’ve done it before, so let’s do it again.”

In 2014, the Golden Bears went 1-9 with new head coach Tuero, taking over a program that was in somewhat of turmoil. And six years later, the Golden Bears were the toast of Bergen County, going 11-1.

“We just have to go back to work,” Tuero said. “We understand it. So we go through every practice, just trying to get better. If we do something wrong, we identify it and get back on it. Watching these kids get better has been great for me. And I have no doubt we will be back.”

Leading the way for the Golden Bears is junior quarterback John Lembo (5foot-9, 165 pounds). He’s the

LYNDHURST Continued from Page 9

younger brother of Anthony Lembo, last year’s starting quarterback who was expected to attend Stevenson University this fall to play football, before the coronavirus put a stop to those plans.

Tuero has a catchy nickname for Lembo. Pardon the coach if you’ve heard it before.

“He’s Johnny Football,” said Tuero, giving Lembo the same name made famous by former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of

Scout Unit 305’s fall BAZAAR takes place on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, featuring a “Trunk or Treat” and “Haunted Walk” as well as the “305 TradTexas A&M. “That’s what we call him. He’s our leader. He has great vision. He’s also elusive and has a great arm. He’s going to be a good one.”

Senior running back Anthony DeMarco (6-0, 170) is one of those two returning starters that Tuero referred to earlier.

“He’s a hard-nosed kid, a really tough kid,” Tuero said. “He’s a captain and a big part of this team.”

DeMarco also plays a little at wide receiver as well.

Junior Joe Lavignani (5-9, 190) is a transfer from Paramus Catholic who will play right away for the Bears.

The Bears have a ton of ing Post Flea Market.” The curated flea market opens the annual fall festivities of the Kearny Scouts starting at 2 p.m. on the lawn of St. Stephen’s Church in depth at wide receiver, all of whom are underclassmen except senior Nick Cimicata (6-1, 170).

Juniors Ricky Rainey (5-10, 165), Brandon Rivera (5-9, 165) and Tristan Guzman (63, 160) and sophomore Tony Frangipane (5-6, 150) are all sure-handed pass catchers.

“We have great potential in our receivers,” Tuero said.

The offensive line features seniors Karam Daoud (6-0, 280) at tackle and Izaak Castellon (5-9, 240) at guard. Junior Angel Velez (6-2, 190) is the other tackle, while fellow juniors Ethan Rodriguez (5-8, 215) and Kledis Leka (58, 200) at guard and center respectively. Rodriguez is a Kearny. Socially-distant vendor booths will sell handmade, one-of-a-kind items, vintage clothing and accessories, vinyl and cassettes, T-shirts, vintage returning starter.

Defensively, the Bears use a 3-4 set.

Castellon is on the nose, with Velez and Rodriguez at defensive ends. Rodriguez started at defensive end last year.

Cimicata and sophomore Brandon Pollio (5-7, 150) are the outside linebackers, with Rainey and sophomore Dwayne Tucker (5-4, 170) at the inside linebacker slots.

The cornerbacks are Frangipane and junior T.J. Jimenez (5-11, 160) with Lembo and DeMarco at safety. DeMarco started at safety for the state champions a year ago.

Yes, that championship season, one that seems so toys, antiques and curio, handmade jewelry and oddities.

Troop 305 will serve refreshments throughout the event until its close at 8 p.m.

The “Trunk or Treat” is a kid-friendly opportunity to go trick-or-treating from very far away now.

“We just have to keep working at getting better every day,” Tuero said. “The circumstances being what they are, with the coronavirus and all, we’re out there playing football. This is what it is. These kids can set an example for the younger guys. They can teach the younger guys how it’s done. We’re 0-2, sure. But we can finish 6-2. That’s what we’re embracing and going after every day. We believe it. I do and so does my staff.”

The Golden Bears are back on the field at Lyndhurst High School Friday night against old playoff rival Lodi

Bazaar is Oct. 31 at St. Stephen’s

Think you can’t refi nance because values are down? THINK AGAIN!

NORTH ARLINGTON • NJ 07031

RATES AT HISTORIC LOWS! FREE Analysis for Purchase & Refi nance!

ROB PEZZOLLA • NMLS# 266181 • ROB@KEYPOINTMORTGAGE.COM TEL: 201.998.9050 • FAX: 201.820.0505

Most Insurances Insurances Accepted Accepted

“Make your vision picture perfect... picture perfect... See what you’ve been See what you’ve been missing. Visit our offi ce!” missing. Visit our offi ce!”

Family Eye Care Eye Exams • Contact Lenses • Pediatric Care

Your Eye Care Professionals Dr. Maria Domingues Lic # 27OA00630100 Dr. Jayswinder Kaur Lic# 27OA00689700 Dr. Marina N. Megalla Lic# 27OA00690300 Dr. Carla Domingues Lic # 27OA00646200

348 Ridge Road • Lyndhurst La doctora habla Español 201.438.8668 A doutora fala Português

at 7 p.m. the trunks of vehicles in the parking lot of St. Stephen’s. The “Haunted Walk” is also a kid-friendly Halloween excursion from 6 to 9 p.m.

Entrance to the annual “Trunk or Treat” and “Haunted Walk” will be through the church parking lot gate on Laurel Avenue.

Dr. Prakash J. Doshi

Premier Care TALKS

Dr. Hector Aguilar

LOCKDOWN DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN COUCH BOUND

If you’re used to going to the home, and YouTube has videos gym several times a week, the co- on a wide range of different types vid-19 lockdown is likely messing of exercise, many of which don’t with your workout routine. After require any equipment. One of the all, if you had the gym equipment at many benefits of exercise is its abilhome, you probably wouldn’t need ity to help us keep our stress under the membership. But there are sev- control. When you need a break eral ways to keep fit even without from work or the news, instead of the free weights and ellipticals. Use reaching for junk food, get up and your own body weight for planking, get moving! For more information jumping jacks, and pushups. Go for about staying fit and healthy during a run or a power-walk. If you have this pandemic, please call PREkids at home with you, establish a MIER CARE ASSOCIATES OF recess time, and get physical with WEST HUDSON at 201-998-7474, them! Some people are even creat- 7 days a week. Our office is located ing backyard obstacle courses. Use at 512 Kearny Ave., Suite B. what you have at hand like paint P.S. If you find inspiration in cans for weights or a step stool for working out with a partner, you cardio. Be creative and be well! can still do so as long as you keep

Many gyms are providing online six feet apart and sanitize any exercise sessions you can do from shared equipment.

Email any questions or comments to: premiercare@gmail.com

Premier Care Associates of West Hudson is available on a walk-in or appointment basis for your primary healthcare needs.