Sports

Sports & Recreation

WITH Jim Hague

ogsmar@aol.com

Bucs learn all about trials in SEC Liberty

Gary Polewka knew that things would be a little bit tougher for his Belleville High School boys’ soccer team in 2021, especially after the Buccaneers won the first NJSIAA state sectional championship in the school’s history last season.

The Super Essex Conference uses a fluctuating scale based on a team’s success. If you lose a lot, you get moved down to a lesser competitive division. But the Bucs did well, so they got bounced up to the SEC’s Liberty Division, in the same pairing with powerhouses like West Essex, Columbia, Newark Academy and Verona.

With a young roster, Polewka had to figure that the Buccaneers would have a bit of a struggle in 2021.

“We were lucky enough to win a trophy last year,” Polewka said. “I’m very happy that the kids won and had a good time. But me and my staff knew that it would be tougher. It is what it is. We’re a team. We think we belong in the Liberty.”

The Buccaneers lost 12 seniors to graduation after last year’s state championship season.

“We’re young,” Polewka said. “We’re so young. We’re going to try to build things up again. We have a good freshman class. But we were expecting this.”

The Bucs started the 2021 season with matches against Verona, Seton Hall Prep and West Orange, three teams that all won their respective state sectional championships last year. Needless to say, the Bucs have struggled, posting a 1-6 record after seven outings.

“What hurts with this group is that there is really no vocal leader,” Polewka said. “This group is just a little too quiet. With this team, they have to be 100 percent 100 percent of the time.”

The Bucs are utilizing two goalkeepers in juniors Logan Kutlu and Jason Penaloza. Both are sharing the time fairly equally.

The Buccaneers have suffered a host of injuries to their backline.

“Three of the four starters are hurt,” Polewka said. “I would love to be able to play a sweeper and stopper, but we have to play fouracross in the back.”

And the Bucs are using five regulars to fit the four defensive back positions. All five are underclassmen.

Junior Leo Salomone is the player with the most amount of experience, having been a starter for the last two seasons. Junior Isaiah Mosquera is the other center back.

“If we play with our backs to the wall, we could

Blue Tide victorious in Lucas’ debut; fall short vs. Palisades Park

Photo by Jim Hague The Harrison football team has won one and lost one in the early going. From left are Caleb Gomez, Ethan Oeckel, head coach Ray Lucas, Angel Pina, Jomar Ali and Joseph Rodriguez.

By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

HARRISON – Two weeks into the high school football season, Harrison head coach Ray Lucas has experienced the highs and the lows.

The highs came in the Blue Tide’s season opener and the first game of Lucas’ coaching career, after the Harrison legend and former New York Jets quarterback decided to take over the program after the sudden departure of the former head coach. The Blue Tide defeated Emerson Borough, 19-6, in Lucas’ debut.

“From Day One, it has been scary and fun at the same time,” Lucas said. “I’m just looking to take them from boys to men. After the game, everyone was texting me. The support from the town has been tremendous. I still felt like that kid in high school.”

But the euphoria was short lived, as the Blue Tide fell to Palisades Park, 28-0, last Saturday night.

Lucas, who doubles as the executive director of the Harrison Housing Authority, is not going away soon. One setback isn’t going to diminish his intensity for the program where he grew up.

“The kids want to go out there and mix it up,” Lucas said. “Practice is practice, but the game is different. I just stand in front of a group of young men and I know I have their attention. That part is very rewarding. The coaching staff is doing a great job of teaching. That’s who we are.”

Lucas knows that one win does not make a coaching career..

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” Lucas said. “We haven’t had much consistency. I’m a rookie head coach. I make mistakes like anyone. I’m far from perfect. The first win was pretty special, but that’s over. The feeling out process is over. It’s a new regime. I think they understand that things are much stricter than they used to be. And the kids understand that. They are amazing. We have to move on.”

Lucas is not worried about being judged.

“My goal is not about wins and losses,” Lucas said. “I just want them to go out and have fun for three hours. I’ve already been rewarded with their hard work. They have worked their tails off. I know we’re not world beaters. I just want to make sure they’re doing the right thing.”