Wednesday, December 29, 2021 142 batters in the process. She also had a fine year at the plate, collecting 34 hits and 26 RBI. She returns as one of the players to watch in all of northern New Jersey in 2022. The same can be said for Nutley junior Fallyn Stoeckel, who struck out 174 batters in 154 innings, allowing just 25 earned runs. Stoeckel is also a terror at the plate, registering 33 hits and 29 RBI. No question, Todzuman and Stoeckel are among the top softball players in New Jersey. Stoeckel has already signed her national letter of intent to attend Rider University come fall of 2022. Before then, the area should embrace the fact that two superstars are right here for us to enjoy for one more season.
8-Belleville’s Zach Perez breaks the transgender barrier In a past life, Zach Perez had a different gender that he was born with. But the Belleville High School junior was never really comfortable being a girl (in fact, Perez’s birth name isn’t even discussed any
C ELEBRATING
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The Observer | www.theobserver.com as a member of the Belleville softball squad. He’s a trailblazing athlete who shared his brave story with The Observer back in June. He really had an impact on a lot of people, both in the field of athletics and beyond. He’s an incredible young man who we only hope is accepted freely by students and non-students equally.
the top goal scoring total in all of New Jersey. Yet, Mutsoli was left off of practically every single postseason All-State list. In any case, it’s not an achievement that has been overlooked in local circles. Mutsoli had a season to remember.
9-Lyndhurst’s Mutsoli leads all of New Jersey in soccer scoring
Photo by Jim Hague
Former North Arlington High School standout football player Michael Cammett, known in local wrestling “The Golden Boy” because of his long flowing blond hair, drowned in an accident on the Delaware River in July.
longer). Perez is growing more and more comfortable every day, competing in cross country in the fall and now indoor track and field. In the spring, Perez will go back to his role
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In July, the local sports community suffered a tremendous The Lyndhurst boys’ soccer loss when Michael Cammett, team enjoyed a highly success- the former North Arlington ful season in 2021, thanks in High School football player, part to the brilliance of senior drowned in a innertube raftforward Enrique (pronounced ing accident on the Delaware N-REEK) Mutsoli, who had River. Cammett was just 25 his name butchered in voice years old. and printed word more than In recent years, Camany other high school athmett had spent a lot of his lete in northern New Jersey. time crafting his skills as a Mutsoli scored an astounding 39 goals, which represented See TOP TEN, Page 12
HEALTH&WELLNESS & &WELLNESS
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SLOW IT DOWN sure to light and to a greater Cases of myopia (nearvariety of visual stimuli and sightedness) are rapidly distance-vision activities. growing throughout the Controlling myopia has global population, and the condition is expected to af- come to be viewed as more fect the vision of nearly half of a medical necessity rather the planet’s population in the than an elective luxury by eye care professionals, next 30 or so years. Since educators, and parents. For myopia generally begins to over 25 years, we have been develop during early childhood, and becomes worse as a Leader in New York/New we age, it is helpful to know Jersey Ophthalmology, treating all eye conditions. We are what practices may reduce located at 20 Park Avenue, your child’s risk. To begin with, limiting screen time is Lyndhurst. To reach our optiimportant for a multitude of cal shop, call 201-896-0007. reasons including healthy eye We accept most insurance. P.S. While glasses can development. The same goes for increasing outdoor activi- help with myopic vision, ties. These provide not only they cannot slow the provitamin D, which is essential gression, whereas certain for healthy growth, but also types of contact lenses can do both. increase children’s expo-
10-Passing of IWF wrestling champion Cammett of North Arlington
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