Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The Observer | www.theobserver.com
Sports & Recreation
9
Kearny boys’ soccer team tops Year in Sports Top 10 stories By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com A familiar position for a local soccer power. The passing of several notables, but none larger than the beloved football coach. The idea of hosting a usual indoor sport outdoors. These are some of the sports stories that grabbed the headlines of the Observer’s sports pages in 2021. Here’s our list of the Top 10 – and some others that were placed in a just missed list.
left a huge void in the hearts of all involved with the Nutley football program. He is still sorely missed.
3-A change of pace with Nutley wrestling outdoors
The coronavirus COVID-19 did not do anything worthwhile anywhere, but it did have a silver lining for the Nutley High School wrestling team. When some of the sports that generally occupy the 1-Kearny wins NJSIAA winter months were put on a Group IV state title, backburner due to the pancapping a brilliant demic, the sport of wrestling just moved its season from a one-loss campaign winter sport to a once-in-alifetime hybrid that crossed For all intents and purposes, over from the winter months Kearny High School’s run to to early spring. an NJSIAA state championWith that, the powers-thatship ended at the hands of be at Nutley High School Elizabeth in the overall Group Photo by Jim Hague decided to do a brilliant thing IV semifinals. The Kardinals Kearny soccer standout Nico Gomez moves his way up field during the Kardinals’ 6-2 win over Freehold Township in April by moving the match trailed the Minutemen, a in the NJSIAA Group IV state championship game at Kean University in November, a story that earns the top spot against rival Bloomfield to usual foe in the old Watchung in The Observer’s Top 10 Sports Stories for 2021. outdoors on the field at the Conference days, by two goals newly refurbished Nutley with under 10 minutes to play, ing in New Jersey. ous return to the sidelines 2-Nutley grid coach Oval. It was an absolute perbut somehow managed to It marked the 33rd time datfor DiGregorio, who enjoyed DiGregorio passes fect setting for a high school score twice in the final stages two stints as the head football wrestling match, with the ing back to 1923 that Kearny to tie, then won the game via coach at his alma mater, but won its respective state chamIt was one of the more school buildings surrounding penalty kicks (after trailing in pionship and the first time valiant cancer battles in recent none sweeter than the undethe Oval, in itself one of the that portion of overtime, 2-0) feated championship season since 2017. Prior to 2017, the time. Beloved Nutley head most unique and historic spots to send the Kardinals into the Kardinals also won state titles football coach Steve DiGrego- of 2020. The Maroon Raiders for all of high school sports in overall Group IV state title won all six of their contests in 1999, 2002 and 2004. rio battled pancreatic canNew Jersey. game against Freehold Townin the COVID-19 truncated It was also the second state cer unlike any other person Although Bloomfield came ship. title for current head coach inflicted with the hideous and schedule and managed to away with the victory, everyOnce there at the overall capture the championship of Bill Galka. frightful disease. DiGregorio one involved was the winner, state title game at Kean Unithe Super Essex Conference’s because years from now, those The Kardinals also won the did not step aside when he versity in Union, the Kardinals mid-sized school division. It Hudson County Interschowas first diagnosed in 2019, kids who wrestled outdoors unleashed their typical scoring was Nutley’s first undefeated lastic Athletic League regular keeping hope upon hope that crisp April day will always explosion, tallying six goals season since 1939. season championship and that he would be able to beat remember the day they had a for incredibly the ninth time However, the cancer, which chance to compete outdoors in the Hudson County Tournathe disease. While everyone in 24 matches this season. Led was in remission, returned ment championship, defeataround and about the Nutley the sport they love. by the team’s leading scorer, with full vengeance in January ing neighboring archnemesis athletic department believed Juan Rojas, who scored two of 2021, forcing DiGregorio Harrison, 3-2 in overtime in that the diagnosis of pancregoals and added two assists, 4-Locals O’Neill, Mcto step down as head football a match played at Red Bull atic cancer was a death knell, the Kards (22-1-1) rolled to the Clelland lead Rutgers’ Arena. Needless to say, it was a DiGregorio didn’t want to be- coach, turning the reins over state title with a 6-2 victory in year to remember. women’s soccer team to lieve it and managed to some- to DiGregorio’s long-time front of 6,000 avid soccer fans assistant J.D. Vick. In October And the Kards’ ascension how, some way keep cancer NCAA Final Four at Kean. of 2021, DiGregorio lost his back to state soccer promiat bay while returning to the The scoring explosion enanence earns The Observer’s sidelines to coach his beloved battle with cancer. He was 60 Mike O’Neill, the head bled the Kards to capture the years old. No. 1 sports story for 2021. Maroon Raiders in 2020. NJSIAA Group IV state title Steve DiGregorio’s passing It turned out to be a gloriSee TOP TEN, Page 10 and earn the final No. 3 rank-
