Sports

Sports & Recreation

THE OBSERVER’S TOP 10 SPORTS STORIES OF 2022

By Jason Bernstein

jason@theobserver.com

It’s safe to say that 2022 was a memorable year for local sports. Champions were crowned, new ground was broken and some of The Observer coverage area’s athletes became nationwide celebrities.

Whether it was at home or in countries a world away, local athletes excelled. Here is a look at the Top 10 Sports Stories for The Observer circulation area in 2022.

1. Nutley’s Doug Edert becomes the face of March Madness

Every March the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament produces a new batch of unlikely superstars, who seemingly come from nowhere to earn their “One Shining Moment.”

In a sporting event best known for upsets and oddsdefying heroes, this past March produced its greatest Cinderella story ever and a new-found celebrity from right here in Nutley.

For 11 days, Saint Peter’s University, the tiny Jesuit school out of Jersey City took over the sports world with its historic run to the Elite Eight. The face of that team was Doug Edert, equipped with an attention-grabbing mustache, unrelenting confidence and a deadly accurate shot.

The nation got to see all three characteristics when Edert scored 20 points when the Peacocks, a 15th-seed, stunned Kentucky, 85-79, in overtime in the first round of the tournament. Edert forced overtime with a fearless jumper in the paint with 23 seconds left in regulation. Then, in overtime, he buried a 3-pointer as part of a 10-1 Saint Peter’s run and later sealed the win by sinking two free throws in the final seconds.

“He was always the kid at the end that was looking at you and saying alright, just run that play for me and I got it. Give me the ball and whether I pass it to the open guy or finish it, we’re going to win,” said Marty Higgins Sr., who as the founder of Suburban Elite, was Edert’s first basketball coach. “The ball was always in his hands at that time because he always wanted it. When they’re in the backyard and it’s game point, he’s got the ball.”

Two nights later, Edert scored 10 consecutive second half points in the Peacocks’ 70-60 win over Murray State to become the first 15 seed to ever reach the Sweet 16.

In the days ahead Edert and the Peacocks became overnight celebrities, his mustache seen on TVs across the world and his suddenly famous mustache appearing in ad campaigns for Buffalo Wild Wings and t-shirts.

On March 25, in front of a decidedly pro-Saint Peter’s crowd in Philadelphia, the Peacocks shocked the world again with a 67-64 win over Purdue as Edert scored 10 points. March Madness’ greatest Cinderella story ended two days later when Saint Peter’s lost to North Carolina, but the memories of those 11 days will last forever.

2. Lights On at Tangora Field

For generations, Tangora Field, located right in the middle of downtown Nutley, has been one of the state’s best venues for high school football. Each fall, the venue and its surrounding community produced images that can be described as Rockwelian.

In a nod to changing times and an effort to energize its business district, Saturday afternoons have shifted to Friday Night Lights.

On Sept. 1 the Raiders played its first ever night game at Tangora Field, defeating rival Bloomfield, 20-7.

The addition of lights, a project years in the making, allows the field to be used for more activities, both sports and non-sports alike. That, in turn, should have help generate more business for the many restaurants that share Franklin Avenue with the multi-purpose venue.

“It is tough to let go of that (tradition). But I have a very funny feeling that this new vibe is going to be the vibe,” Nutley athletic director Joe Piro said. “It will be the new norm and it’s going to be even better than those Saturday afternoons once we all get used to it.”

Doug Edert #25

3. Football? Wrestling? Kearny’s Jimmy Mullen commits to Virginia Tech for both

process one question always followed the Kearny native - football or wrestling?

When Mullen committed to Virginia Tech we got our answer, both. The ACC school has offered Mullen the opportunity to play both sports in college.

“It definitely takes a lot of weight off of my shoulders knowing I don’t have to give up a sport that I’ve been doing since I was 5-yearsold,” Mullen said. “They’ve both been a big part of my life and done so much for me.

“As long as I can remember my favorite sport was football during the football season and wrestling during wrestling season.”

A senior at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, Mullen is considered the best heavyweight wrestling prospect in the country and with two state titles already on his resume is one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history.

Not to be outdone by his exploits on the mats, Mullen was named Third Team, AllState Defense by NJ.com after recording 76 tackles and eight sacks his senior season for football.

4. Nutley softball wins state sectional title

Nutley’s senior softball class had accomplished during its four years at the school, but despite countless wins and multiple trips to tournaments finals did not have the championship to full complete an otherwise stellar resume.

That all changed on May 26