Health & Wellness Directory

VIEW

Continued from Page 9

“He’s our hardest worker in the weight room,” Andrews said.

The starting tackles are senior Jaden Figueroa (5-9, 185) and junior Abisai Escobar (5-10, 260). The guards are sophomore Jayden Martinez (5-11, 265) and freshman Eli Ardolino (5-10, 265) with senior Matthew Udis (5-11, 205) at center.

Defensively, the Kards play a 4-3 alignment, with Udis and junior Andrew DaSantos (6-4, 200) at defensive end and Ardolino and Martinez at defensive tackle.

Andrews has to have a ton of faith in Ardolino to be a twoway starter as a freshman.

“He’s been a very unexpected pleasant surprise,” Andrews said of Ardolino. “He could be a college football player one day.”

The outside linebackers are senior Israel Ormaza (5-10, 175) and Chong, with Amorim and Figueroa playing inside linebacker.

Ferrara and Ruiz are the cornerbacks with Gill at safety. The Kards have games against Hudson Catholic this weekend and Bloomfield next weekend. There is the thought that Kearny might be better off playing in the Ivy League division of the New Jersey Super Football Conference against teams of equal size and talent. It has yet to be determined, but Andrews thinks that it may be a possibility moving forward.

“When the idea of the Ivy League was created, we liked where we were headed,” Andrews said. “We weren’t expecting the Generals (youth) program to be practically dissolved. Now that there’s a chance it may happen. Our schedule is a killer. We have to decide within the next month whether we want to go that route.”

It would make a ton more sense than losing games 40-6 and 53-6.

“I’m just looking for us to make progress every week,” Andrews said. “As long as I’m seeing progress, then a few chips will eventually fall in our favor.”

Something’s got to give soon.

Photo by Jim Hague The Kearny High School football team is off to a tough 0-2 start after losses to North Bergen and Bayonne. From left are Jaden Figueroa, Abisai Escobar, Jayden Martinez, head coach Stephen Andrews, Matthew Udis, Bryan Villatoro and Steven Barreira (no longer with the team).

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!

EYE CARE

DeLuca Vision Consultants

Presented by Joseph A. DeLuca, M.D., F.A.C.S.

ONE MORE REASON TO AVOID STRESS

Stress can wreak havoc on both our mental and physical health. It can even damage our eyes. Stress causes our bodies to increase their adrenaline production, which creates pressure in the eyes and causes vision to blur, making it difficult to focus. Stress also makes our pupils dilate (it is part of the body’s fight or flight response). This lets more light in, improving our ability to see potential threats, but also increasing light sensitivity, which can be uncomfortable, sometimes even painful. Spasms or twitches in our eyelids are other signs that stress may be affecting our eye health, as is the tension in the muscles around the eyes and forehead.

If you have a consistent issue with your eyes, no matter what’s going on in your life, the problem is likely with your eyes instead of your stress level. Make sure to see an eye doctor if you have persistent eye trouble. If it’s been some time since you’ve had an eye exam, please call 201-896-0096. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To get in touch with our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance.

P.S. If you are experiencing vision problems due to stress, the good news is they are almost always reversible. Better stress management will lead to better eye sight.

HEALTH&WELLNESS&WELLNESS DIRECTORY

CARDIOLOGY & INTERNAL MEDICINE

Call to make an appointment! (973) 777-3286

1135 Clifton Ave, Suite 206, Clifton, NJ 07013

New patients always welcomed!

Dr. Richard Ekstein is 1 of only 14 Board Certified Prosthodontists in NJ

No Insurance? We have a plan for you! Call 201-991-1228

312 Belleville Turnpike | N. Arlington, Suite 3B | www.SmileDesignSpecialist.com

John P. Branwell, DPM., C.Ped

201-998-9700 • 37 Seeley Ave., Kearny

Podiatric Medicine • Surgery • Diabetic Shoes • Orthotics MEDICARE • BCBS • AETNA • Most Insurances www.johnbranwellpodiatrist.com

To advertise, please call our office at:

NA’s Alves off to rousing start

By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

NORTH ARLINGTON –

Kevin Barber was taking on a new challenge, taking on the head coaching duties for the North Arlington High School boys’ soccer team, replacing long-time head coach Jesse Dembowski.

Barber was the junior varsity coach and assistant to Dembowski with the NA soccer program for nine years before being elevated to the top spot this season.

And Barber was aware of one item that had to be addressed before the Vikings ever took the field for the 2021 season.

“If anyone was needed to get us going, it was Tiago,” said Barber, referring to his senior striker Tiago Alves. “He just has that drive, that itch, that touch you need to be a goal scorer. He’s a bulldog around the net. His soccer IQ is off the charts. The game just seems to be slower for him. He just sees the game that very few kids can do. He’s like another coach on the field.”

Alves realized that he was going to have increased expectations for the coming season. So to prepare for his senior campaign, he went to Portugal for a month over the summer and trained with his cousin who plays for one of the top level soccer clubs in Portugal called Braga.

“It’s a very good first division club team,” Alves said. “I knew my cousin was a great soccer player. I asked if he could help me out and he said I could come train with them. I trained with them practically every single day and I played pick-up games every day with them. It was a big help. It definitely gave me confidence, so when I came back here, I was ready.”

Alves said that he had special motivation to get ready for the season.

“We came so close last year (losing in an NJSIAA sectional title game to Technology of Newark), so I wanted to pick it up right where we left off,” Alves said. “We went right back to work with captain’s practices.”

Alves also played a lot of soccer over the summer with his club team Ironbound on the 17-and-under level.

“I felt good about our team’s chances this year,” Alves said about North Arlington’s squad. “I was training a lot, using my right foot.”

Alves is a predominantly left-footed player.

“I wanted to make my right foot as good as my left,” Alves said.

And Alves knew that his role with the Vikings was as a striker.

“With the midfield we have, they just had to send me the ball,” Alves said. “Then it was my job to find the back of the net.”

Two games into the 2021 season, Alves has found the back of the net – early and often.

North Arlington senior striker Tiago Alves.

Photo by Jim Hague

See ATHLETE, Page 18

You don’t feel a lump, swelling or tenderness. You still need a mammogram.

At Clara Maass Medical Center, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey,

NCI the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer the latest in comprehensive breast health Designated Comprehensive services including mammograms, 3D mammograms, breast MRI,

Cancer Center genetic testing, breast surgery and more — like peace of mind. And with breast health centers conveniently located throughout New Jersey, finding us is simple, too. Schedule your mammogram at rwjbh.org/mammo