Nutley Journal — December 2023 — 19
SPORTS
NHS girls hoops team is excited for season By Joe Ragozzino Sports Editor Under first-year head coach Kara McNish, the Nutley High School girls basketball team is excited about the upcoming season. The Raiders return almost their entire squad from last season, losing just one player to graduation, as they look to improve on an 8-15 record. Nutley has five seniors who have been playing together since they were in elementary school: point guard Cynthia DePersio, guards Riley Sebastiano, Anna Green and Morgan Dolaghan, and forward Mina Shaw. “All of the seniors have played varsity the last few years and will be at the center of our team with all of their experience,” McNish said. “I’m looking to them for leadership, on and off the court.” Nutley also has returning starters Grace Christie, a junior guard-forward, and junior forward Isabel Riccardi, who will be vital parts to the team. Sophomore forward Makayla Albert and freshman forward Kaitlyn Nellegar are expected to make big contributions to to the team as well. McNish, indeed, has been encouraged by her team’s commitment, as the Raiders strive to accomplish their goals this season. “They played really well and strong in the summer and fall leagues,” said McNish. “Our league and division (Super Essex Conference–Liberty Division) is competitive and really tough, so we will be challenged every game. Our goal is always to be competitive in our division and make the state tournament. We are striving to earn a home game in the state
Kara McNish NHS first-year head coach tournament this year and I think we have all the pieces we need to put together a really successful team and hopefully accomplish that.” McNish was an assistant coach in the program for the last seven years. She coached at the freshman level for the first few years before becoming the JV coach and varsity assistant. McNish has played basketball her whole life and was a standout player at College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, N.Y., where she played four years, including being a captain for two years and receiving several postseason honors. “I’ve grown up around basketball and loved the game my whole life. My dad has been the head boys basketball coach at Weehawken High School for the last 34
Raiders football players gain conference accolades Several Nutley High School football players have earned all–Super Football Conference–Patriot White Division honors, as selected by the divisional coaches. Here are the NHS players honored: FIRST TEAM OFFENSE • Lineman – Dom Farro, junior. DEFENSE • Lineman – Tyler Von Roth, junior. SPECIAL TEAMS • Punter – Erik Thompson, senior. SECOND TEAM OFFENSE • Skill – Sean McAloon, senior. He played running back.
DEFENSE • Linebacker – Aidan Rotbaum, freshman. HONORABLE MENTION • Jalyn Caraballo, sophomore. He played wide receiver and defensive back. Notes – The Raiders showed much resiliency this season. After an 0-6 start, Nutley won three of its final four games, including beating Barringer, 30-20, Friday, Oct. 20, and North Plainfield, 13-12, Wednesday, Oct. 25, both at Tangorra Field/Park Oval, in the final two games to finish with a 3-7 record. The first win was against rival Belleville, 35-8, at Tangorra Field on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Photos Courtesy of Kara McNish
From left are Nutley seniors Mina Shaw, Cynthia DePersio, Morgan Dolaghan, Riley Sebastiano and Anna Green. years,” McNish said. “I owe a lot of my love for the game to him and I have learned and still learn so much from him about the game. He actually coached the girls in our fall league this year and it was
such a valuable experience for them and for me, learning from him each game.” Nutley will tip off the regular season on Thursday, Dec. 14, at East Orange Campus High School.
Nutley HS fall athletes receive SEC honors Several Nutley High School fall athletes received all–Super Essex Conference honors, as selected by the divisional coaches. Here are the NHS athletes honored: BOYS SOCCER Colonial Division: • First team: seniors Finlay Miruelo and Jonathan Briehof. • Second team: sophomore Duke “DJ” Pilgrim and junior AJ Oramas. • Honorable mention: freshman Anthony Navarrro. GIRLS SOCCER Liberty Division: • First team: junior Brooke Yero. • Second team: freshman Isa Harrington. • Honorable mention: seniors Lindsey Guzman and Bryanna Martins. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Liberty Division: • First team: junior Amanda Scaperotta. • Second team: junior Ava Lage and sophomore Sydney Tramontana. • Honorable mention: senior Sasha Wanko and junior Hannah Pollail. GIRLS TENNIS Colonial Division: • First team: junior Alexis Fontanilla, senior Rebecca Caporaso, junior Sindi Gjonbocari, sophomore Laura Hindistan and sophomore Marguerite Ziek.
• Second team: senior Marina Calleo and sophomore Viha Kothakonda. • Honorable mention: senior Olivia Song. CROSS-COUNTRY Boys Liberty Division: • First team: seniors Ryan Budinick and Peter French, and junior Luke Cozzi. • Second team: seniors William Clay and Ronan Somers, sophomore Matthew Lee, and freshman David Dunlay. • Honorable mention: juniors Luke Gonzalez and Alexander Valenzuela. Girls American Division: • First team: junior Jaylin Romero. • Honorable mention: senior Erin Granelli and junior Stephanie La. Notes – The boys soccer team finished with a 6-6-5 overall record. The girls soccer team showed resilience as it won four of its final seven games to finish with a 6-14 overall record. The girls volleyball team finished with a 13-11 overall record. The girls tennis team clinched the SEC–Colonial Division title outright with an 8-0 divisional record and finished with an 11-7 overall record. Last season, the team was co-champion of the division with Cedar Grove.
