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June 2018
Remembering a friend
Class of 2018 honors the legacy of classmate Rachel Powell Staff Editor
After every graduating senior has worn their cap and gown, received a diploma, and gone their separate ways in the fall, the messages they left behind will remain integral to the spirit of our school and community. Long after graduation, the Class of 2018 and the Pascack Valley community will continue to be touched by the legacy of Zack Latteri. Pay it forward. Cherish the time you spend with one another. Help those who cannot help themselves. Latteri was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010, and he passed away in the summer of 2015. His friends and peers in the Class of 2018 remember him as extraordinarily selfless and caring. He inspired many students to become more active in their community and to help others. Although he will not be there to walk beside them at graduation, many feel that his presence will be felt with every step they take. “Zack’s legacy is centered around giving back to the community, as well as just spreading kindness to the people around you,” PV senior Erin Flanagan said. “Zack passing away hit us all so hard, but we were able to rally behind his cause, and it made us even stronger as a
grade.” At the beginning of their sophomore year, the Class of 2018 voted to change their class cause. They decided to support the charity of Latteri’s choosing: Fred’s Team. This organization is the Memorial Sloan Kettering running program, and it raises money for cancer research. The seniors feel that after sharing the loss of a classmate and friend, supporting a foundation close to Latteri’s heart was a way for everyone to come together. “It’s amazing to see the ‘Z.L.’ up on the wall and the orange in the crowd during Valley Cup,” senior Josh Ulin said. “To unify under such a great cause for someone so great really brought us together.” The Class of 2018 also has their own Relay for Life team. At the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, a twelve-hour fundraising event, teams walk around a track to support those fighting cancer, celebrate survivors, raise money for research, and honor family members and friends who have passed away from this disease. Latteri and PV senior Lauren Vollers started the team in 2014, when they were in eighth grade. “Relay was so important to Zack because he really liked bringing everybody together and seeing them walk the track for a good
cause, wear the t-shirts, and donate their money to stay over all night,” senior Gabby LoPiccolo said. “It’s a lot to ask, and he was just so grateful to have a huge team willing to do that.” Every year since Latteri passed away, the Class of 2018 team has honored him at Relay with speeches, t-shirts, and their passion for the cause. At the 2017 event, the team had about 150 members. The group raised over $9,100 during the annual event in April, far surpassing their $1,000 goal. During the Luminaria Ceremony, the team members light glow sticks in memory of Latteri and others who have been impacted by cancer. Students at PV, along with Latteri’s mother Sharon Latteri, have also established the Zack Latteri Foundation. His friends, family, and other members of the community volunteer to distribute “Zack Packs” containing sheets and other gifts to pediatric cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Hackensack Hospital. “Zack hated the hospital sheets, so his mom always brought soft ones to put on the bed,” Flanagan said. “We deliver packages that have sheets and other presents to these children to make their stay a little
Photo by Molly Heintze
The senior class planted a garden in dedication to Zack Latteri as their class gift. The garden can be found nearby the athletic fields as a sign for Latteri’s love for sports. bit easier, which is exactly what Zack would have wanted to do.” The Class of 2018 has been working to ensure that Latteri’s legacy will live on at PV long after they graduate. Current freshman, sophomores, and juniors also work with the foundation, support Fred’s Team, and participate in events like Relay for Life to keep his memory alive. Underclassmen nominated by teachers have become ambassadors for the foundation. “We recruited underclassmen to be the ambassadors for when we go to college so that Zack’s legacy continues through the school, not just through our grade, for years to come,” senior Andrew Tateossian said. For their class gift, the Class of 2018 has planted a garden dedicated to Zack. Located near the athletic fields as an homage to Zack’s love for sports, the garden contains a cherry blossom
tree, two butterfly bushes, and three birch trees. “Zack’s legacy at PV is so powerful that everything the class council and the Class of 2018 does is dedicated to him,” senior class president Sam Cassidy said. “His presence is always felt.” An arrangement of orange flowers surrounds the base of the cherry blossom tree, and the color represents leukemia awareness. An inscription on a river stone at the center reads: “In memory of our friend Zack Latteri.” “If Zack’s name is kept alive and talked about, then his memory and everything he stood for and fought for will never go away,” Ulin said. “It’s really important to us that everything he left behind is valued and remembered.” Read more about the Zack Latteri Foundation here: https://pvsmokesignal. com/?p=5445
Photo by Curstine Guevarra
The Pascack Valley Class of 2018 cheers on classmates during Valley Cup. Their class cause is Fred’s Team, a foundation that was close to Latteri’s heart.
For more on Latteri, visit:
To see an interactive timeline as well as the full Kosch article visit:
https://pvsmokesignal. com/?p=15974
https://pvsmokesignal. com/?p=26078
To learn about PV Athletic Director Tom Gattoni’s retirement visit: https://pvsmokesignal. com/?p=25898
To see where in the world PV students went visit: pvsmokesignal.com
June 2018
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Clockwise from left, Gabby LoPiccolo, Alec Vignola, and Andrew Tateossian have tattoos in memory of Zack Latteri. Latteri was a student at PV in the Class of 2018 before he lost his fiveyear battle with leukemia.
Photo by Curstine Guevarra
His laugh lives on PV seniors get tattoos in memory of friend Katie Mullaney Staff Writer
In the summer of 2015, Pascack Valley was struck with the news that Zack Latteri, a former freshman, had died from cancer. Three close friends to Latteri, now seniors, wanted to find a way to remember the impact he had made on their lives. As a result, Gabby LoPiccolo, Alec Vignola, and Andrew Tateossian got tattoos in his memory. LoPiccolo had wanted this tattoo, a soundwave of Latteri’s laugh, since her freshman year of high school because it was a way that she could carry him and his laugh wherever she went. “I will always have the memories, but I wanted something physically on my body dedicated to him,” LoPiccolo said. The process was not always easy for her. LoPiccolo found that she was hit with a whirlwind of emotions before, during, and after getting the tattoo. She was happy to finally be getting the tattoo, but it was also very hard for her since it was for a friend who is no longer with her. “Zack was like a brother to me. There wasn’t a second in the day when we weren’t together or at least talking,” LoPiccolo said LoPiccolo was not his only long-time friend — Vignola and Latteri had been close friends since before kindergarten. They would have brief encounters with each other while their moms would pick up their siblings from elementary school. This was just the beginning of their close friendship. Getting a tattoo was a personal decision for Vignola because he saw it as a way to heal and give his respects to Latteri. The tattoo is a ribbon with Latteri’s name. “Just looking at the amount of people that even considered getting a tattoo for him shows how many people truly cared about him,” Vignola said. “He meant a lot to everyone, especially me.” Soon after Vignola got the tattoo for Latteri, he went out to lunch with Sharon Latteri, Zack’s mother, to show her the design on his forearm. She was amazed that someone would do something like that for him. “I think he [Vignola] thought about this decision for years, and when he finally got it, I was shocked to think how important Zack was to him,” Sharon said. Tateossian, another one of Zack’s friends from kindergarten, has a tattoo that showcases an orange ribbon surrounded by rays of sunshine with Zack’s initials, “ZL.” Tateossian knew that his classmates would not forget about Zack, but he wanted to keep a permanent symbol for him. Tateossian always knew that he wanted the orange ribbon on the upper left side on his back, but deciding on the rest of the design ended up being a struggle for him. He wanted to find the perfect one that meant the most to him. “Zack was really lucky to have such great friends,” Sharon said.
To see more about the tattoo culture at PV visit: https://pvsmokesignal. com/?p=26355
Photo by Alysa Mehl
Photo by Alysa Mehl
THE SMOKE SIGNAL EDITORIAL BOARD Editors in Chief: Lauren Cohen Madison Gallo Managing Editor: Kayla Barry Staff Editors: Allison Botwinick Rachel Cohen Rachel Powell Sarah Schmoyer Sports Editors: Josh DeLuca Noah Schwartz Photo Editor: Curstine Guevarra Assistant Photo Editors: David Harnett Molly Heintze
The Smoke Signal welcomes input from all members of the Pascack Valley High School community. Please contact The Smoke Signal editoral staff at their email address (pvsmokesignal@gmail.com). Since The Smoke Signal is the voice of the student body of Pascack Valley High School, opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of other Pascack Valley students, teachers, administrators, or the Board of Education. Articles are often reproductions that first appeared online and were deemed accurate at the time of the original publication. Cover Design by Josh DeLuca and Curstine Guevarra
Layout: Madison Gallo Josh DeLuca Advisor: Mr. Bill Rawson Principal: Mr. Tom DeMaio
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P V Class June 2018
Created by Lauren Cohen The following list shows where students from this year’s graduating class are attending college. All information was obtained from a Smoke Signal survey in which seniors could choose to respond with their plans. If a name is not included in the list, it is because the student did not participate in the survey.
Alabama University of Alabama Lauren Vollers
Illinois Northwestern University Julian Stiles
Indiana Indiana University Anna Catalano Greg Zoll
Kentucky University of Kentucky Sarah Daniels Louisiana Tulane University Stephen Spector
California Loyola Marymount University Mark Iacovelli Saint Mary’s College of California Lucia Sharma
Connecticut Quinnipiac University Julianna Masseria Gabby LoPiccolo Robyn Roznitsky Andrew Tateossian Sacred Heart University Gianna Battista Amber Bovenschulte Tiana Giovatto Meghan McIntyre Vanessa Pikulski Elizabeth Spadafino Sophia Velasco University of Connecticut Amanda Bifulco Megan Garrett Jack Ward University of New Haven Zack Panno Delaware University of Delaware Nicole Arden Ally Botwinick Lauren Hussey Emily O’Brien
Florida University of Florida Erin Meehan Emma Moskowitz University of Miami Devin Martinez University of Tampa Stephanie Perini
Maryland Loyola University Maryland Michael Carbonaro Towson University Chris Mayer University of Maryland Matthew Killian Rahul Nair Massachusetts Bentley University Jackson Downs Boston College Rebecca Fontana College of the Holy Cross Kelly Petro Northeastern University Danielle Freeman Rachel Powell Melissa Purcell Jenna Slota Tufts University Lauren Cohen UMass Amherst Kevin Herlihy Wellesley College Emily Le Worcester Polytechnic Institute Sam Pitkowsky Michigan Michigan State University Jackie Dehn Megan Thorn
Bergen Community College Ryan Capogna Jordyn Harrigan Devi Nassor
New Jersey
Drew University Myron Theilmeier Fairleigh Dickinson University Cassie Leibfried Monmouth University Julianne Lopez Montclair State University Lara Ayvazian Britany Diaz Hailee Donne Logan Giordano Kaja Edwards Kyle Levanduski Nicole Martino New Jersey Institute of Technology Brian Diomede Andrew Kritzler Julia Parisi Mark Pothen Kajal Ramrup Ramapo College of New Jersey Isabella Bussanich Leana Hacopian Tristan Moorehead Salvatore Sileo Alexa Vassallo Rowan University AJ Helfenbein Jack Stober Rutgers University Caitlyn Chow Mary Grace Christiansen George Dvoynos Curstine Guevarra Owen Heller Yeiin Kim Jessica Lee Hailey Mun Max Pincus Seton Hall University Lisa Pescatore Stevens Institute of Technology Meghan Haggerty The College of New Jersey Erin Flanagan Jenny LaRocca Casey Lewis Jerry Madden Elizabeth Parisi Dominique Perini Shawn Rowan William Paterson University Rick Lutz Josh Morriello
June 2018
s of
2018
New York Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Rima Kaddouh
Ohio Ohio State University Nicole Franklin Henry Tipping
Fashion Institute of Technology Lauren Parisi Madison Pine
University Of Cincinnati Matthew Low
Fordham University Holly Aloi Caitlin Smith Ithaca College Ben Bachrach Julia Ganbarg Rachel Karow Marist College Jake DeGruccio Kyra Gynegrowski Mercy College Anikka Edwards Derek Rosenbach Pace University Matt Curcurato Brianna Wong Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Sam Gibson Rochester Institute of Technology Cole Montopoli Sarah Lawrence College Samantha Larson
Pennsylvania Bucknell University Justin Schaumberger Chelsea Scoli Desales University T.J. Mastowski Dickinson College Amy Santo
Lehigh University Kyle Rifkin Lycoming College Heather Flatley Misericordia University Brendan Liddy Moravian College Jamie Bader Penn State Altoona Kaitlyn Conti Pennsylvania State University Amanda Hirschberg Amanda Rubinstein
St. Thomas Aquinas College Daniella Morejon
Saint Joseph’s University Jenna Szabo
St. John’s University Stephie John
Temple University Ryan Green Emily Park
Syracuse University Nicole Karmin Billy Lyons Olivia Stalknecht The New School– Parsons Shannon Donnelly University of Rochester Seana Montalbano
North Carolina State University Emily Wolf
North Carolina
University of North Carolina Nathan Mullaney
Tennessee Belmont University Brendan Martins University of Tennessee-Knoxville Chelsea Consolini Vanderbilt University Lauren Martinez
Texas Southern Methodist University Jacob Barcelona
Vermont University of Vermont Jack Burleson
East Stroudsburg University Juliana Schraer
School of Visual Arts Julie Martin-Moons
SUNY New Paltz Maddy Carullo
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University of Pennsylvania Chandni Shah University of Pittsburgh Michael Hayden Rhode Island Brown University Tyler Jacobson University of Rhode Island Carleigh Boyle
South Carolina College of Charleston Emily Sinisi Lindsay Rohde University of South Carolina Dante Blundo Maddie Brookstone Wofford College Elisabeth Ralph
Virginia James Madison University Sam Cassidy Emma Sungela Liberty University Alysa Mehl
West Virginia Potomac State College Austin Piorkowski West Virginia University Mike Pirsos Washington D.C. George Washington University Giovanni Liguori Sarah Schmoyer
Canada Wilfred Laurier University Timothy Shepherd
Gap Year Rob Sheehan - King’s College fall 2019 Xavier Cattelona - Rochester Institute of Technology fall 2019
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June 2018
‘I’ve had a great run’ PV history teacher to retire after 33 years them to celebrate their graduation, and over time, this became an annual event, according to When Ms. Karen Kosch walks Lichtstein. He has participated in through the halls at Pascack Valley, “Camp Kosch” for 11 out of the 12 she tries to say hello to everyone years since he graduated from PV. she passes. “This is a pretty cool tradiLikewise, she is treated like a tion,” Lichtstein said, explaining celebrity, with students calling out that they have had barbecues, to her as well. gone kayaking, spent time in the “That’s one of the things I work ocean, and gotten to know her hard at,” she said. “I try to learn the family over the years. names of kids in the hall that I don’t Now, as they have maintained even know, just to say hi to them. in contact with each other for so I feel good about it and maybe I long, Lichtstein said that their make them feel good about it.” relationship is “equal part friend Her colleagues, namely fellow and family” after first having been history teachers Mr. Jeff Jasper, a typical student-teacher relationMs. Marisa Mathias, and Ms. Leah ship. Jerome, notice this too. They con“We keep in touch and comsider her a “great listener” as she municate like with a close relative “makes you feel like the center of or a lifelong friend,” he said. the room.” Kosch credits this ability to “She is the best listener I have stay in touch with her former stuever met,” Jasper said, adding that dents to social media, specifically she is nonjudgmental. email, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Kosch is approaching the end of her 33 years as a teacher at PV with The Next Chapter plans to retire. She began teaching in 1985 after Kosch sees herself as a very graduating from Montclair State traditional person. She lives in University and then later got her her family home after buying it Master’s from Iona College. PV is the only school she has ever taught from her father. Therefore, she has never moved. Kosch has also at. been in the same profession and Kosch said that her favorite things about teaching at PV are the teaching at the same school for 33 people and “the relationships that years. Her colleagues agree and say we’ve all had opportunities to build that she has not changed much. - teachers to teachers, students to “The person she was in 1985 – students, colleagues to colleagues. joyful, delightful, upbeat, positive I don’t think there’s another place – is exactly who she is in 2018,” that fosters relationships as well as Jasper said. “She has not changed we do.” at all. That’s what is so beautiful Although she has only taught at about her.” PV, she said outsiders have told her While Kosch is excited to that the people here are so good to retire, she said that she has mixed each other. emotions. “What we all believe in teaching “It’s bittersweet because you’re is that if you build the relationships going at the top of your game, and first, you can teach anything, you you’re going loving it,” she said. can have kids do anything — they will do anything — because there’s “And that’s when it’s hard, and that’s when it’s emotional, but that trust,” she said. that means it’s good.” “The hardest part for anyone Camp Kosch about to retire who still loves what they’re doing is how do you Some of Kosch’s relationships with students have stood the test of walk away from what you love?” she added. “How do you walk time. away from this wonderful feelAt the end of April, Kosch attended a wedding of former student ing every day of being with these wonderful people? It’s just your Dave Lichtstein, who graduated time, and it’s time for change, and from PV in 2006, as she remains in touch with him and his group of you get to walk away still feeling really good about it.” friends from high school. This enthusiasm for her pro“This is a perfect example of fession is evident. how close we’ve become over the Jerome called her a “great years,” Lichtstein said. educator,” as she “loves what she Lichtstein first met Kosch on does” the first day of his freshman year Kosch feels as if it can’t get in Kosch’s Honors World Histomuch better than this and she ry class. Then, when he was Vice President of the Executive Council wants to retire at the height of her career. his senior year and Kosch was the “I always said to myself I advisor, they grew closer. wanted to go at the top of my Kosch said that this group game, and never wait a year too of students from that class have long: either I get too tired, or I’m dubbed themselves “Camp Kosch.” not as patient, or I’m not as enerThey get together with her every gized,” Kosch said. summer, spending time at her For the first time in her life, beach house. she said she does not have much That summer, Kosch invited of a plan. At 55 years old, she is Lichtstein and a few friends down young enough to try something to her beach house for a day for Lauren Cohen Editor in Chief
Photo by John Castellanos
Longtime PV history teacher Ms. Karen Kosch will retire at the end of this school year. She has been teaching at PV for 33 years.
like they’re the center of the universe,” new, even if that just means taking Jerome said. “You have a positive view of care of herself physically. “I love teaching, but I’m exhausted life when you’re around her.” Kosch is known around the school for at the end of the day;” Kosch said. “I use so much energy during the day — her positivity. “She is the most consistently happy I’m up and bouncing around, so I’m shot at the end of the day. I don’t ex- person I’ve ever been around,” Jasper ercise as much, so physical well-being said. “She has this magnetism that makes anyone around her happy.” comes into play.” Lichtstein feels lucky to have a personShe is ready to move on to the next stage of her life, and she is exploring al relationship with Kosch. “She is an incredible person and is some options to keep her busy during definitely the best teacher I’ve ever had,” retirement. “Now I get to see if there’s a chap- he said. “She means so much to so many ter two, and chapter two could just be students.” exercising and reading the paper every day, or it could be helping other people Classes in teacher relationship-type jobs,” she said. Kosch has been teaching freshmen in Honors World History for a number of years, took over the Religion in America The Kosch Factor class 12 years ago, and co-created the “You know when you go to Disney Critical Analysis of History Through Film World and it’s the most beautiful place class. A new teacher will take over Honors on the planet?” Jerome said. “That’s World, while Mathias plans to teach Rewhat it’s like with Karen [Kosch].” All of Kosch’s colleagues say they ligion in America and Critical Analysis of History Through Film. feel blessed to know and work with “I developed a passion for the courses her. Jasper has worked with Kosch for and Kosch saw that passion,” said Mathiall of her 33 years and in that time, he as, who says she is extremely excited to has come up with an effect he calls the have this opportunity. Kosch looks forward to what is to “Kosch factor.” “The Kosch factor — you can’t de- come, but fondly reminisces on her time fine it, but when you figure it out, you, teaching at PV. “I love what I do,” she said. “I’ve had know it,” he said. Jasper says he enjoys working with a great run here. I’ve had the best kids in the world. I’ve had the best classes. The Kosch, so much so that he cannot community has been so supportive. I don’t choose what he likes best about her. “She’s so selfless, refreshingly hon- know how this gets better.” est, shares everything she has willingly, and makes everyone she talks to feel
June 2018
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Top 10 Pascack Valley sports moments of 2017-18 Josh DeLuca and Noah Schwartz Sports Editors Photo by Curstine Guevarra
Number 10: Girls Lacrosse The PV girls lacrosse team finished its season with a 12-5 record and advanced to the semi-finals of the North 1 Group 3 tournament. Over the course of the season, Senior Elisabeth Ralph scored her 100th career goal while senior Hannah Linton recorded her 400th career save.
Photo by Victoria Donofrio
Number 5: Boys Bowling Rolls The Pascack Valley Bowling Team placed second in the Section 1A, Group 4 State Sectional Tournament. Individually, Brian Biml made First Team All-County, while senior Henry Tipping and junior Trevor Lauber made Second Team.
Number 4: Cheerleading Is Undefeated The Pascack Valley Cheerleading team won the inaugural Big North Conference Championship this year. The team finished its regular season with an undefeated record of 8-0.
Number 9: Girls Swimming wins Leagues The Pascack Valley Regional Girls Swim Team finished its season with a 9-2 record and an eighth straight league title. Junior Haleigh Marzano was named First Team All-County in the all around category, while sophomore Emma Wentland, freshman Jennifer Malocha, senior Danni Freeman, and Marzano were All-County honorable mentions in the 200 meter freestyle relay.
Photo by Ariela Alfonso
Number 3: Melissa Purcell tops record This year, the PV senior pole vaulter set the Bergen County indoor record with a height of 12-6 ½ and outdoor record with a height of 12-7. She placed first in the Group 3 Tournament with a finals height of 12-0. She will be attending Northeastern University in the fall and will be a member of the track and field team.
Contributed by Jennifer Malocha
Number 8: Girls Soccer reaches semis of counties and states The Pascack Valley Girls Soccer Team finished first in the Big North National Division and third in North 1 Group 3. The team lost just 2 games all season, with both defeats coming at the hands of Northern Highlands. Junior Arianna Quevedo and senior Elizabeth Spadafino won First Team All-County honors.
Photo by Patricia Ocelotl
Photo by Victoria Donofrio
Number 7: Gymnastics wins League, narrowly loses Counties The Pascack Valley Regional Gymnastics Team won the North Jersey Gymnastics League A title this year and finished second in the Bergen County Tournament. In the counties, Academy of Holy Angels beat out PVRG by 0.075. While the team was unable to qualify for the State Tournament, placing third in the North 1 Sectional, both Melissa Ricciardi and Hallie Wikfors qualified for and competed in the Individual State Meet.
Number 2: Wrestling wins Sectionals The PV Wrestling Team won its first ever North 1 Group 3 Sectional Title this year when it defeated Sparta by a final score of 50-18 on Feb. 9. PV junior Tommy Chiellini became the first PV wrestler since 2001 to be a region champion. The Indians also had three wrestlers Photo by Curstine Guevarra take part in the state tournament in Atlantic City, as Chiellini, senior Robbie Natelli, and junior Matt Number 1: Jasper’s 1000th Win Beyer all competed. Pascack Valley girls basketball coach Jeff Jasper won his 1000th career game this past season, in his 45th year at the helm. With hundrends of fans, family members, and former players in attendence, the Indians defeated Northern Highlands by a score of 7325 on Jan. 11. Jasper started the PV girls basketball program in 1971. Photo by David Harnett
Number 6: Dance Team wins National Dance Tournament The Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team attended the Dance Team Union National Competition in Orlando, Fl. At the competition, the Photo by Curstine Guevarra team was named National Champions, after they placed first out of 32 teams.
Photo by David Harnett
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June 2018
Team of the Year: Wrestling Josh DeLuca and Noah Schwartz Sports Editors
For the first time in program history, the Pascack Valley wrestling team captured the North 1 Group 3 State Sectional title. With an experienced returning line-up and a couple of talented freshmen, the Indians had a strong regular season, including the 600th win in program history. Thanks to their strong regular season, the Indians were the No. 2 seed in the North 1 Group 3 tournament. The Indians defeated Paramus and Montville en route to the State Sectional Final, where they beat top seeded Sparta 50-18. Not only did Valley have success as a team, but many did well individually. Three Indians qualified for the individual state tournament in Atlantic City. Senior Robbie Natelli and juniors Matt Beyer and Tommy Chiellini all competed in the tournament. Senior Casey Lewis won his 100th career match, while freshmen Tyler Pizzi and Luke Petaccia competed in the regional tournament. Senior wrestlers Jake Prusha, Will Harris, Casey Lewis, and Nolan Shields Photo by David Harnett
Robbie Natelli
Tommy Chiellini
Photo by Alysa Mehl
Casey Lewis
Photo by Curstine Guevarra
Photo by Alysa Mehl
Female Athlete of the Year: Male Athlete of the Year: Melissa Purcell Josh Ulin
Photo by Molly Heintze
Melissa Purcell, The Smoke Signal’s Female Athlete of the Year, had a historic year. During the indoor season, she set the indoor Bergen County record with a vault of 12-6 ½. She was named to the First Team All-County in the winter season. In the spring, Purcell set the sectional record with a vault of 12-7. At the Penn Relays, Purcell finished tied for sixth place. At the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, Purcell tied for third place. She will continue her academic and athletic careers at Northeastern University. Contributed by Melissa Purcell
Photo by Molly Heintze
Josh Ulin, The Smoke Signal’s Male Athlete of the Year, has had an impressive career at Pascack Valley. Ulin spent three years in the starting lineup for the Indians and was a four-year varsity contributer. As a junior, he took home Second Team All-State honors. He made 114 saves while recording 12 shutouts. As a senior, he continued his strong performance in goal, earning FirstTeam All-County honors. Photo by Victoria Donofrio