SPORTS
Baseball The 2009 baseball program pulled off a rare accomplishment capturing the Hudson County Championship at the varsity, JV and freshman levels. Adding to the novelty of the feat, all three teams defeated Memorial and it marked the last HCIAA championship as a new scheduling format will be in place for 2010. The varsity win also completed Prep’s second “Triple Crown,” following the football and basketball county titles. Saint Peter’s is the only school in the county to ever achieve this, having done it in 2001 as well. The team started off slowly with an 8-7 record, but turned it around at the right time, winning nine out of their last ten games. That streak was bolstered by the steady pitching of junior Marc Hanna of Bloomfield who finished the season with a record of 8-1 including all three of the team’s playoff victories. For his performance, Marc received first team all county and third team all state recognition. Senior left fielder and co-captain, Matthew Kaczmar from Lyndhurst and junior Michael Yager from Kearny earned first team all county honors. It was the second year in a row on first team for Kaczmar who was also a second team all state pick. With sixteen players returning next season and the success of the JV and freshmen, expectations will be high for the baseball team.
ABOVE There’s no better way to end a season than by hoisting a championship trophy. LEFT Marc Hanna’s stellar pitching performance carried Prep through the playoffs.
Volleyball
This should have been the proverbial rebuilding year for Coach Don Guide and the Saint Peter’s
volleyball team. The graduation of multiple all stars whose experience had led the team to the state finals, meant a core of underclassmen with little playing time would be thrown right into the fire.
Alex Perez (#8), Adam Governale (#7) and Mike Blicharz (#15) celebrate with John Armstrong (center) after a winning spike.
A talented group of juniors including Michael Blicharz and Ken Walter of Bayonne, Alexander Perez of North Bergen, Adam Governale of Summit, John Armstrong of Chatham, Parker Kolodka of Verona and Alexander Cogott of Little Falls complemented senior captain Daniel Londono of Bloomfield to form a team that proved hustle and firepower could overcome inexperience. The young squad did well in league play, but their confidence was bolstered by championships in two elite tournaments. The team traveled to Providence, RI and outplayed several top-flight teams from the greater New England area. One week later, they topped Bayonne to capture the Livingston Tournament. After dropping the county final to Bayonne, Prep began the state playoffs as the #4 seed in the North bracket. Wins over state-ranked Bloomfield, Vernon, and Lakeland set up another showdown with the Bayonne Bees. The Marauders eliminated their county rivals, earning a third straight sectional title. A defeat at the hands of Southern Regional in the state championship concluded the team’s 30-13 season. Finishing the year with a Star Ledger ranking of #6 helped outside hitters Kenneth Walter and Parker Kolodka garner third team all state status while setter Michael Blicharz, defensive specialist Alexander Gogott and middle hitter John Armstrong took home first team all county honors. There will be no rebuilding or reloading next season as Coach Guide loses only one starter to graduation.
PREP Magazine www.spprep.org Fall 2009
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