I cover high school sports at @NJAdvanceMedia for @njdotcom and Star-Ledger. On the NJ HS sports beat since 1982
New Jersey
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Dear senior athletes,
I am so sorry to see your final spring season end before it could even begin.
There isn’t anything I can say to dull you pain. But please know that I am typing these last few words while standing up in your honor. I will clap after this period.
👏👏👏👏
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Heartfelt congratulations for each NJ high school FB player who did NOT receive post-season honors, yet stuck it out and did your darn best when called upon.
Forget the stars for one moment.
YOU are the backbone of your team. You will prosper for your noble but silent efforts
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Heartfelt congratulations for each NJ high school FB player who did NOT receive post-season honors, yet stuck it out and did your darn best when called upon.
Forget the stars for one moment.
YOU are the backbone of your team. You will prosper for your noble but silent efforts
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My annual note to the scout teams
Heartfelt congratulations for each NJ HS FB player who did NOT earn postseason honors, yet stuck it out and did your best when called upon.
Forget the stars. YOU are the backbone of your team. You will prosper for your noble but silent efforts.
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Said this before & meant it
Heartfelt congratulations for each NJ HS FB player who did NOT earn postseason honors, yet stuck it out and did your darn best when called upon. Forget the stars.
YOU are the backbone of your team. You will prosper for your noble but silent efforts.
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Congratulations to every player, coach, statistician and official who participated in this just-completed basketball season. We don’t reach the finish line without your perseverance, your compliance and your ironclad faith that tomorrow has got to be better! Take a bow!
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Let’s make this opening day of lacrosse Class of 2020 Day.
In light of all those faceoffs, ground balls, clears, goals, saves and cheers those seniors missed last spring, you owe them YOUR BEST today!
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Note to the player whose parent yells from the stands, “He’s got nothing!” Toward the 15, 16, 17-year-old kid you are covering: Don’t listen to everything he says.
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The TOC comes to an end just as 2 small public schools - a blue blood and a new blood - show the state, heck the country, that this play-down-to-one model works just fine in this sport.
Great timing.
TOC boys lacrosse final preview - No. 1 Mountain Lakes vs. No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven nj.com/highschoolsports/2022…
@MLBTLax @RFHLAX @MLHS_athletics @RFH_Regional @MLHS_Clubs @PrincipalRfh @TheNJAC @ShoreSports_NJ
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When we think of Kyle Kirst, this is the face we see. Cheery, optimistic, welcoming and a touch mischievous. After tomorrow’s Kirst Cup final, this smile will adorn the trophy case at either @RHSBOYSLACROSSE or @HilltopLax @cjkirst_15 @CKirst34
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Good luck NJ student-athletes as you begin another academic year.
You stare down challenges, defy doubters and pursue excellence each day on the playing field.
You'll never regret matching that effort in the classroom
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A guy known for giving back gets his
Tahir Whitehead Day at Newark West Side s.nj.com/kaE5q4C
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Take a bow Essex County.
You produced 4 NJ Regional Champions over the last 2 weekends.
No other county had more than 1.
@Jaguar_pride_4 @CaldwellFBall @IrvingtonHS_FB @CGFootballHS @CGHS_Athletics @irvblueknights @CWCJCHSCHIEFS @SuperEssexNJ @EssexNFF
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In Memory of Mike Schambach gofundme.com/in-memory-of-mi…
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Last-man-standing KIRST CUP not important in NJ lacrosse?
Try telling that to these people.
Mountain Lakes coach Tim Flynn snapped this pic among the other 3,014 things he did to make this tournament happen.
@RHSBOYSLACROSSE @HilltopLax @MLBTLax
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Hey, NJ Laxers, hit the weights and start giving those backyard goals a real workout...practice begins April 1.
After losing complete 2020 season, NJSIAA sets plan to resurrect spring HS sports nj.com/highschoolsports/2020…
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Kicker Justin Davidovicz and OL Zach Miseo of @LegacyFootball1 sign with @RFootball as preferred walk-ons, along with coach Scott Bray
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Jamie Lovejoy directed a Watchung Hills team that won 20 games, flaunted one of the top defensive units in NJ and claimed the program's 1st state championship in Group 4. The man deserves some credit - and gets it today
s.nj.com/qtAUSZm
@WHLacrosse @WHTribe
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“Lacrosse has always been down to one on the field and it’s a beautiful thing. There are other sates that are jealous. They are jealous because we do that and no one else does. Nobody runs, nobody hides, you’ve got to play.”
Mt Lakes coach Tim Flynn mourning the end of the TOC
Shout it from the Mountain: Lakes wins last boys lacrosse TOC in historic fashion nj.com/highschoolsports/2022…
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Let's do humanity a big favor today and try being a little more like Mike - Cleary and Schmabach, that is
s.nj.com/04XxyFZ
@KeanAthletics @KeanMensLax @MontclairStLax @BRpantherLAX @IHSSpartans @FalconsSJHS @msuredhawks @2knightslax @TownshipLax @RUmlax
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Tim Flynn becomes 4th coach nationally to reach 700 career wins with 12-4 triumph over Pope John
@MLBTLax @MLboyslax @MLHS_athletics
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No. 6 Summit defeats No. 2 Delbarton in the KIRST CUP and will now play another public school in the final Saturday.
Another reason why the TOC in this sport was always so relevant #Lastmanstanding
@HilltopLax @rfhboyslacrosse @Maroon_Sports @RHSBOYSLACROSSE @ADSummitNJ
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RIP Ralph Steele, the Voice of Irvington sports and hero to hundreds of Pop Warner FB players in town for decades.
Many went on to college. Some to the NFL. Every child was special to him.
Irvington games will never sound the same
@irvblueknights @IrvingtonHS_FB @SuperEssexNJ
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For all the loving band-aids needed after tackle football (in the street), for the happy ice cream runs (after losses and despite dad's protests) and for all the gas and time expended driving our fannies to and from practice.
To all the wonderful sports Moms
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
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Nick Miceli of Scotch Plains-Fanwood is the NJ.com boys lacrosse Coach of the Year, 2022 nj.com/highschoolsports/2022…
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Over in West Orange. Craig, Dunneman, Conforti, Thomason, Dowd lead No. 8 Seton Hall Prep @theprepfootball to upset over No. 3 Don Bosco Prep @DBP_Football 20-7
@SHP_Athletics @SetonHallPrep @IronmenAthletic @SFCFootballNJ @bcnjgridiron
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Mom lovingly neutral as Kirst boys square off for Delbarton, Seton Hall Prep s.nj.com/65sQcwa
@DelbartonLax @SHPlacrosse @SHP_Athletics @DelbartonSports @Delbarton @SetonHallPrep @HSSportsNJ
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It's been a deep honor and true pleasure to have worked alongside @GreggLerner @SeanReillyHS @KDJ_N12Varsity @N12VarsityJimmy @Dylan_Butler @eliovelez @N12VarsityAP @ChrisCaronHS @salrelish @BobStaak @bmole125 @Quick60 and rest of crew at @News12Varsity
piped.video/watch?v=TSIajKGH…
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Bridgewater-Raritan to Rutgers lacrosse pipeline traveling at 100 mph today as sharpshooting '22 attackman @Brady_Kurdyla follows his dad, uncle, head coach, head coach's son ...to the Banks
@RUmlax @BRZooCrew @2knightslax @aaronkurdyla @AllenKKurdyla @CoachScottBieda
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Ramapo’s Drew Gibbs is the NJ.com Football Coach of the Year, 2019 nj.com/highschoolsports/2019…
@RamapoFootball @RamapoBoosters @RamapoAthletics @SFCFootballNJ @BigNorthConBNC
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Roselle head coach Mike Smith - involved with Rams basketball for the last 45 years - will coach his final game tonight. One of the true gentleman and teachers in this game
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No. 3 Seton Hall Prep rides Kumar's shooting to upset over No. 1 Delbarton s.nj.com/4EAp3Hf
@SHPlacrosse @SHP_Athletics @SetonHallPrep @Delbarton @DelbartonLax @DelbartonSports @HSSportsNJ
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Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns enters the St. Joseph (Met.) gym Tuesday to receive his St. Joe’s Atheletic Hall of Fame ring. To Towns’ left is teammate D’Angelo Russell.
@FalconsSJHS @SJHSMetBball @GMConferenceNJ
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No. 6 Delbarton @DelbartonLax takes down No. 1 and reigning T of C champion Don Bosco Prep @DBPLacrosse 11-3 in Non-Public A semifinals. @DelbartonSports faces No. 5 St. Augustine @HermitsLacrosse Wednesday for title
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Over in Piscataway. No. 19 Irvington @irvblueknights rallies to stun No. 5 @HighlandsTDClub 19-14 in North Group 4 final 19-14
@IrvingtonHS_FB @SFCFootballNJ
@SuperEssexNJ
Third Essex County team to win a championship thus far. East Orange plays tomorrow
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I covered few guys as tough as Mike Schambach (undefeated '98 @BRpantherLAX), even fewer as nice outside the lines
gofundme.com/in-memory-of-mi…
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Kean U men's lacrosse will celebrates its 50th season by wearing throwback Newark State jerseys on Senior Day Saturday vs Johnson & Wales, 1 pm face. Cougars to honor the late Mike Cleary, who played on 1st team and served as asst. coach many years
@KeanMensLax @KeanAthletics
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Welcome to the club, Chuck Apel:
1. Tim Flynn, Mt Lakes 647-141
2. Chuck Ruebling, Delbarton, 523-116
3. Apel, Bridgewater-Raritan, 500-222
@BRpantherLAX @BRZooCrew @DelbartonSports @MLHS_Sports
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Kyle Kirst was one of the most affable lacrosse figures in N.J., with an immense love for family and also Rutgers U.
@StevePoliti tells us how 2 of his sons - also affable and extremely talented - have honored their dad's legacy of love and loyalty
nj.com/rutgersfootball/2021/…
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The Family of Holmdel Student Jack Bailey Clarence Dowd Share Personal Letter to All Who Mourn With Them tapinto.net/towns/holmdel-an…
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The Boys Lax State Tournament Brackets are out!
The Dream is officially underway
The Nightmare of 2020 is now serving a non-releasable penalty
Good luck and good health to all
2021 boys lacrosse NJSIAA state tournament brackets nj.com/highschoolsports/2021…
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Former star N.J. lacrosse player recovers from coronavirus, coma. 'We nearly lost him,’ Gov. Murphy says. nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/f…
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That's a wrap on the 2023 football season. Congratulations to the champions and also to those aspired to be champions and never aborted their mission until the final whistle of your final game.
I think I'm hear basketballs bouncing somewhere
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Over in Morris Twp. No. Seton Hall Prep @SHPlacrosse thrives behind scoring balance and D to upset No. 1 Delbarton 12-5
@SetonHallPrep @DelbartonLax @SHP_Athletics @DelbartonSports
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Hats off to two of the richest lacrosse programs New Jersey has ever seen. That was a battle of pure champions @MLboyslax @HilltopLax @ADSummitNJ @MLHS_athletics
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Over in West Orange. Kumar, Blanc, Stephenson pace sizzling offense that sends No. 3 @SHPlacrosse past No. 1 @DelbartonLax 13-9
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Irvington’s Ashley Pierre is the NJ.com Football Coach of the Year, 2021 nj.com/highschoolsports/2021…
@irvblueknights @IrvingtonHS_FB @SFCFootballNJ @SuperEssexNJ
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Over at @KeanUniversity . Brennfleck, Palazzi, Glavin, Fordyce, Lane send @MLboyslax past @DelbartonLax 12-5 for T of C title. First since 2008
@MLHS_athletics @DelbartonSports
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Orange bound. Tyus Battle signs his National Letter of Intent with Syracuse Wednesday night in Metuchen @msg_varsity
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Welcome to the Club Watchung Hills @WHLacrosse and Northern Highlands @NHBoysLax . Somewhere in Ho-Ho-Kus, Warren, Allendale, Watchung, Saddle River, Long Hill or Green Brook, there will be a kid taking extra shots all summer so he can also be a State Champ like the boys of 2018
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Don Bosco Prep is the NJ.com boys lacrosse Team of the Year for 2021 nj.com/highschoolsports/2021…
@DBPLacrosse @IronmenAthletic
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Best men, best friends, best coaches. This duo is a match made on the N.J. gridiron. nj.com/highschoolsports/2020…
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Mike Teel introduced as 12th head football coach at @DBP_Football @IronmenAthletic @News12Varsity
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No. 6 St. Peter’s Prep @SPPBASKETBALL pulls it out vs No. 4 @Hudsoncatholic on 3-point banker from Richie Rosa as time expires
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I know there are many teachers out there who follow this space.
I appreciate all you do - in the classroom, on the practice fields, at home when doing all the prep work no one sees
Thank you!
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NJSIAA admits refs robbed Manasquan of last-second upset over Camden in state semi nj.com/highschoolsports/2024…
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Bridgewater-Raritan has produced 3 undefeated seasons, 5 Group 4 titles, 4 overall NJ crowns, 500 wins for Chuck Apel, yet 8 is the most meaningful number to this program. @BrandonGouldHS and Bobby Russo tell us why
s.nj.com/828v4tU
@BRpantherLAX @BRZooCrew @2knightslax
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Assist of the year already goes to sr. middie Gavin Peene of Ridgewood.
The classy @AF_Falcons commit emailed to let me know I sited one TOO MANY goals for him in Tuesday's win, and asked that I properly credit a teammate. Goal @AF_Academy
@RHSBOYSLACROSSE @Maroon_Sports
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First time all day these fellas from B-R caught with their motors not revving at high speed @LegacyFootball1
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Bernards wins it 23-17
@BHSFootballTeam @BernardsSports
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Over in Union. Wilson, McBride, Sanborn lead @TheU_FarmersFB to first sectional title in 26 years with 42-28 win over @MustangNation in N2G5 final
@UnionHS_Sports
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Over in Bridgewater. Riley Moore scores EMO with 1.8 left oT to give @BRpantherLAX 4th straight Somerset title 5-4 over @WHLacrosse
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Bergen Catholic is the NJ.com Football Team of the Year, 2022 nj.com/highschoolsports/2022…
@BergenCathFBall
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Welcome back to school, student-athletes! You all just crossed the white line again.
Apply the same discipline, creativity and determination to your academic responsibilities as you do to your games, and we'll all have to crane our necks to see how high you've climbed.
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2 teams still standing - @DelbartonLax @HilltopLax - but about 200 that should still be holding heads high. Saw tough, competitive lax in every corner of NJ this year. Game is growing. Particular praise goes out to @WHLacrosse and @NHBoysLax for each winning your 1st sate title
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Over in Morris Township. No. 7 Delbarton rallies to top No. 2 Summit 4-3
@DelbartonLax @DelbartonSports @ADSummitNJ @HilltopLax
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What was learned on lacrosse field became life lessons for this elementary school principal nj.com/news/2020/06/what-was…
@BRpantherLAX @BRZooCrew @2knightslax @AllenKKurdyla @RUmlax @19mgh @aaronkurdyla @BRRSDNews
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No. 2 Delbarton and No. 3 Mountain Lakes conduct their 23rd meeting in the Morris County Tournament final 730 pm Tuesday at Mount Olive. The dudes who played in their first championship encounter are now like 48 years old
@DelbartonLax @MLboyslax @MLHS_athletics @DelbartonSports
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Hudson Catholic's Quinerly repeats as Gatorade NJ Player of the Year s.nj.com/6V0xOXG
@Hudsoncatholic @RealJahvonQ
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Phillipsburg football preview, 202: Liners to build around proven ground game nj.com/highschoolsports/2020…
@PHSStateliners @barnamatt54 @JalilTerrell @hille_jacob @Pburgstudsec @statelinerphs @SkylandSportsNJ
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Rahway coach Jeff Lubreski poses with AD Tom Lewis and coaching staff (including Lubreski’s sons Ryan and Sean) after his squad defeated Roselle to become 40th coach in NJ history to reach 500
@Rahway_Schools @RahwayHigh
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Rosa blooms again. Richie Rosa lifts St. Peter’s Prep @SPPAthletics past Bergen Catholic @BCCrusaderHoops in Non-Public A semifinals @SPPBASKETBALL
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Please, folks, STOP what you are doing and READ the latest masterpiece by @MattStanmyre
The best HS football game ever has found its literary match
It was hailed as the greatest high school football game of the century. But what happened to the losers? projects.nj.com/features/the…
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Some of the best kickers and punters in N.J. over the last 40-some years owe a debt of gratitude to guru Pat Sempier. He gave his expertise, his time and his heart to the craft. RIP, Pat
@theprepfootball @SJRFB @PopeJohnLionsFB @CaldwellFBall @DelbartonFB @SFCFootballNJ
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Now that football season is completed in NJ and hoops season beckons, this thought just struck like a ton of bricks:
No more St. Anthony @SAHSFriarNation basketball
Our collective loss
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It will be Cranford vs Jackson Memorial in the Last Dance World Series championship 7 pm Friday at Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton
@cranfordsport @CranfordBasebal @UCConferenceNJ @NJLastdance @Jaguar_Nation @JaxMemorial @JMHS_Athletics1
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The top N.J. boys lacrosse seniors in 2021 — Our picks, your votes nj.com/highschoolsports/2021…
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Over in Westfield. Rooney, Howland, Echausse lead @Westfieldbball past defending champ @DaSideBBall In North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals 54-50
@WHS_BlueDevils
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St. Joseph edges Piscataway to claim fourth straight GMC crown. Ford, Fresco, Schulters, Cruz guide Falcons to 9th crown in last 10 years
s.nj.com/kqaV1YC
@FalconsSJHS @StJoesMetuchen @PwaySchools @PHSChiefsNation @pwayukno @GMConferenceNJ
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Thank you Veterans and your families. May a deep sense of gratitude for your service be at least one thing that always unites us
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Good luck to all the high school basketball players in New Jersey tipping off this weekend. It is now officially for real.
Stay hungry. Stay healthy. And, for goodness sake, have some fun!
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Jeff “Goldie” Goldberg reaching above and beyond to produce handsome program for 75th Essex County Tournament final. Jeff’s the best at what he does. If you don’t believe me, ask him!
@SuperEssexNJ @SHP_Athletics @SetonHallPrep @nwkboeathletics
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Former Johnson/UVa star, current @MontclairStLax coach Matt Poskay on hand last night for Gr 1 final between @SquanAthletics & @MLboyslax meaning the state's top all-time scorers @canyon_birch & @MPoskay7 at same site
That's 753 goals, 1,022 points
No wonder we had lightning!
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Paramus Catholic football found guilty of illegal recruiting, banned from 2022 postseason nj.com/highschoolsports/2022…
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Boys lacrosse: A canceled season can’t stop this Bridgewater-Raritan tradition nj.com/highschoolsports/2020…
@BRpantherLAX @SkylandSportsNJ @NJILOAexec @2knightslax @RCernuto @AllenKKurdyla
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No. 3 Seton Hall Prep erupts early and late to overwhelm Pa. foe in opener s.nj.com/EWeIX2E
@SetonHallPrep @SHPlacrosse @SHP_Athletics
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Ali, Ali, Ali ... Woodbridge back powers comeback victory nj.com/highschoolsports/2019…
@WhsBarronsFB @WHSBarronPride @BarronsSports @gmcgridiron @NBHSZebras @NBZEBRAHERD
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