Student Sports Stars Celebrated Throughout Berkeley

BERKELEY, NJ — From elementary school to high school, Berkeley's student athletes have made great accomplishments in the past few months, and both township and school officials are taking time to celebrate them.

At recent Central Regional Board of Education and Berkeley Township Council meetings, student athletes were praised and received certificates for their success.

Central's middle school girls soccer team not only won the division, they remained undefeated for the entire season as well.

"They're really talented," said the team's coach.

The Township Council took time to recognize both Jersey Shore United's Jetties girls U12 soccer team and the Monmouth-Ocean Soccer Association's (MOSA) Berkeley Blast boys U9 soccer team.

The girls had the opportunity to play in the New Jersey National State Cup Division this year, where they made it to the finals but lost to the number one team in the state.

"It's quite an accomplishment for these young girls at 11-years-old to be able to play at that level and represent Berkeley soccer and the Township as such," said the team's coach Gene Makulinski.

For the boys, at 8-years-old, this was the first time for them playing in the MOSA competitive soccer division.

But during the entire season, the team only lost one game, and scored 65 goals, with every single player scoring at least one goal.

Council President John Bacchione noted that it's not just the kids who made the teams successful - it's the coaches too.

"They're all volunteers," Bacchione said, asking for a round of applause for the coaches as well. "They don't get paid to do this. They get the kids to win championships."