School Officials, AD Honor Winter Sports Teams

Student athletes from Hanover Park and Whippany Park High Schools were honored for their achievements at the March 27 Board of Education meeting.

Brent Kaiser, the athletic director at the Hanover Park Regional School District, said it was his "great privilege" to honor the athletes. "They brought a lot of attention and a lot of pride back to our school district," Kaiser said. "Athletics in the last four months in this district has been unbelievable."

Kaiser said he had "latched onto" the regional hockey team, which came back from several games where they entered the second half behind by several goals or got pushed into overtime or shoot-outs and managed to win the game.

"They are the true definition of character and will and fight," Kaiser said. "When you describe a group of boys who keep getting knocked down and get back up and keep fighting, that's something they're going to take with them for the rest of their lives."

Wrestlers, and the wrestling coach, were also honored at meeting. Kaiser, a 17-year wrestling coach himself, said wrestling "leaves you on an island at times. You go home and your family is eating, and sometimes you don't eat with them. Sometimes your friends go out Friday night to a restaurant, you don't go with your friends. There's a lot of sacrifice involved," Kaiser said.

The team won the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Liberty Division Championship, their sectional championship and won their group semifinals.

Kaiser also called up track coaches and players to honor them. "There's a lot that goes into track, but ultimately it comes down to good coaches and it comes down to what your will to get better and to beat your next time or your next distance.

Matt Santangelo, a student at Hanover Park High, won the Group 1 shot put with the track team this year. He was honored along with his coaches.

Kaiser also noted the achievements of the boys and girls basketball teams at Hanover Park High.

The mayors and several councilmen from East Hanover, Florham Park and Hanover were also present to give their congratulations, along with Superintendent Carol Grossi and members of the school board.