Bergen Falls Short to Repeat as County Champs on the Mat

Traveling across the New York state border to Rockland Community College in Suffern for the Bergen County George Jockish Holiday Tournament, the  Bergen Catholic wrestlers were not able to overcome a tight lead by the Don Bosco Ironmen to repeat as county champs falling 191-189. The following Bergen Catholic wrestlers placed for County titles in their respective weight classes: Johnny Sebastian (160) repeated last year's win over Matt Dickman of Glen Rock/Saddle Brook in a 5-1 victory; Alex Kruklinski earned a 10-6 win over Dylan Menze of Emerson/Park Ridge with a pair of takedowns in the final period. River Dell placed 10th win 93.5 points with Lenny Smith as the lone Hawk in the finals - he fell 5-2 to Bosco freshman Zach Chakonis.

The Lady Hawks (1-3) are struggling to start off a winning basketball season and were knocked out of the competition early in their own Holiday Hoop Jam tournament. The defending titlest fell in overtime to the Secaucus Patriots, 48-46 and will have to refocus on playing good basketball. Kate Brock led with 16 points. The on Wednesday began with River Dell facing North Bergen and with Brock laying in 29 points, Christmas finally came for the Lady Hawks in their 61-44 victory. The win also brought Brock within one career varsity point of 1,000 which she against Ridgewood in the final consolation round. River Dell lost 42-28 to the Maroons for a 6th place finish.

During the two-day Track Universe Series in Totowa, the River Dell boys and girls shot put brought home titles. In the shot put, Matt Koh placed second in the first day with a throw of 48-2 and was followed by Austin Berninger's 47-3 toss. Berninger placed third in the second day of the Series as well with a 48-4 1/4. Laura Oh placed third both days with a first day best of 31-9 and then threw 31-11 1/2.

Bergen Catholic track traveled to Providence for the Rhode Island Classic and took third in the shuttle hurdles, while junior pole vaulter Ted D’Amico was third in his specialty at 12-6.

In the opening round of the Charles Housley ice hockey tournament, the River Dell/Westwood Golden Hawks earned their first win of the season although on their state record it will count as a tie. Going into overtime, Zach Rosenoff netted the winning shot over the Hackensack Comets when he found himself unguarded.  The squad took on the Lakeland Lancers in the championship round on Wednesday and once again had to go to overtime for the final decision, a 1-0 loss to Lakeland. Connor O'Reilly made a staggering 43 saves between the posts.

Over at the Bergen Holiday Festival in Bergenfield, the Golden Hawks (3-1) flew to a 58-49 victory in the first round of the boys basketball tournament. Tim Barnes led all shooters with a game high 25 points as River Dell shared the wealth across the board. Heading into the semifinals, RD took on the Dwight-Englewood Bulldogs who sat out the first round and came up a trey short in a 35-32 loss where the Hawks met basket for basket. Tim Barnes led River Dell with 14 points followed by Sean Boland's 11. Earning a third place finish, the Golden Hawks overcame a tough Bogota squad 60-58 behind Ben Orth's five treys and Ryan Duran's trio from behind the arc. Orth finished with 16 points, Duran with 14 and Tim Barnes netted 17.

Down in Florida, the BC Crusaders picked up a 47-11 win at the KSA Holiday Tournament over Pace (Fla.). Bergen led throughout the entire game but was limited to single digits in the second half. Taino Flores netted 10 points with three treys and a lone shot from the foul line. Richie Deluca's four treys (overall 15 points) and PJ Reed (14 points) took center stage in the second round when BC knocked off Westpost (Fla.) in a 75-44 thriller. BC met their match though at the end of the KSA Tournament against Olentangy Liberty (OH) in a 66-52 loss.