Maroons No Match in Pool for Crusaders

Bergen swam to victory in a 94-76 showdown against Ridgewood as the Crusaders took first place in all but two heats. The relay combination of Josh Sembrano, John Om, Sebastian Lopez, and Liam Kelly took the 200 medley in 1:41.55 and the 400 free in 3:28.15. Sembrano also won the 200 freestyle (1:49.72) and 100 back (1:02.15) while Kelly picked up the 50 free (23.00) and Om brought home the 500 free (4:57.07) and 100 breast stroke (1:02.15). The 200 free relay of Lopez, Jake Bruno, Ralph Cannarozzi and Rob Farrell finished in 1:39.12. Cannarozzi hit the lanes in the 200 IM for a 2:06.37 finish.

River Dell Lady Hawk senior Kate Brock continues to play outstanding defense, blocking 30 shots in seven games. The squad defeated Pascack Valley Tuesday night at home for their second win in a row and improved their season record to 4-4.  The girls won 37-32 thanks in part to 10-0 start. Kate Brock had 14 points, Jordan Bastable 9 points including 7 free throws and Cassidy Verrier 8 points including a key basket late in the game. Then in an overtime thriller, River Dell overcame the Tenafly Tigers 30-24 in a defensive showdown with neight team scoring in double digits until the Lady Hawks laid down 11 points in OT. Kate Brock netted 8 points followed by Cassidy Verrrier's 6; Kristen Hartwick came off the bench to drop in 5 having finally gotten clearance after suffering a concussion last spring.

Even though the Crusaders took an early lead on the ice, a third period pair of goals by Seton Hall Prep dropped Bergen Catholic in a 2-1 rout by the Pirates. Tucker James had the lone goal off of the stick from Conner Wynne. David Gerity made 24 saves.

River Dell boys and girls bowling picked up a win this week with the boys shutting out Passaic 7-0 with the goals following in a 5-2 rout. Max Barnett rolled a 221 and 203 for a pair of high games.

BC bowling rolled to a 7-0 shutout over neighboring Paramus Catholic to finish up th eweek behind Simon Lezaja's high games of 300 and 215; Brian Hund's 246, Charles Long's 243 and 202. Lezaja finished with an overall 696, Hund had 635 and Long with 639.

RD Indoor Track competed in the North Jersey Track Championships this week at Fairleigh Dickinson University where the girls team tied for the small school title with Newark Tech. The girls were led by place winners Emily Croonquist (1600m), Jamie Woods (55 HH), Sam Schleiger (600m) and the 4 X 400 and 4 X 800 relay teams.  The boys 4 X4 00 relay team also placed. But the team's success doesn't end there as as six track stars will compete in the second annual Track Universe Series final at Satellite Sports in Totowa next Friday (Jan. 20). Competing are Austin Berninger, Matt Koh and Paul Zaukas (shot put), Brandon Jurasin (high jump), Laura Oh and Erin Smith (shot put).

Golden Hawks Basketball is now 5-4 after Ben Orth had 14 points Tuesday in a close loss 45-43 at Pascack Valley. The Hawks controlled the first half but a costly third period with netting one field goal doomed River Dell to the Indians. 

The Crusaders basketball jumped out of the gate at 4-1 this season under their first-year coach only to drop their last four games—including Tuesday night’s 68-63 loss to Hackensack at home.

The Golden Hawks wrestling team survived an upperweight onslaught from Cliffside Park to stay undefeated with a 43-31 victory. Lowerweights Dylan Mitchell, DJ Tirelli and Danny Lynch each won by forfeit to get the Hawks started before middleweights Brendan Campbell and Cenzo Cariddi came in with back-to-back wins. Tyler Kallensee shut out his opponent before Cliffside Park earned a trio of wins to close the gap but a pin by Lenny Smith secured the victory on the mat.