.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By N.J. High School Sports Desk Matt Bove | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAbby Buser delivered a masterful performance both on the mound and at the plate leading 10th-seeded Waldwick to a convincing 7-0 victory over 23rd-seeded Dumont in the Bergen County Tournament preliminary round in Waldwick Buser was nearly untouchable in the circle tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout while striking out 10 and walking just two The junior was equally impressive with the bat Kyra Rahulatharan provided additional offensive firepower Her solo shot helped Waldwick build its commanding lead Hailey Zirpoli and Ava Decicco each contributed two hits and scored runs for the Warriors Emma Seifert drove in two runs despite not recording a hit Dumont (9-7) struggled to generate any offense against Buser’s dominant pitching managing just three hits throughout the contest Waldwick advances to face seventh-seeded Pascack Valley in the first round on Wednesday The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Invel Capital has acquired a 111-unit multifamily property in Waldwick for $39 million adding an asset that was built less than a decade ago and is steps from NJ Transit rail service The firm noted that the Waldwick Station property one-bedroom and two-bedroom rentals and a series of amenities It is immediately west of a stop on NJ Transit’s Main/Bergen County Line providing commuter rail service to Manhattan while it’s also steps from Waldwick’s downtown shopping district Brian Whitmer of RePropCo Capital Advisors in partnership with Cushman & Wakefield’s Niko Nicolaou and Ryan Dowd arranged the off-market sale Gerard Quinn and John Cumming arranged financing for the deal “We were excited by the opportunity to acquire a best-in-class community in an irreplicable location within one of the most sought-after markets in the nation,” Ryan Goldstein managing principals of Summit-based Invel Capital “We look forward to continuing Waldwick Station’s legacy as a luxury transit-oriented community that provides the ideal blend of luxury Built by Russo Development and Dinallo Construction Corp. Waldwick Station opened in fall 2017 as part of a project designed by MHS Architecture The building is notable in that it sits on a long thin footprint between a residential neighborhood to the west and the train station to the east blending the two environments with two distinctly different facades The project has brought new life to a site that once housed DeMartini Coal and Lumber Cos. it’s home to residents who have access to a 992-square-foot café covered parking and amenities such as a modern fitness center with a management team led by Vinyl Real Estate Management Russo, Dinallo open new 110-unit rental project in Waldwick has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Greek Real Estate Partners has gained a seal of approval for one of its key divisions thanks to a new accreditation from the Institute of Real Estate Management All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP – On the cusp of history If he was to break the school record for goals in a season the Waldwick senior wanted it to come in a big win Tied with under two minutes to go in the state championship Ruehlemann barreled through a double-team and scored to lift the Warriors to 2-1 comeback win over Haddon Township in Sunday's Group 1 final His late heroics gave Waldwick its third state championship and the first since beating the same South Jersey school back in 2021 By scoring his second of the half and state-leading 40th of the season Ruehlemann surpassed Dennis Reyes for the most by a Warrior in one year So when Waldwick (21-5-1) conceded early in the final at Franklin High School it knew it had more than enough firepower to roar back "Imagine scoring two goals with like five people on your back the whole time," coach Jon Noschese said Ruehlemann stepped onto the field Sunday with some extra nerves after being held scoreless in the last two matches and putting his milestone chase off as long as possible But he and his Waldwick teammates also arrived with some thick skin after a season that hasn't always gone as planned From a 5-4 start in September that nearly cost them a spot in the Bergen County tournament to a string of four straight one-goal games to close it out the Warriors have lived on the edge at every step Another hiccup came Saturday night when four of five players succumbed to food poisoning after a team outing Noschese joked that this will go down as the Chinese Buffet win "I would say there was definitely pressure knowing that it was the last game and knowing you want to leave something on the line," Ruehlemann said We're a really good team and I knew we were able to able to do it." This was the third time in four years that Waldwick and Haddon Township met in the state championship round While the Warriors finished on the wrong side in the last meeting in 2022 that playoff experience was not all for naught "I think it was enormous knowing what it takes," Ruehlemann said "Because we have a bunch of senior guys here and even juniors who went in that game saw that game and know what the atmosphere is like Before Ruehlemann came up with a storybook finish it was Haddon Township that came through with a fast start The Hawks scored on a free kick less than two minutes in when senior Joseph Sheehan headed in a cross from Bobby McIlvaine Haddon Township continue to apply pressure on goalie Axel da Silva by earning four corners in the first 25 minutes and finding pockets down the left side with McIlvaine and Brody Beals combining nicely But Waldwick built up steam late in the half and it carried on through intermission we knew it would be a dogfight," da Silva said kept our heads straight on and we did it." Waldwick's first goal came with just under 30 minutes left on an in-swinging corner from Isaac Vargas The ball caromed between two Waldwick players and over to Ruehlemann who stuck a foot out and poked the ball to the top right corner The match mellowed in the last 10 minutes and seemed to be heading to overtime Ruehlemann chested down a long ball from Elvis Hernandez chipped it over a defender and toed it over the keeper Ruehlemann thought back to the people around him "Honestly no joke it's the support of my teammates," Ruehlemann said It's us all collaborating and building the bond together and trusting them." Waldwick's built a pretty good bond on defense Mezini provided a key clear as time was winding down People really didn't think we had it but we really knew we had it US.Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images 2025Parade aims to feature only the best products and services but it's on sale for an amazing price right now at Macy’s for a stunning savings of 86% off the original price Whether a fire pit has been on your "maybe" list for a while or you've just been on the hunt for a phenomenal model that won't set you too far back you'll appreciate both the style and value that the Waldwick brings to your life With an aluminum frame body and cast aluminum surface it's a robust and durable accessory that is built to last Macy's This particular fire pit happens to be gorgeous but it's also a practical addition to your home if you love spending time outside and want to extend it into the year as much as possible you can enjoy brisk evenings in cozy comfort as everyone gathers around to warm up The 60,000 BTU burner pit has everything that you need to get started The beads are a beautiful addition to the design adding a decorative element that complements the handsome hammered texture and finish with a base measuring 30 inches wide by 25 inches tall and the top coming in at 40 inches wide by an inch thick it will leave an elegant impression while keeping you and your loved ones warm as you relax and enjoy the evening together The only caveat is that it's moving fast, so it's important to be quick if you're interested. Grab the Agio Waldwick Outdoor Fire Pit before it sells out Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing Juliet Trouse (19) of Pompton Lakes and Arianna Carrino (14) of Wayne Hills battle for a loose ball during the girls lacrosse Passaic County Tournament quarterfinal at Lakeside Middle School in Pompton Lakes .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Anthony Gabbianelli | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comArianna Carrino scored seven goals for Wayne Hills in its 14-4 win over Waldwick in Wayne Wayne Hills (7-1) led 11-4 at halftime against Waldwick Ana Cuccinello recorded a hat trick for Wayne Hills and had an assist Caitrin O’Rourke and Blake Nisenson each scored a goal and combined for 11 ground balls Samantha Pranzo made five saves for Wayne Hills Anthony Gabbianelli can be reached at agabbianellli@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) 2025 at 10:09 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Wyckoff police advised late on Tuesday night that residents may see them displaying their guns in one neighborhood on Wednesday NJ — If you see Wyckoff police with guns out near the Waldwick border on Wednesday the Wyckoff Police Department will conduct a training exercise on Franklin Avenue near the border of Waldwick "During the time you may observe officers outside or near the road with training firearms visible," they said They advised that if residents have questions Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Every time Hailey Zirpoli walks to the pitcher's circle or on to the field she looks down at her arm with a small tattoo of the sun and the date 4-7-22 died during Hailey's freshman softball season and taught her granddaughter that song written in part by country legend Jimmie Davis who rode it all the way to the Louisiana Statehouse as a two-term Governor "She used to sing it to me all the time," said Zirpoli "I loved her so much and she was my biggest fan." Waldwick coach Mike Kilgallen marvels at his ace's composure and what he calls the "can't-tell attitude'' that it is mantra of the Warrior team that got off to a 9-0 start "She has the mental toughness and that stoic-and-steady manner that can calm a team down in the circle and then she takes it to the batters box and into the field when she isn't pitching," Kilgallen said "We have a true mix of veterans (six seniors) and youngsters (four freshmen) in the starting lineup and she is the leader." She also trusts her teammates and in turn they believe in her Kilgallen tells the story of earlier this year when Waldwick which had been knocked out of the state tournament by Hawthorne the year before After pitching Zirpoli nearly every inning a year ago the Warriors have four pitchers that Kilgallen believes in this year Zirpoli was leading 6-3 going to the final inning but went to the coach and said that she was about to start a third time around the order and that freshman Abby Buser was ready to make her pitching debut "She had the self-awareness to realize that Hawthorne had seen a lot of her and went to Abby and gave her the confidence and belief that it was Abby's turn," Kilgallen said "Being part of a team like this is all about trust,'' said Zirpoli who also plays basketball for the Warriors and admits that even with all her activities she likes to get to the gym and work out every day "The connection with a team is more about just playing a sport." she's prepared for life without the sport at the University of South Carolina next year which won the National Club Softball Association South Atlantic North league and is playing in the Regionals in Valdosta "My years of playing softball have been the best but I'm ready for some new challenges," she said she and future roommate Lucia Mastellone of Ridgewood might try and help start a flag football program at South Carolina "We talk about it all the time," said Zirpoli who will major in biology and pre-med at the Columbia-based school Accomplishment: Zirpoli recorded her 500th career strikeout and 53rd win during a three win week that included 21 strikeouts in 14 innings with just three runs allowed scored six runs and had six RBIs in 10 at bats and Sophia Coleman of Cresskill for softball; Abby Sullivan of Fair Lawn for lacrosse; and Sandra Vitolo of Ramapo for track and field .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMatt Sabatella and Liam Pattermann each drove in a run to lead Emerson to a 3-1 win over Waldwick The Cavs (7-9-1) scored two runs in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead Alex Casserta and Mason Major each recorded a hit for Waldwick (7-9) The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Gavin McKeon (10) of River Dell gets the ball knocked loose by Joe Heaney (20) of Pequannock during the boys lacrosse game between Pequannock and River Dell at Pequannock Township High School in Pequannock 2023.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comSenior attacker Gavin McKeon scored his 100th career point for second-seeded River Dell in its 17-6 win over seventh-seeded Waldwick in the Bergen Invitational Tournament quarterfinals in Oradell River Dell (5-7) led 9-2 at halftime before adding eight more goals in the second half McKeon finished with three goals and one assist while Eric Raimondi led all scorers with five goals River Dell will face third-seeded Old Tappan in the semifinals on Tuesday at 5 p.m Craig Epstein may be reached at cepstein@njadvancemedia.com The video has been pulled up time and time again on JJ Ruehlemann's phone The one where the Waldwick senior lives out a childhood dream in the final and most important match of his high school soccer career The clip starts with a long ball into the box and ends with Ruehlemann corralling it between two defenders and chipping a shot over the opposing goalie shrugs to a few nearby cameras and scans the crowd Of all the highlights in a legendary career none can top what transpired on his game-winner with less than two minutes to go in the Group 1 final "I would be lying if I said I've seen it less than 10 or 20 times," Ruehlemann said If his deadpan reaction made it seem like Ruehlemann has been there before No one in the state scored more goals this year than Ruehlemann who broke a single-season school record with 40 on his last shot in blue and white the Williams College commit has a full bingo card of experiences as a two-time captain three-time starter and four-year varsity player The Warriors won a state title back in 2021 although his vantage point was a little different in that final as a freshman stapled to the bench Ruehlemann never came off the field until the job was finished in a 2-1 win over Haddon Township "I have him as a student and he's top five in the class," coach Jon Noschese said You could talk the most trash to him and say whatever and it bounces off him What made the state championship a little extra special was sharing it with his older brother a senior forward at Wesleyan who made the trip down from Connecticut to watch Waldwick for the first time this season the Ruehlemann brothers have kept tabs on each other throughout the season by livestreaming games seeing his older sibling's success impacted two major decisions back in middle school The first was to drop basketball around sixth grade to focus his attention on soccer The second was to play year-round for the same club team "I considered switching clubs to an MLS Next where high school [soccer] wouldn't be an option," Ruehlemann said "But then I reconsidered and I said I really want to represent my high school Ruehlemann led Bergen County in goals in back-to-back years and became the first to hit 40 in one year since Wallington's Nick Zielonka in 2019 The challenge for the Warriors' forward was that the more he cracked the box score the more attention he received from opponents A 5-4 start this season provided another mental hurdle for Ruehlemann and everyone around him “I think it came down to us being more friends off the field,” said Ruehlemann We hit that little bump in the road and decided it's time to go I think our game after that was Wallington Ruehlemann picked up a couple of Division I offers but turned them down because of the coaches campus and high academics at D-III Williams which accepts between seven and 10 percent of applicants Long after he graduates from the Massachusetts school he'll still have the memory of scoring twice in the second half in his final game at Waldwick "I think the entire season we've been down in games and come back," Ruehlemann said We knew that we were controlling the tempo and we can get those chances We just need to put it in the back of the net.” Accomplishment: Ruehlemann scored both goals in Waldwick's 2-1 win over Haddon Township in the Group 1 boys soccer final on Nov Also nominated: Dez Jones of DePaul and Dylan Thornton of Hackensack for football The rookie coach tried to treat it like any other game When Hawthorne reached the sectional semifinals back in 2014 it brought Ryan McMann home to the place where he made so many indelible memories as a forward His opponent was top seed Waldwick and his former head coach Jon Noschese "It was definitely weird facing him," McMann said "He was one of the first people I told about getting the job." McMann was the first disciple to coach against Noschese after being penciled into his lineup on Wyckoff Ave he will not be the last to face the 27-year veteran One of Bergen County's smallest towns has produced one of its largest coaching trees with seven North Jersey soccer programs run by Noschese alums Steve Contreras is the new bench boss with the Paramus boys and Dylan Van Riper is getting his start with the Dumont girls team the North Jersey schedule is full of matchups between coaches cut from the same cloth Sometimes it's one high school teammate versus another "It doesn't matter if they are four years above or below me," Indian Hills boys soccer coach Chris Mayer said "Waldwick is such a small town that we get excited I can't imagine there are many towns that can say they have something like that." There is at least one simple explanation for how a Group 1 school has developed such a wide reach Loving the game is easy in good times and Waldwick has had plenty of them under Noschese (383-131-36) and longtime assistant Joe Kelly Waldwick has racked up nine sectional titles and twelve divisional crowns a trip to state tournament in every year but two The last 13 senior classes have all laid hands on at least one sectional title "It's just so intoxicating the way you can put together a couple of kids and build a family set a goal and go for it every single year," Mayer said we're trying to recreate everything we did in Waldwick." even the closest of families can be torn apart Mayer sees it first-hand whenever he and Braves assistant Mark Sinclair renew acquaintances with Mahwah coach Tommy Schultz All three were upperclassmen in 2006 when Waldwick beat border rival Midland Park in the North 1, Group 1 final – although the Mahwah coach watched most of the game from the bench after sustaining a concussion "Those two are like two of my best friends on planet Earth," Schultz said creating a brotherhood and maintaining an engaged alumni network are all things he's tried to incorporate from the Waldwick way Schultz often stays in touch with other members of his blue-and-white tinged coaching tree "We're constantly talking to each other," Schultz said "We're constantly bouncing ideas off each other and supporting each other I know that's what Coach [Noschese] had in mind within their program but it's grown to something so much more." Jon Noschese's beginningsA former player at Shore Regional Noschese developed a love of coaching from his college coach at Gordon College in eastern Massachusetts Another mentor came after college when Noschese cut his teeth at Clifton for seven years under the legendary Fernando Rossi the program was only a year removed from a run of four straight sectional titles Installing two turf fields is chief among them "You had to [train] behind the high school and that thing was a mud pit or a dirt pit or a dust bowl by the end of double sessions," said Bryan Press a 2004 graduate who runs the Indian Hills girls program "Then we had the privilege of playing on the football field but that was still grass on the bigger games or state games But Waldwick soccer has always been – and you could ask anybody – the sport in Waldwick." It won't be long before another coach gets a trip down memory lane Contreras will face his old school on Wednesday when Paramus hosts Waldwick in the second round of the Bergen County tournament One of the takeaways from his high school experience was the importance of being honest with players and not sugarcoating the truth A core tenet for Noschese is not just saying what to do but explaining the process and the why behind it a two-time sectional champion in the midfield And I always feel like he got the best out of you as an individual and the best out of his teams You could even go back to my senior year team but he squeezed everything he could out of our team collectively." N" as his history students tend to call him – he would much rather cheer on a former pupil than strategize against them Seeing others pay it forward is still worth the odd encounter "My grandmother was always getting on my case about to whom much is given "We always talk about the fact that we've been given a lot here in this town and we want to give back to soccer." Another team that could be on Waldwick's schedule sooner than later is Indian Hills Both Braves' soccer teams were moved to Group 1 this summer leaving open the possibility for a state tournament showdown "It has crossed my mind and you root for your own guys but you're always a Waldwick fan," Mayer said "Noschese has always been good to my family I lost my brother [Michael in 2011] and he still gives out an award after every game honoring him He's always kept my brothers' legacy alive and I don't talk about it much and I don't say it to him enough but that means so much to my family." A rapid-fire scouting report from Waldwick boys soccer coach Jon Noschese on his seven players-turned-coaches Hawthorne's Ryan McMann (2002): One of the best goal-scorers in Waldwick history still Mahwah's Tommy Schultz (2007): Always the brains He always studied the game and was intelligent about it Paramus' Steve Contreras (2016): Late-bloomer It was unbelievable how he worked and willed his way to becoming a starter and a captain and a champion Indian Hills' Bryan Press (2004): Probably the nicest boy I've ever coached Dumont's Dylan Van Riper (2011): Really tough as nails Bergenfield's Steve Palaia (2011): Probably the most versatile of all the kids that I've coached The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Lucy Castaneda (1) of Waldwick gets past Alexis Toro (4) of Westwood during the girls lacrosse game between Westwood and Waldwick at Westwood High School in Washington Township 2024.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaSix different players scored goals for Waldwick as it defeated Demarest by a score of 10-5 in Waldwick Lucy Castaneda scored two goals of her own and assisted on two others for Waldwick while tying for the team-high of four draw controls Ashley Dinehart racked up two goals and an assist while Juliana Krysa and Gabriela Scrivanich scored two goals apiece Mayu Nakano tallied a pair of assists and secured a team-high seven ground balls for Waldwick (3-5) Demarest falls to 4-6 and will return to action on Thursday for a home game against Passaic Valley Jack McKenna can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comLuke Kopczynski gave up two hits over six innings with eight strikeouts and one walk to power Cresskill to a 9-0 shutout over Waldwick in Cresskill Jason Pratt threw one inning of relief with one strikeouts and no hits or walks Andrew Koprowski finished 2-for-4 with an RBI for Cresskill (3-3-1) Ben Siracusa struck out four and gave up one walk one earned run and three hits for 5 2/3 innings on the mound for Waldwick (3-3) .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By John Lewis | For NJ Advance MediaAlex Caserta rapped three doubles and drove in three runs as Waldwick defeated New Milford Waldwick (4-3) had lost its two prior games New Milford fell to 4-3 despite three hits from Matthew Mulligan Jesse Brophy and Andrew Schmitt had two hits each for the Knights John Lewis can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. 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Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jason Bernstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comSenior Connor Detrick pitched a two-hit shutout striking out eight and walking three as Midland Park defeated Waldwick Conor Shortway went 2-for-3 with a RBI for Midland Park (4-0) Anthony Carrea and Ryahn Kuhnel each scored a run in the win Dylan Ferrara struck out 15 in the complete game loss for Waldwick (3-2) The Waldwick community is coming together to mourn a longtime borough resident and first responder who died in a car crash last week "John was a good person who would do anything for you," Giordano said "He will be remembered for his caring and giving heart and his legacy of service to others He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him Papendick was driving south on Route 287 in Franklin Lakes at 9:26 a.m when his Dodge Charger veered off the road to the right and hit a guardrail traveled across all lanes and struck a concrete traffic barrier where he died from his injuries Wednesday night Papendick's obituary called him "the definition of a class act in everything he did," from his roles as a "man of many trades" and a loving husband and father to three boys and loved by everyone around him," the obituary read "John’s unwavering dedication and compassion touched countless lives throughout his years doing what he loved most Papendick's brother Charlie paid tribute on Facebook noting that his younger brother "was everything to everyone a sponge for learning new things and sharing them." A GoFundMe created in the wake of Papendick's death raised more than $26,000 as of Tuesday afternoon The donation page noted some of the funds will help support Papendick's 90-year-old mother The Ambulance Corps Facebook page was full of comments from local residents sharing their own memories of Papendick Some recalled his kindness while guiding children on ambulance tours while others highlighted his tireless commitment to the agency and his fellow volunteers "It was a pleasure getting to know John this year through WALVAC," said Waldwick Councilwoman Kathleen Cericola "and it was evident how much he truly cared about this special organization." Giordano ordered all flags in Waldwick to fly at half-staff from Monday through Wednesday in honor of Papendick "for giving Waldwick and our residents your unselfish dedication and caring for all of us when we were in need." Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Waldwick woman with a criminal history has been arrested for stealing packages from a local apartment building was taken into custody outside her home on Wednesday following an investigation by the Waldwick Police Detective Bureau Authorities began looking into reports of stolen deliveries from The Station Apartments at 41 West Prospect St. Debel has a prior arrest for arson in Midland Park on Sept during which she set hallway decor on fire in an apartment building the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office confirmed She also racked up multiple DUI arrests in Ramsey and Glen Rock Debel was charged with theft offenses and booked into the Bergen County Jail after processing .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comHailey Zirpoli recorded three RBI to lead Waldwick to a 9-0 start following its 11-1 win against Bergenfield in the Believe Tournament in Waldwick Gianna Dziekan and Abby Buser had two RBI with a home run for Waldwick Jennie Carmona recorded the lone RBI for Bergenfield (4-6) and went 2-for-3 Arianna Santos went 2-for-3 and scored a run for Bergenfield speaks during the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference football media day activities Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Chris Nalwasky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comDan DiStasi won his coaching debut as Waldwick-Midland Park defeated Rutherford Waldwick (1-0) outscored Rutherford (0-1) in the first quarter Ryan Natoli finished with rushing touchdowns for Waldwick one a 62-yarder in the second and the other a 23-yarder in the third Fleming also caught a 13-yard score from Alex Caserta and Dylan Ferrara punched in two short rushing touchdowns Natoli tallied 205 yards rushing on 16 carries as Waldwick racked up 325 yards on the ground while Caserta completed 10-of-15 passes for 83 yards -- 46 of which to Natoli Rutherford is 0-1 in the early going as it looks to bounce back next time out against Manchester Regional in NJIC-Liberty division action Rutherford has won the last three NJIC championships Waldwick will aim for another win next week at Glen Rock Chris Nalwasky may be reached at cnalwasky@njadvancemedia.com . Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here As always, please report scores to njschoolsports.com. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription Group 1 sectional title on Saturday.Corey Annan .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Corey Annan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comYou could hear a pin drop as Waldwick junior Isaac Vargas launched the ball from 35 yards out early in the second half With so many close scoring chances between both Waldwick and Emerson Boro throughout the game there was a sense of nervousness on both sides that yet another clash between these NJIC rivals was going to come to extra time Vargas made sure that wasn’t going to happen The junior took the pass from senior midfielder Noah Ysern and nailed the biggest goal of his career in the 53rd minute to send Waldwick home with a 1-0 victory in the North 1 Group 1 sectional final over Emerson Boro in Emerson This is Waldwick’s third victory in four meetings against Emerson Boro, all of which were decided by one goal or less. Waldwick will face Glen Ridge in the Group 1 state semifinals on Tuesday. Glen Ridge won the North 2, Group 1 title with a 2-0 victory over Verona Friday afternoon “I think this is one of the most special wins that I’ve been a part of,” Waldwick head coach Jon Noschese said We went through a lot of tough things in the beginning of the year (but) I told the boys that when this season wraps up and it’ll be one of the best stories we’ve ever written “I saw a whole bunch of space and I saw they weren’t pressing The goal went exactly as both Ysern and Vargas planned “I told him literally two or three minutes before that goal “I had so much confidence that he was going to (shoot) and make it.” “I think we believe in ourselves more than anybody else could in the state,” Ysern said So we just knew we had to come onto the field and do what we needed to do to get to the next step.” And it was a much needed score for Waldwick Emerson Boro put much of its focus on Waldwick’s 38-goal scorer -- JJ Ruehlemann -- marking him for most of the game and not allowing him to get many opportunities near goal it needed to be someone other then Ruehlemann he scored one against us and somebody else ended in overtime,” Emerson Boro head coach Rich Compagnone said And they had kids that stepped up and did it We kept JJ out of there and it’s a one goal game against a great Waldwick team Waldwick’s back line made sure that Vargas’ early second half goal held up Tom Aligo and others matched Emerson Boro’s physicality and cleared several key opportunities in the second half Emerson Boro placed several shots towards the net but there to stop them was senior goalie Axel Da Silva who came up huge in the second half with a pair of leaping saves in the final 15 minutes Da Silva finished the game with eight saves This is the 12th shutout of the season for Waldwick who have allowed just 20 goals this season in 25 games “We know we’re gonna do going into each game and we know how to execute we won the ball back (for our offense) when we needed to we know there’s confidence with one another We know there’s nothing to be worried about it was was a heartbreaking conclusion to one of the best seasons in program history While they outshot Waldwick (11-5) and had plenty of good looks towards goal they can hang their hats on several things as they reset the program’s single-season record for wins (20) and won its first division title (NJIC Patriot) since 2017 “It’s hard to say you don’t regret anything when you come this close,” Compagnone said “But I couldn’t be more proud of what the seniors and the rest of the kids have built here When I took over this program six seasons ago they were coming off of a handful of losing seasons and heading in the wrong direction I will truly miss the kids that were in the senior class but they leave a great legacy behind and this is something that the younger kids can look up to and build off.” Corey Annan can be reached at cannan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him or send him a message on Twitter/X @coreyannan360 High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Sign up now! The Giants Foundation and Gatorade to contribute $2,000 to the football program NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr Dan DiStasi of the Waldwick-Midland Park Warriors as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 2 of the 2024 season The Warriors defeated the Rutherford Bulldogs 32-20 to give DiStasi a huge first career win as head coach on Friday in Waldwick After taking over a program that finished 6-3 last season and experienced just one losing season since 2012 DiStasi transitioned the team from a Wing-T to a Spread offense Waldwick had 325 yards rushing on 45 attempts and the defense forced three turnovers against a Rutherford program that has won the last three NJIC championships and had not experience a single loss in the conference since Week 1 of the 2021 season (24 straight games) The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local high school football programs The Giants elected to name the award in memory of former Union High School (NJ) coach for his fine commitment to the game of football his community and the betterment of his athletes' lives Each week during the high school football season the Giants selected one area high school head coach as the Coach of the Week winner The selection is based on the coach's continuing commitment towards promoting youth football developing motivated student-athletes and contributing overall to their community In recognition of Coach DiStasi's selection as Coach of the Week a $2,000 check will be granted to the school's football program from The Giants Foundation and Gatorade He will also receive a certificate of recognition signed by Giants head coach Brian Daboll and will be honored at a dinner following the season DiStasi earned the head coaching opportunity at Waldwick-Midland Park after serving as an assistant coach for the Elizabeth Ridgefield Park and Don Bosco high school football programs for the last 15 years As a high school athlete he played under Dan Sabella at Bogota High School helping to win the 2006 sectional championship as a center and defensive tackle and has also contributed to championship seasons as a coach at Elizabeth and Paramus Catholic Dan is a longtime teacher at Elizabeth High School He and his wife Brianne are the proud parents of Anthony & Nicholas The Giants Foundation to contribute $2,000 to Union-Endicott High School's flag football program The Giants Foundation to contribute $2,000 to Holmdel High School's flag football program The Giants Foundation to contribute $2,000 to Yonkers High School's flag football program The Giants Foundation to contribute $2,000 to Troy High School's flag football program The Giants Foundation will contribute $2,000 to the Northeastern Clinton's flag football program If the NFL didn't work out for Casey Kreiter the long snapper was happy to go teach high school science but that only made him the perfect person to hand out the Educator of the Year Award The Alan Page Community (APC) Award is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player USA Football and Hospital for Special Surgery partner every year to recognize 60 high school students in the Tri-State Area who possess a unique love of football while demonstrating the game's core character values of leadership For her work as the founder of Project Kind which addresses immediate needs for individuals experiencing homelessness and empowers them by providing the love and support they need DePaul has been named the New York Giants 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker Five Members of the New York State Association of Certified Football Officials named to November's Crew of the Month In recognition of Coach Ingram's selection as Coach of the Week a $4,000 check will be granted to the school's football program from The Giants Foundation and Gatorade The award recognizes NFL players for outstanding community service activities off the field as well as excellence on the field A rollover crash on Route 17 South left three people injured and shut down two lanes of traffic when Waldwick Police responded to a reported rollover crash involving a 2022 Toyota sedan and a 2023 Buick SUV was traveling south in the fast lane when a vehicle in front suddenly merged to avoid a stopped car near road construction barricades the Toyota driver swerved toward the center barrier Two occupants of the Buick suffered minor injuries and were transported by private ambulance to a local medical center The Toyota driver sustained a hand injury and was treated at the scene Authorities closed two lanes of Route 17 during the accident investigation and cleanup and Waldwick Volunteer Ambulance Corps assisted at the scene Max Caiazzo (3) of Waldwick takes a shot against Greg Stogioglou (22) of Cresskill during the boys basketball game at Cresskill High School in Cresskill Caiazzo has lit up the scoreboard from long range in his freshman campaign with 46 made three-pointers on his way to 8.2 points per game Congratulations to Max and thanks for your participation and interest in our poll Greig (32) of Ramapo posts up against Jeffery Weinberger (25) of Northern Highlands during the boys basketball game at Northern Highlands High School in Allendale Bernards head coach Mergin Sina instructs Connor Junker (2) of Gill St Bernards during the New Years Jump Off boys basketball tournament game against Don Bosco Prep at Paterson Kennedy High School in Paterson Jayce Rodriguez (3) of Colonia dribbles against Andre Robinson (23) of Camden during the Metro Classic boys basketball game between Colonia and Camden at Franklin High School in Somerset NJ on 2/8/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media Paul VI guard Isaiah Thatcher looks to pass the ball during the second half of Monday's Olympic National game against Camden.Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com We ask that you operate by these guidelines Organized voting campaigns consisting of friends the poll will view 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To open in your mobile device click this link or copy it and paste into your mobile web browser Mike Kinney covers North and Central Jersey boys basketball. He can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com Brandon Gould covers North and Central Jersey boys basketball. He can be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com Kevin Minnick covers South Jersey high school boys basketball. He can be reached at kminnick@njadvancemedia.com Matt Bove covers North and Central Jersey boys basketball. He can be reached at mbove@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appears in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Andrew Del Rey (5) of Waldwick tries to get past Luis Placido (1) of New Milford during the NJSIAA North 1 quarterfinal round game at New Milford HS in New Milford .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jason Bernstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAndrew Del Rey led all scorers with 29 points as Waldwick defeated Hasbrouck Heights Max Caiazzo had 11 points and Axel DaSilva added nine for Waldwick (1-0) Waldwick pulled away thanks to a 20-11 fourth quarter Joe Russo scored 18 points for Hasbrouck Heights (0-1) Damon Rivera and Ryan Cappello added 12 points apiece with Rivera sinking four 3-pointers in defeat The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) PJ Coffey (5) of Butler catches a pass and tries to score during the football game between Butler and New Milford at Butler High School in Butler NJ on 10/4/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Tyler Duffy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comButler’s perfect season continues Butler was outscoring its opponents 213-27 and have forced 11 turnovers including two pick-sixes this season Butler currently sits atop the Meadowlands division of the NJIC and will face Becton next week who is also undefeated - a game that has a ton of implications for the NJIC playoffs Waldwick (3-3) currently sits in fourth place of the Liberty division and is just one game back of second place The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) (edited) .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaLuke Feltman was nearly unstoppable on offense scoring six goals as Waldwick won its third home game of the season Waldwick (5-1) opened up a 7-1 lead in the first two quarters It would hold Bergen Tech (0-6) scoreless in the second half Ryan Tarrant dished out three assists for Waldwick Derrick Rosato added a pair of goals and controlled four ground balls Steve Timmreck’s squad has turned the tide and is one win away from securing its first winning season since 2018 Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com 1/50Boys Soccer: Glen Ridge vs. Waldwick, Group 1 Semifinal, November 19, 2024.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comTo say that pressure was on Waldwick in the closing minutes of their Group 1 semifinal would be putting it lightly the clock and a formidable Glen Ridge offense were the only things between the Warriors and another berth in the Group 1 finals Waldwick’s experience in championship games came through for them and the Warriors survived to take a 2-1 victory over Glen Ridge at Brookdale Park to book a spot in a state championship Even with the team’s success over the recent years ( the Warriors have now made three championship appearances over the past four seasons) Waldwick’s 5-4 start gave many outside the program reason to think this might be an off-year for the team it was just a matter of the team finding their footing “A lot of people counted us out except for the boys here and (the coaching staff),” said Jon Noschese “We just stuck together and trusted what we were doing We got a little healthy and all of a sudden the boys started gaining confidence It’s just been a great season for me and fun as heck.” The Warriors were up 2-0 in the second half when Glen Ridge’s Cole Moshos broke through to cut the lead in half with about 18 minutes remaining in the game the Ridgers’ offense kicked it into high-gear to look for the equalizer Waldwick goalkeeper Axel Da Silva and his backs fended off Glen Ridge’s efforts with Da Silva making two big saves to finish the game with seven stops Moshos came close to tying the game with a header with just over one minute left but the ball sailed on the wrong side of the crossbar From there the Warriors held onto possession to secure the win it was just about making sure everybody was where they needed to be and making sure that everybody stayed solid and focused,” Da Silva said after the game The first half was a frenetic 40 minutes that saw both teams come close with scoring chances but the biggest moment came right before the halftime whistle A Glen Ridge giveaway in the closing minutes of the half led to Ethan Brezdon burying a point-blank shot right by the near post to put the Warriors up 1-0 one minute before the break Victor Lara converted a breakaway to double the lead just seven minutes into the second half While the match ended up being one of the few outings where Julian Ruehlemann didn’t find the back of the net the presence of the state’s leading scorer seemed to play a big part in the opening goal and the rest of Waldwick’s scoring chances “(Ruehlemann’s) going to have a crowd and he deserves it because he’s one of the best players in Waldwick history,” said Noschese five guys on him all the time and he never stops because of his motor it’s going to open up holes somewhere else and he’s been finding those holes Ethan just slid right in there and knocked the ball in The outcome also marked the end of an impressive four-year run by the Ridgers. Glen Ridge overcame immense tragedy in the 2022 deaths of former team members Max Renteria and Nathan Latiffi as well as the recent passing of the mother of head coach Brian Ianni Ianni spoke highly of his team’s effort and performance noting the team mostly did well in their plan of shutting down the state’s top striker Both Ianni and Noschese said postgame that the Waldwick-Glen Ridge is just one of those matchups that would likely go 5-5 if played 10 times we’re a small group one school and we played one or two Group 1 teams all year prior to the state tournament With the team bringing back most of its impact players outside of Moshos next season another strong season doesn’t seem out of the cards for Glen Ridge The Warriors now have one game and one opponent separating them from a state title Waldwick will face Haddon Township with a state title on the line on Sunday at 3 p.m Haddon Township denied the Warriors a state title by besting the Bergen County team Waldwick has a few upperclassmen who took part in the 2022 final and even a few who sat on the bench in their 2021 win It seems safe to say the rubber match will be one to remember “I think it’ll be a good opportunity for us.” 1/48Boys Soccer: NJSIAA Group 1 Final, Waldwick vs Haddon Township, Nov 24, 2024..st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Lauren Knego | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comWaldwick faced off against Haddon Township in the NJSIAA Group 1 final for the fourth time since 2011 on Sunday afternoon and won its first NJSIAA Group 1 since 2022 Senior JJ Ruehlemann scored both goals as the Warriors defeated Haddon Township 2-1 pic.twitter.com/0UeSLSPeJD Lauren Knego may be reached at lknego@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @laurenknego Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) pic.twitter.com/0UeSLSPeJD .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaAlex Caserta launched a two-run home run as Waldwick won its first home game of the 2025 season After Garfield (0-4) was able to push across a run in the top of the first registering at least two runs in each of the first four innings It would score once in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the mercy rule Alex Gatti drove in two runs for Waldwick and recorded a stolen base Ben Siracusa recorded the victory on the mound striking out six hitters in six innings of work is on pace to improve noticeably this year It will host New Milford in its next game on Monday night SOMERSET — Four times the Haddon Township Hawks and Waldwick Warriors have met in a boys soccer state final Waldwick has evened the series at two each ending the Hawks' dream season one win shy of a state title Haddon Township couldn't have started batter scoring after the game's first foul on Joseph Sheehan's header with 85 seconds gone on the scoreboard clock The score held until the state's leading scorer scored with 26 minutes left in the second half The game-winner came with 1:38 to play on Ruehlemann's second goal and I said this is becoming some sort of a rivalry," second-year Township coach Nick Hanuscin said "We've been here the past three of the four years I know I haven't been a part of it all but it definitely seems like we always see them at the end of the season This is going to be tough for years to come We're going to be great for the next couple years Haddon Township ended its season at 16-7-2 after winning five straight dating back to a South Jersey Coaches' Cup semifinal loss to St "This is the best group ever," Hanuscin said "I couldn't have asked for anything more from them all season After spending an entire season battling through a rugged Colonial Conference Liberty Division schedule against the likes of Group 2 state finalist Sterling Township's trademark toughness is playoff toughness younger guys stepping up in big moments," Hanuscin said I give all the praise to those guys the guys that I'm with every day know that we deserve to be here Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996 He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaFiona Waller scored six goals to go with two assists and 10 draw controls as Rutherford defeated Waldwick 15-4 in Rutherford Ava Amatucci added four goals and two assists to help Rutherford improve to 2-1 Waldwick suffered its first loss and fell to 2-1 The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaTyler Byrnes and Ryan Tarrant combined for seven goals as Waldwick knocked off Lyndhurst by a score of 11-3 in Lyndhurst Byrnes found the back of the net four times while also notching an assist Tarrant scored a hat trick and also tacked on an assist Luke Feltman notched two goals and three assists and Derrick Rosato rounded out the scoring with two goals and one assist for Waldwick (4-0) Waldwick lead 3-1 after the opening quarter before extending its margin to 7-1 going into halftime Lyndhurst falls to 2-2 and will return to action on Monday when it hits the road to take on Clifton Waldwick softball was selected as the North Jersey Team of the Week The Warriors won two games last week by a 22-2 combined score The Thunderbirds went 2-0 last week to start a season 4-0 for the first time since 2015 The Highlanders went 3-0 last week and are now 5-1 on the season Thursday's win over Paramus Catholic was career win No The Raiders won their first Bergen County Relays title The Rams picked up the 100th win in program history with Wednesday 12-6 victory over Montclair Kimberley They went 2-0 last week and have won five straight games The Maroons won their ninth straight Bergen County Relays title After starting the season 0-3, the Golden Hawks went 2-0 last week and upset Ramsey, which is ranked No. 4 in the latest North Jersey Top 25 winning those games by a combined score of 24-0 try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser If you are viewing the poll in the Twitter app try viewing it in the Varsity Aces app or at NorthJersey.com.