Breakfast with a Buc: Week 9
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down this week with senior offensive tackle Ricky Wild, who captained the football team during its historic 11-1 season.
We sat down this week with senior offensive tackle Ricky Wild, who captained the football team during its historic 11-1 season.
Name: Ricky Wild
Position: OL
Committed to Play: Football
College: Saint Anselm College (Goffstown, New Hampshire)
In five years, I’ll be: I want to open my first business by 21, and I want to be an entrepreneur. It’s something I love, and I want to do something as far as business goes.
Bagel Order: Plain with cream cheese
EB: Why Saint Anselm?
RW: When I went there for the visit, it seemed like there was really a family atmosphere. The coaches were really nice, and all the players seemed to treat me well. I got a really good package from the school.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
RW: I think the biggest thing I learned from being at Red Bank for four years in the football program was how quickly people can bond. Coming in, I didn’t know a single person because I was out of district, and there were no other out-of-district football players. I learned that there’s a bond that can’t be broken with sports.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR football memory?
RW: Definitely RBR-RBC. 24-21.
Position: OL
Committed to Play: Football
College: Saint Anselm College (Goffstown, New Hampshire)
In five years, I’ll be: I want to open my first business by 21, and I want to be an entrepreneur. It’s something I love, and I want to do something as far as business goes.
Bagel Order: Plain with cream cheese
EB: Why Saint Anselm?
RW: When I went there for the visit, it seemed like there was really a family atmosphere. The coaches were really nice, and all the players seemed to treat me well. I got a really good package from the school.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
RW: I think the biggest thing I learned from being at Red Bank for four years in the football program was how quickly people can bond. Coming in, I didn’t know a single person because I was out of district, and there were no other out-of-district football players. I learned that there’s a bond that can’t be broken with sports.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR football memory?
RW: Definitely RBR-RBC. 24-21.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 8
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down this week with senior kicker/punter Jack O’Connor, who led the Shore Conference in made field goals this past season, and was a key member of the Bucs’ offense.
We sat down this week with senior kicker/punter Jack O’Connor, who led the Shore Conference in made field goals this past season, and was a key member of the Bucs’ offense.
Name: Jack O’Connor
Position: K/P
Committed to Play: Football
College: Salve Regina University (Newport, RI)
In five years, I’ll be: hopefully I’ll have a job and be graduated with a degree from Salve
Bagel Order: Toasted plain bagel with butter
EB: Why Salve Regina?
JO: Salve Regina was the perfect distance from home. It was close enough, but it wasn’t too far, and when I went out to meet the coaches and the team, I knew it was the best fit for me.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
JO: It taught me how to be a good person, on and off the field, and how to create bonds and relationships with others that would last forever.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR football memory?
JO: By far, beating RBC. That was probably one of the best nights of all of our lives, and it was awesome.
Position: K/P
Committed to Play: Football
College: Salve Regina University (Newport, RI)
In five years, I’ll be: hopefully I’ll have a job and be graduated with a degree from Salve
Bagel Order: Toasted plain bagel with butter
EB: Why Salve Regina?
JO: Salve Regina was the perfect distance from home. It was close enough, but it wasn’t too far, and when I went out to meet the coaches and the team, I knew it was the best fit for me.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
JO: It taught me how to be a good person, on and off the field, and how to create bonds and relationships with others that would last forever.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR football memory?
JO: By far, beating RBC. That was probably one of the best nights of all of our lives, and it was awesome.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 8
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down this week with senior soccer player Jose Segura, who was a four-year member of the boys’ soccer team, and made the trip with the team to the state finals in 2014.
We sat down this week with senior soccer player Jose Segura, who was a four-year member of the boys’ soccer team, and made the trip with the team to the state finals in 2014.
Name: Jose Segura
Sports Played at RBR: Soccer
Sport in College: Soccer
College: Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ)
In five years, I’ll be: hopefully, I’ll become a cop or be a professional soccer player
Bagel Order: Pork roll, egg and cheese on a toasted egg with pepper and ketchup
EB: Why do you want to play soccer at Brookdale?
JS: I wanted to continue my soccer career, and get a better education in life.
EB: What has RBR Soccer taught you?
JS: It taught me how to be more (of a) leader, and it taught me intelligence.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
JS: Playing in the state finals (in 2014).
Sports Played at RBR: Soccer
Sport in College: Soccer
College: Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ)
In five years, I’ll be: hopefully, I’ll become a cop or be a professional soccer player
Bagel Order: Pork roll, egg and cheese on a toasted egg with pepper and ketchup
EB: Why do you want to play soccer at Brookdale?
JS: I wanted to continue my soccer career, and get a better education in life.
EB: What has RBR Soccer taught you?
JS: It taught me how to be more (of a) leader, and it taught me intelligence.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
JS: Playing in the state finals (in 2014).
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 7
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down this week with senior runner Shea Cody, who was part of the girls’ cross country team that brought home the B North division championship in 2015.
We sat down this week with senior runner Shea Cody, who was part of the girls’ cross country team that brought home the B North division championship in 2015.
Name: Shea Cody
Committed to run: Cross Country
College: Pace University (Pleasantville, NY)
In five years, I’ll be: doing something to help people either through education or through exercise
Bagel Order: Bacon and egg on an everything
EB: Why Pace?
SC: I think that Pace felt like it was close enough to home for me, but also far enough. I just decided that it was the best fit, and once I met the team, that (feeling) really set in.
EB: What has RBR Cross Country taught you?
SC: This is the first sport I’ve ever done, so it taught me what it’s like to be on a team, and what it’s like when you’re around people who love something just as much as you do, and how that just makes the sport so much better.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
SC: There was one race my sophomore year when I was so sick (during it), but I still decided that it would be a good idea to run. I finished, and my time was so awful, but once I finished, my whole team was there. I was so nice because even though I wasn’t the one winning, everyone was there for each other, if you didn’t do well or if you did do well.
Committed to run: Cross Country
College: Pace University (Pleasantville, NY)
In five years, I’ll be: doing something to help people either through education or through exercise
Bagel Order: Bacon and egg on an everything
EB: Why Pace?
SC: I think that Pace felt like it was close enough to home for me, but also far enough. I just decided that it was the best fit, and once I met the team, that (feeling) really set in.
EB: What has RBR Cross Country taught you?
SC: This is the first sport I’ve ever done, so it taught me what it’s like to be on a team, and what it’s like when you’re around people who love something just as much as you do, and how that just makes the sport so much better.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
SC: There was one race my sophomore year when I was so sick (during it), but I still decided that it would be a good idea to run. I finished, and my time was so awful, but once I finished, my whole team was there. I was so nice because even though I wasn’t the one winning, everyone was there for each other, if you didn’t do well or if you did do well.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 7
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down this week with senior football player Righteon Johnson, who was a key part of the Bucs’ division championship defense this fall.
Name: Righteon Johnson
Committed to play: Football
Sports played at RBR: Football
Position: DT/DE
College: Kean University (Union, NJ)
In five years, I’ll be: graduated from college, and just starting my career as a police officer
Bagel Order: Cinnamon raisin with strawberry cream cheese
EB: Why Kean?
RJ: At first during high school, I didn’t really enjoy (football), but then my last two years it was really fun. Kean showed me a lot of love, and that’s why I really wanted to go there.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
RJ: It’s taught me good sportsmanship and how to help my friends out, and how to be a good person both on and off the field.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
RJ: When we beat RBC.
Committed to play: Football
Sports played at RBR: Football
Position: DT/DE
College: Kean University (Union, NJ)
In five years, I’ll be: graduated from college, and just starting my career as a police officer
Bagel Order: Cinnamon raisin with strawberry cream cheese
EB: Why Kean?
RJ: At first during high school, I didn’t really enjoy (football), but then my last two years it was really fun. Kean showed me a lot of love, and that’s why I really wanted to go there.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
RJ: It’s taught me good sportsmanship and how to help my friends out, and how to be a good person both on and off the field.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
RJ: When we beat RBC.
As Spring Sports End, Bucs Look Ahead
By Seamus Cochrane
As the winter months faded away into spring, RBR’s athletes took to the fields, courts, tracks and greens to do what they do best…compete. Despite the weather wreaking havoc with spans of heat, rain, and even some bitterly cold days, the teams of RBR still managed to have a very successful year all around, and will continue to impress in the coming years. If any of you Buc fans are looking for something to do other than your homework, (who wants to do homework anyway?) then stop by the fields to support your fellow students!
Baseball
The Buccaneers of the baseball team had a rough start to the season with tough losses to St. John Vianney and Wall, but they soon rallied with hard fought wins against Long Branch and Neptune. As a squad, the team worked hard with the guidance from their seniors, but the team/squad continued to struggle as their competitive season progressed. A 5-11 record isn’t what they expected from this season, but they did the best they could. With summer drawing ever closer and the season winding down, the Bucs can hang up their hats satisfied that they gave it their all, and they’ll come back next season stronger than ever.
Boys' Lacrosse
With the arrival of March and the Spring season, the Boy’s lacrosse team took to the field with confidence, looking to build off of a solid 10-12 season in 2015. The Bucs are led by a lineup of impressive seniors, such as goalie Jon Pierce, who has a total of 906 saves under his belt. Unfortunately, the Bucs were plagued by a host of unfortunate events from the start of the season, ranging from injuries to bad weather, which led them to a 6-9 record with a host of heartbreaking losses. Despite their shortcomings, head coach Kevin Main still had nothing but positive comments to give when I spoke with him after a tough 16-11 loss to Shore.
“We are a dynamic group of individuals who play very well together,” said Main.
“Had a few certain events not happened, we could have easily done very well in the State playoffs.”
The future does look bright for the Bucs as a roster of promising juniors, sophomores, and freshmen look to take the league by storm next season. While this may not have been the right year for this team, I urge you all to watch out for this talented group of players in the coming years.
“We are a dynamic group of individuals who play very well together,” said Main.
“Had a few certain events not happened, we could have easily done very well in the State playoffs.”
The future does look bright for the Bucs as a roster of promising juniors, sophomores, and freshmen look to take the league by storm next season. While this may not have been the right year for this team, I urge you all to watch out for this talented group of players in the coming years.
Girls' Lacrosse
Right from the start, the year looked bright for the lady Bucs of the girls’ lacrosse team, with big wins against competitive teams like Monmouth, SJV, and Colts Neck.
Like their fellow athletes on the boys’ lacrosse team, the girls were also being led by a new coach this year and a host of talented juniors and seniors, including junior Mary Vilardi, who has 59 career goals and seniorMadison Wood, who has 41 goals. United behind their opening wins, the girls have fought their way to a 10-4 record. This team’s chemistry is some of the strongest of all the programs at RBR, and their new coach, Brook Connell, has done nothing but encourage them to become better players and teammates. As long as this team stays strong together, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming postseason, and in the seasons to come.
Like their fellow athletes on the boys’ lacrosse team, the girls were also being led by a new coach this year and a host of talented juniors and seniors, including junior Mary Vilardi, who has 59 career goals and seniorMadison Wood, who has 41 goals. United behind their opening wins, the girls have fought their way to a 10-4 record. This team’s chemistry is some of the strongest of all the programs at RBR, and their new coach, Brook Connell, has done nothing but encourage them to become better players and teammates. As long as this team stays strong together, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming postseason, and in the seasons to come.
Softball
Hoping to build off their success from last year, the girls of the softball team
strode confidently onto the softball field... unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. The girls struggled early on with huge losses to teams like Wall, RBC, Neptune, and the list only continued to pile up. The girls are now going into the end of the season with a 3-11 record despite having strong arms at the mound, in the field, and heavy hitters at bat. Junior pitcher Carly Keller, ‘the pitcher’ is a leader on the field with 14 strikeouts and a career batting average of 0.385. Hopefully next season the lady Bucs will find their rhythm and take the league by storm.
strode confidently onto the softball field... unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. The girls struggled early on with huge losses to teams like Wall, RBC, Neptune, and the list only continued to pile up. The girls are now going into the end of the season with a 3-11 record despite having strong arms at the mound, in the field, and heavy hitters at bat. Junior pitcher Carly Keller, ‘the pitcher’ is a leader on the field with 14 strikeouts and a career batting average of 0.385. Hopefully next season the lady Bucs will find their rhythm and take the league by storm.
Golf
All winter, the golf courses sat unused, waiting for the guys on the golf team to
dust off their clubs and get back to the grind. If only they knew what the Bucs’ had in store for them this season. The golfers may have taken the winter off, but they certainly didn’t play like it! They drove, putted, and chipped their way to a 9-2 record, soaring above their 2-6 record from their 2015 season. The leadership of juniors Gary Roccaro and Aidan Smith, and head coach Michael Canning helped give the young team the motivation and confidence they needed to succeed this season, and the hype train doesn’t stop there. Like many of the teams at RBR, this team has a host of talented underclassmen who can continue the tradition of success, including sophomores Andrew Costa and Zach Mueller, who both have have played right alongside older, more experienced competition. Unfortunately, they don’t allow spectators at their matches, but don’t be afraid to ask the Bucs of the golf squad all about their exciting and heartpounding matches.
dust off their clubs and get back to the grind. If only they knew what the Bucs’ had in store for them this season. The golfers may have taken the winter off, but they certainly didn’t play like it! They drove, putted, and chipped their way to a 9-2 record, soaring above their 2-6 record from their 2015 season. The leadership of juniors Gary Roccaro and Aidan Smith, and head coach Michael Canning helped give the young team the motivation and confidence they needed to succeed this season, and the hype train doesn’t stop there. Like many of the teams at RBR, this team has a host of talented underclassmen who can continue the tradition of success, including sophomores Andrew Costa and Zach Mueller, who both have have played right alongside older, more experienced competition. Unfortunately, they don’t allow spectators at their matches, but don’t be afraid to ask the Bucs of the golf squad all about their exciting and heartpounding matches.
Boys' Tennis
If there is one word that can describe the boy’s tennis team, it is heart. Three of the four losses the team sustained were nailbiting 23 losses in which the Bucs fought to the last serve. The amount of raw heart and drive on this team is staggering, and it's enough to get any spectators on their feet and clapping politely (it is tennis after all,
there is only so much the audience can do). The team is evenly split between upper and lower classmen so there's no shortage of talent on this squad. Currently sitting at 94 and with more wins to come, this was a season that the Bucs can look back on proudly, and look to the future with hope in their hearts.
there is only so much the audience can do). The team is evenly split between upper and lower classmen so there's no shortage of talent on this squad. Currently sitting at 94 and with more wins to come, this was a season that the Bucs can look back on proudly, and look to the future with hope in their hearts.
Track
Who needs sticks, rackets, or bats anyway? Not these athletes. Boasting one of
the largest rosters of all RBR sports, the guys and girls of the track ran through the line to the end of this satisfying season. The large group of seniors that make up the leaders of the team will be able to look back with pride on their very last season as a Red Bank Buccaneer. If the metals could talk they would say that these runners and jumpers are some of the best RBR has seen. And that isn’t limited to the Seniors. I’d keep your eyes on the talented group of sophomores and juniors that will be taking their places on the line in the seasons to come.
the largest rosters of all RBR sports, the guys and girls of the track ran through the line to the end of this satisfying season. The large group of seniors that make up the leaders of the team will be able to look back with pride on their very last season as a Red Bank Buccaneer. If the metals could talk they would say that these runners and jumpers are some of the best RBR has seen. And that isn’t limited to the Seniors. I’d keep your eyes on the talented group of sophomores and juniors that will be taking their places on the line in the seasons to come.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 6
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down this week with senior soccer player Michael Colao, a three star recruit and one of the top 25 players in the state, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
We sat down this week with senior soccer player Michael Colao, a three star recruit and one of the top 25 players in the state, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Name: Michael Colao
Committed to play: Soccer
Club team: PDA Academy
Position: D
College: Loyola University of Maryland (Baltimore, MD)
In five years, I’ll be: Looking to play more soccer
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain
EB: Why Loyola?
MC: It was actually unexpected. It was one of the last schools that contacted me, but they have a new coach, and it’s a really young program that’s on the rise. This is this new coach’s first recruiting class, and they put a lot of money into the program, and he’s gathered a top-15 recruiting class in the country, which intrigued me. It’s somewhere I can go and be competitive, and where I can have an immediate impact right away.
EB: What has RBR Soccer taught you?
MC: In my junior year, I only got to play three games because I was injured, and I ended up tearing my ACL. But just being a part of that team was a lot of fun. We made it to the state finals, and I was the captain for a little bit, which was a lot of fun, and all of my best friends played. So I think it taught me about being a part of something, even though I was injured, and how it was like a family. It taught me that even when I was injured, those kids were still around for me, and then it was more than soccer we were playing.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
MC: Probably just winning our first game together as a team, because that was our first time playing together and just, winning.
Committed to play: Soccer
Club team: PDA Academy
Position: D
College: Loyola University of Maryland (Baltimore, MD)
In five years, I’ll be: Looking to play more soccer
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain
EB: Why Loyola?
MC: It was actually unexpected. It was one of the last schools that contacted me, but they have a new coach, and it’s a really young program that’s on the rise. This is this new coach’s first recruiting class, and they put a lot of money into the program, and he’s gathered a top-15 recruiting class in the country, which intrigued me. It’s somewhere I can go and be competitive, and where I can have an immediate impact right away.
EB: What has RBR Soccer taught you?
MC: In my junior year, I only got to play three games because I was injured, and I ended up tearing my ACL. But just being a part of that team was a lot of fun. We made it to the state finals, and I was the captain for a little bit, which was a lot of fun, and all of my best friends played. So I think it taught me about being a part of something, even though I was injured, and how it was like a family. It taught me that even when I was injured, those kids were still around for me, and then it was more than soccer we were playing.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
MC: Probably just winning our first game together as a team, because that was our first time playing together and just, winning.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 5
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down with Jack Navitsky, the senior quarterback who helped lead the Bucs to the state championship game on the football field this past fall.
We sat down with Jack Navitsky, the senior quarterback who helped lead the Bucs to the state championship game on the football field this past fall.
Name: Jack Navitsky
Sports Played: Football and Basketball
Committed to play: Football
Position: QB/ATH
College: Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY)
In five years, I’ll be: graduating from Marist and getting a job
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain with ketchup
EB: Why Marist?
JN: I liked Marist ever since I visited for the first time, and I just thought it was the right fit for me with all the coaches and academics, so that was the main reason.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
JN: It’s taught me that my best friends are going to be the friends I played with on the football team, and it’s created some of the best friendships I’ll probably ever have. It’s also taught me the meaning of brotherhood and how much to love football while you’re playing it.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR football memory?
JN: Probably the RBC game, just because of the way it ended, and also, even though we lost it, the state championship game is a pretty good memory.
Sports Played: Football and Basketball
Committed to play: Football
Position: QB/ATH
College: Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY)
In five years, I’ll be: graduating from Marist and getting a job
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain with ketchup
EB: Why Marist?
JN: I liked Marist ever since I visited for the first time, and I just thought it was the right fit for me with all the coaches and academics, so that was the main reason.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
JN: It’s taught me that my best friends are going to be the friends I played with on the football team, and it’s created some of the best friendships I’ll probably ever have. It’s also taught me the meaning of brotherhood and how much to love football while you’re playing it.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR football memory?
JN: Probably the RBC game, just because of the way it ended, and also, even though we lost it, the state championship game is a pretty good memory.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 5
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
We sat down with Jon Pierce, undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in RBR history, who has accumulated 1,000+ career saves in hockey and 900+ career saves in lacrosse in his four years for the Bucs.
We sat down with Jon Pierce, undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in RBR history, who has accumulated 1,000+ career saves in hockey and 900+ career saves in lacrosse in his four years for the Bucs.
Name: Jon Pierce
Sports Played: Hockey and Lacrosse
Committed to play: Lacrosse
Position: G
College: Susquehanna University (Selingsgrove, PA)
In five years, I’ll be: out of college and hopefully doing something in the business field
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain with salt, pepper and ketchup
EB: Why Susquehanna?
JP: I chose Susquehanna because when I stepped on the campus, I knew right away. (I liked) the atmosphere, everyone was so nice. Whenever you walk by, someone says hi to you and asks how you’re doing. The business school is great, which is what I wanted, it’s a small school, which is also what I was looking for, and the lacrosse program is great.
EB: What has RBR sports taught you?
JP: They’ve taught me that individuality doesn’t win games, it’s always team effort that wins it. I’ve seen that we do best when we play together as a team. It’s also taught me that when things get hard, you have to keep your head up and play through them.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
JP: My favorite memory was in my freshman year [in lacrosse] against Monroe. We went into overtime, and we came back from five goals down, and we won in overtime, which was pretty exciting.
Sports Played: Hockey and Lacrosse
Committed to play: Lacrosse
Position: G
College: Susquehanna University (Selingsgrove, PA)
In five years, I’ll be: out of college and hopefully doing something in the business field
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain with salt, pepper and ketchup
EB: Why Susquehanna?
JP: I chose Susquehanna because when I stepped on the campus, I knew right away. (I liked) the atmosphere, everyone was so nice. Whenever you walk by, someone says hi to you and asks how you’re doing. The business school is great, which is what I wanted, it’s a small school, which is also what I was looking for, and the lacrosse program is great.
EB: What has RBR sports taught you?
JP: They’ve taught me that individuality doesn’t win games, it’s always team effort that wins it. I’ve seen that we do best when we play together as a team. It’s also taught me that when things get hard, you have to keep your head up and play through them.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
JP: My favorite memory was in my freshman year [in lacrosse] against Monroe. We went into overtime, and we came back from five goals down, and we won in overtime, which was pretty exciting.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 4
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
This week, we sat down with Teddy Mitchell, a senior and a key part of the offensive unit that helped the Bucs win the B North division title on the gridiron this fall.
This week, we sat down with Teddy Mitchell, a senior and a key part of the offensive unit that helped the Bucs win the B North division title on the gridiron this fall.
Name: Teddy Mitchell
Sports Played: Football
Committed to play: Football
Position: WR/DB
College: Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut)
In five years, I’ll be: in the National Football League
Bagel Order: Plain with butter
EB: Why Sacred Heart?
TM: I chose Sacred Heart because as soon as I stepped on campus, it felt
like I was home. I felt like the coaches there showed me a lot of love and attention, and I liked the team’s family atmosphere.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
TM: RBR Football has taught me a lot. It taught me how to really work with others, and how to really come together to form something great. We formed a brotherhood, and it was a great experience.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
TM: My favorite memory definitely has to be beating RBC. Everyone doubted us (coming in) and I think it was great that we pulled that off.
Sports Played: Football
Committed to play: Football
Position: WR/DB
College: Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut)
In five years, I’ll be: in the National Football League
Bagel Order: Plain with butter
EB: Why Sacred Heart?
TM: I chose Sacred Heart because as soon as I stepped on campus, it felt
like I was home. I felt like the coaches there showed me a lot of love and attention, and I liked the team’s family atmosphere.
EB: What has RBR Football taught you?
TM: RBR Football has taught me a lot. It taught me how to really work with others, and how to really come together to form something great. We formed a brotherhood, and it was a great experience.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
TM: My favorite memory definitely has to be beating RBC. Everyone doubted us (coming in) and I think it was great that we pulled that off.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 3
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s new sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level.
This week, we sat down with Katie Peter, a senior field hockey player who will take the field for the Endicott Gulls next season.
Name: Katie Peter
Sports Played: Field Hockey and Track (2 yrs)
Committed to play: Field Hockey
Position: M/D
College: Endicott College (Beverly, MA)
In five years, I’ll be: Either enrolled in graduate school to get my M.B.A. or working at a job that I love
Bagel Order: Toasted everything with cream cheese
EB: Why Endicott?
KP: I chose Endicott because there’s just such a great community atmosphere (there) and I really liked the team. I did my overnight visit with the girls there and they’re such a great group that I could see myself playing with them. It also has great internship opportunities, and great opportunities to network.
EB: What has RBR Field Hockey taught you?
KP: RBR sports have taught me that you’re not handed anything. A lot of times, we’ve never really been on the top of anyone’s list of teams to look out for, but we always find a way to surprise people. You definitely have to work for it, because nothing comes easy.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
KP: It would probably be beating RBC this season, 3-0. That was definitely a great thing. I remember my freshman year, (RBC) beat the varsity team 7-0, so it was definitely a good change.
Sports Played: Field Hockey and Track (2 yrs)
Committed to play: Field Hockey
Position: M/D
College: Endicott College (Beverly, MA)
In five years, I’ll be: Either enrolled in graduate school to get my M.B.A. or working at a job that I love
Bagel Order: Toasted everything with cream cheese
EB: Why Endicott?
KP: I chose Endicott because there’s just such a great community atmosphere (there) and I really liked the team. I did my overnight visit with the girls there and they’re such a great group that I could see myself playing with them. It also has great internship opportunities, and great opportunities to network.
EB: What has RBR Field Hockey taught you?
KP: RBR sports have taught me that you’re not handed anything. A lot of times, we’ve never really been on the top of anyone’s list of teams to look out for, but we always find a way to surprise people. You definitely have to work for it, because nothing comes easy.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
KP: It would probably be beating RBC this season, 3-0. That was definitely a great thing. I remember my freshman year, (RBC) beat the varsity team 7-0, so it was definitely a good change.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 2
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s new sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level next fall.
We sat down with senior Sean Naiman, who was a first team All-Shore and All-State defensive end for the division champ Bucs on the football field this season.
We sat down with senior Sean Naiman, who was a first team All-Shore and All-State defensive end for the division champ Bucs on the football field this season.
Name: Sean Naiman
Sports Played: Football
Committed to play: Football
Position: DE
College: Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania)
In five years, I'll be: Graduated from Bucknell with either a bachelor's or a master's degree, hopefully doing something with regards to sports medicine or business
Bagel Order: Pork roll, egg and cheese on a poppy with salt,
pepper and ketchup
EB: Why Bucknell?
SN: I chose Bucknell because I thought it would give me the best academic opportunities out of all the schools I was choosing between. When I visited, I just fell in love with the school, and I knew I would do the best academically (there).
EB: What has RBR football taught you?
SN: It taught me the importance of teamwork and how to lead. Obviously, our season was a great season, and this year, we had the best teamwork, and it really showed on the field. It also taught me leadership because as a senior and a captain on the team, it really teaches you how to push others, and pushing others makes your team better.
EB: What's your favorite RBR sports memory?
SN: The RBC game. Definitely. Running out onto the field and seeing all the fans, seeing everyone support us, that was amazing. Coming off with the win there was an amazing thing to see.
Sports Played: Football
Committed to play: Football
Position: DE
College: Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania)
In five years, I'll be: Graduated from Bucknell with either a bachelor's or a master's degree, hopefully doing something with regards to sports medicine or business
Bagel Order: Pork roll, egg and cheese on a poppy with salt,
pepper and ketchup
EB: Why Bucknell?
SN: I chose Bucknell because I thought it would give me the best academic opportunities out of all the schools I was choosing between. When I visited, I just fell in love with the school, and I knew I would do the best academically (there).
EB: What has RBR football taught you?
SN: It taught me the importance of teamwork and how to lead. Obviously, our season was a great season, and this year, we had the best teamwork, and it really showed on the field. It also taught me leadership because as a senior and a captain on the team, it really teaches you how to push others, and pushing others makes your team better.
EB: What's your favorite RBR sports memory?
SN: The RBC game. Definitely. Running out onto the field and seeing all the fans, seeing everyone support us, that was amazing. Coming off with the win there was an amazing thing to see.
Breakfast with a Buc: Week 1
By Ella Brockway
Welcome to The Buccaneer’s new sports column, “Breakfast with a Buc.” Each week, over a bagel breakfast, we’ll be chatting with an RBR student-athlete who is committed to play a sport at the college level next fall.
To kick things off, we sat down with senior Claudio LoBraico, who plays both football and baseball for the Bucs, and is deciding where he will continue his baseball career in college next season.
To kick things off, we sat down with senior Claudio LoBraico, who plays both football and baseball for the Bucs, and is deciding where he will continue his baseball career in college next season.
Name: Claudio LoBraico
Sports Played: Baseball and Football
Committed to play: Baseball
Position: 3B/RHP
College: Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
In five years, I’ll be: Graduated from college with an internship and possibly pursuing medical school as an orthopedic doctor
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain
EB: Why Swarthmore/RPI?
CL: Both schools are really high academic institutions. Swarthmore is a liberal arts education, which I like, and RPI is more of a technical school, which is good because that’s what interests me. RPI has a really good program in terms of baseball, so that’s attractive, while Swarthmore is more of an on-the-rise program. I know the coaches at RPI, and they put me on their recruiting list, and even though they didn’t give me a straight-up offer as much as Swarthmore did, it’s only because they didn’t really see me a lot. Since it’s Division III, when you have a “spot” on the team, it’s not really a spot because they make cuts after fall anyway. So, I’m going to make the decision that matters to me the most.
EB: What has playing sports at RBR taught you?
CL: RBR sports taught me the importance of team chemistry and leadership. Having a tight knit group of guys who are focused on the same goal and work hard together is valuable [and] it all starts with the leaders. The leaders are the guys who set the tone and attitude of the team, and it’s their job to do their best to keep everyone on task and focused on doing everything they can to help the team win. Playing on the football team this year, I experienced how remarkable a season you can have when the whole team is invested in each other and winning.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
CL: Beating RBC in football…literally, you can’t beat that. The fans storming the field, [the fact that] we’d never beaten them in the past ten years, I don’t think anything will ever beat that. That’s easily the best sports moment of my life.
Sports Played: Baseball and Football
Committed to play: Baseball
Position: 3B/RHP
College: Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
In five years, I’ll be: Graduated from college with an internship and possibly pursuing medical school as an orthopedic doctor
Bagel Order: Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain
EB: Why Swarthmore/RPI?
CL: Both schools are really high academic institutions. Swarthmore is a liberal arts education, which I like, and RPI is more of a technical school, which is good because that’s what interests me. RPI has a really good program in terms of baseball, so that’s attractive, while Swarthmore is more of an on-the-rise program. I know the coaches at RPI, and they put me on their recruiting list, and even though they didn’t give me a straight-up offer as much as Swarthmore did, it’s only because they didn’t really see me a lot. Since it’s Division III, when you have a “spot” on the team, it’s not really a spot because they make cuts after fall anyway. So, I’m going to make the decision that matters to me the most.
EB: What has playing sports at RBR taught you?
CL: RBR sports taught me the importance of team chemistry and leadership. Having a tight knit group of guys who are focused on the same goal and work hard together is valuable [and] it all starts with the leaders. The leaders are the guys who set the tone and attitude of the team, and it’s their job to do their best to keep everyone on task and focused on doing everything they can to help the team win. Playing on the football team this year, I experienced how remarkable a season you can have when the whole team is invested in each other and winning.
EB: What’s your favorite RBR sports memory?
CL: Beating RBC in football…literally, you can’t beat that. The fans storming the field, [the fact that] we’d never beaten them in the past ten years, I don’t think anything will ever beat that. That’s easily the best sports moment of my life.
January - February 2016
Four Bucs Sign to Play College Football
By Ella Brockway
LITTLE SILVER---February 3 was a big day to be a Buc, as three members of Red Bank Regional’s football team committed to continue their playing careers on the college level.
Sean Naiman, Sadiq Palmer and Teddy Mitchell all signed their National Letters of Intent to play Division I football next fall.
Naiman, a defensive end and tight end for the Bucs, will now take his talents to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where he will wear the blue and orange of the Bucknell Bison for the next four years. Naiman spearheaded the RBR defense all throughout the 11-1 season, and earned spots on the Central Jersey Group III All-State First Team, and the All-Shore Conference First Team.
“(Bucknell) offered me great academics,” said Naiman, who also had announced offers from Wagner and Marist. “I loved the coaches, and I know my teammates there will be awesome.”
Wide receiver and defensive back Teddy Mitchell will join six other Shore Conference football players in Fairfield, Connecticut at Sacred Heart University. Mitchell’s speed and awareness on both the offensive and defensive end of the field helped the Buc offense score a total of 298 points this year, while only allowing 177.
“(Sacred Heart) was a school that I really liked, and they showed me a lot of love and attention,” said Mitchell. “I just thought it was the best fit for me.”
Fellow wide receiver and safety Sadiq Palmer will continue to wear the maroon and white in college, but instead of the Bucs, he will play for the Minutemen of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Palmer finished with seven touchdowns and 48 catches for 660 yards on the year in his senior season on the field, and also joined the 1,000 point club on the basketball court for the Bucs earlier this winter.
“I liked the opportunities that I had and the coaches (at UMass), and it’s just a beautiful campus,” said Palmer. “When I went there, it almost felt like it was home.”
A week later, quarterback Jack Navitsky joined the band of Division 1 commits when he signed a letter of intent to play at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York next fall. Navitsky threw for over 1,200 yards and connected on 11 touchdown passes this past season.
“I chose Marist because I just love everything about the school,” said Navitsky. “Football wise, I love the coaches, and think it’s an awesome opportunity to play at the next level.”
When asked about their favorite memory from RBR’s record-setting football season this past fall, all four had the same answer: beating Red Bank Catholic for the first time since 2004, and watching the student body rush the field after the win.
On behalf of the entire Buc Deck and the whole Red Bank Regional community, we say thank you to Sean, Teddy, Sadiq and Jack for all they’ve done for our school and our football program, and we can’t wait to watch them make us proud on Saturdays next fall.
Sean Naiman, Sadiq Palmer and Teddy Mitchell all signed their National Letters of Intent to play Division I football next fall.
Naiman, a defensive end and tight end for the Bucs, will now take his talents to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where he will wear the blue and orange of the Bucknell Bison for the next four years. Naiman spearheaded the RBR defense all throughout the 11-1 season, and earned spots on the Central Jersey Group III All-State First Team, and the All-Shore Conference First Team.
“(Bucknell) offered me great academics,” said Naiman, who also had announced offers from Wagner and Marist. “I loved the coaches, and I know my teammates there will be awesome.”
Wide receiver and defensive back Teddy Mitchell will join six other Shore Conference football players in Fairfield, Connecticut at Sacred Heart University. Mitchell’s speed and awareness on both the offensive and defensive end of the field helped the Buc offense score a total of 298 points this year, while only allowing 177.
“(Sacred Heart) was a school that I really liked, and they showed me a lot of love and attention,” said Mitchell. “I just thought it was the best fit for me.”
Fellow wide receiver and safety Sadiq Palmer will continue to wear the maroon and white in college, but instead of the Bucs, he will play for the Minutemen of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Palmer finished with seven touchdowns and 48 catches for 660 yards on the year in his senior season on the field, and also joined the 1,000 point club on the basketball court for the Bucs earlier this winter.
“I liked the opportunities that I had and the coaches (at UMass), and it’s just a beautiful campus,” said Palmer. “When I went there, it almost felt like it was home.”
A week later, quarterback Jack Navitsky joined the band of Division 1 commits when he signed a letter of intent to play at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York next fall. Navitsky threw for over 1,200 yards and connected on 11 touchdown passes this past season.
“I chose Marist because I just love everything about the school,” said Navitsky. “Football wise, I love the coaches, and think it’s an awesome opportunity to play at the next level.”
When asked about their favorite memory from RBR’s record-setting football season this past fall, all four had the same answer: beating Red Bank Catholic for the first time since 2004, and watching the student body rush the field after the win.
On behalf of the entire Buc Deck and the whole Red Bank Regional community, we say thank you to Sean, Teddy, Sadiq and Jack for all they’ve done for our school and our football program, and we can’t wait to watch them make us proud on Saturdays next fall.
November - December 2015
The End of RBR's Season is Just a Beginning
By Ella Brockway
This story was previously published on shoresportsnetwork.com on December 6, 2015 under the title, “Even in Defeat, Red Bank Inspired a Community with an Unforgettable Season”.
LITTLE SILVER--Success, people say, is not so much about the destination as it is the journey.
Red Bank Regional head football coach Nick Giglio is one of those people.
“Along the way the past few years, they’ve [his players] learned something. They’ve worked very hard at getting here. They became a better team, better teammates, and each a better person, and they’re going to be successful in life because of what they did in the past few years. You can’t doubt that. That’s priceless right there.”
Those were the words of a coach who, despite the circumstances, kept his composure and remained soft-spoken, just as he had done throughout his program’s best season in four decades, after the biggest game of his seven-year coaching career at Red Bank, on the biggest stage: the Central Jersey Group III championship game.
Red Bank’s 21-0 loss to the No. 1 seeded Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs on Saturday night at High Point Solutions Stadium marked the conclusion of the Bucs’ undefeated season, and a somber finish for the underdog team that defied everyone’s expectations until the very end. The Bucs shocked the Shore Conference and the entire state of New Jersey this year, with their win over perennial powerhouse and rival Red Bank Catholic, a Class B North title, and numerous appearances in the polls of the Top 20 teams in the state.
Even though Red Bank could not handle the power of the Rumson rushing offense that night, which led the Bulldogs to their third straight state title, the game meant something much more than just a score. For all of the players on the field in maroon and white, it was not just their first time playing for a state championship. It was their first time playing on a college football field on a Saturday. And for most of them, it was also their last.
The state championship was the destination for the Bucs from the beginning. It was two years ago, when most of the seniors on the team were sophomores fighting their way through a 1-9 season. It was last year, when a 5-5 finish was good, but not good enough for a chance in the Group III playoffs. And it was this season, as each game passed and another tally was added to the win column.
As the Bucs came closer to their first state championship appearance since 2003, the excitement in the community grew, both inside and outside of school. In-school parades, complete with flags, cheerleaders and the marching band, took place on the Fridays before the state semifinal game against Ocean and the championship game. The marquees outside the elementary schools of the sending districts of Red Bank, Little Silver and Shrewsbury cheered on the Bucs. Once it was decided that the championship game would be between Red Bank and Rumson-Fair Haven--the two schools are separated by just 2.5 miles--the build-up to the game became even more intense.
And even once the game had ended, when the final destination wasn’t the one that the Bucs had wanted, the fans remained, just as they had through the ups and downs of past years. An escort of six police cars and fire trucks down the main street of Red Bank brought the final leg of the Buccaneers’ 2015 odyssey to a close. The players would remember that moment for the rest of their lives. They’d remember when they stepped onto the field at Rutgers, and turned to see the scarlet red bleachers overtaken by a sea of maroon. They’d remember when the Red Bank student section stormed the field after the win over RBC, and when their fellow students poked their heads outside their classroom doors to see their Bucs walk down the hallway the day before game day. Those moments, and the 576 minutes of football they played together this year, are what made the entire journey worth it.
“It’s our job as a coaching staff and as a community to let them know how proud we are, and build them right back up,” said Giglio after the game.
Throughout this football season, everyone in the Red Bank community has realized that there’s something even more important than the destination, and something just as important as the journey--the people who sit next to you on the ride.
The RBR campus is quiet on the Sunday morning after the championship game. The cannons outside the school are painted maroon and grey, courtesy of the “RBR O-Line”, as the painted sidewalk reads. There’s an echoing silence in the locker room. It’s unusual for a place that was home to much of the celebration and noise that came with this season--some of which still remains in the form of posters and quotes taped around the room.
“This sport will give them [the players] so much more than just recognition...it will give them the chance to have success in life,” reads a letter from an RBR football alumni that hangs on the wall. “But when all's said and done, what they will remember and miss the most will be each other.”
More than a dozen pairs of cleats hang from rafters on the ceiling. They were tied together and tossed up by players when they returned to Little Silver after the championship game, relics of the season that no one in this area will ever forget. They are a literal and visual representation of letting go, but even when the cleats are taken down, the memories will still be there.
Someday, people will tell stories of this year’s 11-1 Bucs in the same way that Red Bank’s lone championship season in 1975 is talked about today. Someday, a new group of Bucs will stand in that same locker room, and admire the sign that celebrates the 2015 B-North champions.
Someday could be next year, or in five years, or in twenty-five years. But whenever someday comes, a Bucs team will again play for a state championship, and remember the team that put Red Bank Regional back on the map, and inspired a whole community, and each other, along the way.
“It [this season] has jump-started a whole community and a whole school,” said Giglio. “And you know what, we’re not done there. We’re not just going to stop and say ‘that’s all’. We hope to do this for years to come. This senior group has built a foundation for all underclassmen to follow.”
Red Bank’s journey did not end at Rutgers. It has just begun.
LITTLE SILVER--Success, people say, is not so much about the destination as it is the journey.
Red Bank Regional head football coach Nick Giglio is one of those people.
“Along the way the past few years, they’ve [his players] learned something. They’ve worked very hard at getting here. They became a better team, better teammates, and each a better person, and they’re going to be successful in life because of what they did in the past few years. You can’t doubt that. That’s priceless right there.”
Those were the words of a coach who, despite the circumstances, kept his composure and remained soft-spoken, just as he had done throughout his program’s best season in four decades, after the biggest game of his seven-year coaching career at Red Bank, on the biggest stage: the Central Jersey Group III championship game.
Red Bank’s 21-0 loss to the No. 1 seeded Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs on Saturday night at High Point Solutions Stadium marked the conclusion of the Bucs’ undefeated season, and a somber finish for the underdog team that defied everyone’s expectations until the very end. The Bucs shocked the Shore Conference and the entire state of New Jersey this year, with their win over perennial powerhouse and rival Red Bank Catholic, a Class B North title, and numerous appearances in the polls of the Top 20 teams in the state.
Even though Red Bank could not handle the power of the Rumson rushing offense that night, which led the Bulldogs to their third straight state title, the game meant something much more than just a score. For all of the players on the field in maroon and white, it was not just their first time playing for a state championship. It was their first time playing on a college football field on a Saturday. And for most of them, it was also their last.
The state championship was the destination for the Bucs from the beginning. It was two years ago, when most of the seniors on the team were sophomores fighting their way through a 1-9 season. It was last year, when a 5-5 finish was good, but not good enough for a chance in the Group III playoffs. And it was this season, as each game passed and another tally was added to the win column.
As the Bucs came closer to their first state championship appearance since 2003, the excitement in the community grew, both inside and outside of school. In-school parades, complete with flags, cheerleaders and the marching band, took place on the Fridays before the state semifinal game against Ocean and the championship game. The marquees outside the elementary schools of the sending districts of Red Bank, Little Silver and Shrewsbury cheered on the Bucs. Once it was decided that the championship game would be between Red Bank and Rumson-Fair Haven--the two schools are separated by just 2.5 miles--the build-up to the game became even more intense.
And even once the game had ended, when the final destination wasn’t the one that the Bucs had wanted, the fans remained, just as they had through the ups and downs of past years. An escort of six police cars and fire trucks down the main street of Red Bank brought the final leg of the Buccaneers’ 2015 odyssey to a close. The players would remember that moment for the rest of their lives. They’d remember when they stepped onto the field at Rutgers, and turned to see the scarlet red bleachers overtaken by a sea of maroon. They’d remember when the Red Bank student section stormed the field after the win over RBC, and when their fellow students poked their heads outside their classroom doors to see their Bucs walk down the hallway the day before game day. Those moments, and the 576 minutes of football they played together this year, are what made the entire journey worth it.
“It’s our job as a coaching staff and as a community to let them know how proud we are, and build them right back up,” said Giglio after the game.
Throughout this football season, everyone in the Red Bank community has realized that there’s something even more important than the destination, and something just as important as the journey--the people who sit next to you on the ride.
The RBR campus is quiet on the Sunday morning after the championship game. The cannons outside the school are painted maroon and grey, courtesy of the “RBR O-Line”, as the painted sidewalk reads. There’s an echoing silence in the locker room. It’s unusual for a place that was home to much of the celebration and noise that came with this season--some of which still remains in the form of posters and quotes taped around the room.
“This sport will give them [the players] so much more than just recognition...it will give them the chance to have success in life,” reads a letter from an RBR football alumni that hangs on the wall. “But when all's said and done, what they will remember and miss the most will be each other.”
More than a dozen pairs of cleats hang from rafters on the ceiling. They were tied together and tossed up by players when they returned to Little Silver after the championship game, relics of the season that no one in this area will ever forget. They are a literal and visual representation of letting go, but even when the cleats are taken down, the memories will still be there.
Someday, people will tell stories of this year’s 11-1 Bucs in the same way that Red Bank’s lone championship season in 1975 is talked about today. Someday, a new group of Bucs will stand in that same locker room, and admire the sign that celebrates the 2015 B-North champions.
Someday could be next year, or in five years, or in twenty-five years. But whenever someday comes, a Bucs team will again play for a state championship, and remember the team that put Red Bank Regional back on the map, and inspired a whole community, and each other, along the way.
“It [this season] has jump-started a whole community and a whole school,” said Giglio. “And you know what, we’re not done there. We’re not just going to stop and say ‘that’s all’. We hope to do this for years to come. This senior group has built a foundation for all underclassmen to follow.”
Red Bank’s journey did not end at Rutgers. It has just begun.
NFL Award Predictions
By Zeke Weston
Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Yes, as of late Cam Newton is the popular MVP pick and yes, the Patriots aren’t undefeated, but nobody can make a team better than Touchdown Tommy. The 38-year-old quarterback continues to pick apart defenses, and is leading the league in both passing yards and touchdowns. Not only does he make the Patriots offense one of the best in the league, his tenacity encourages the defense to step up and rise to the occasion when needed. It appears Brady has started to get better with age, which is why there’s no doubt he’s my MVP.
Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Name a wide receiver on the Panthers... having trouble? That’s because there aren’t really any worth mentioning, which is what makes Newton’s season that much more special. Thus far, the Panthers have been pretty much unstoppable. Yes, they have a great defense, which is why I didn’t give Cam the MVP. He solely plays a role in scoring touchdowns and doesn’t need to worry about the defense getting a stop. That’s no knock on him, because he’s had a season for the ages heading late into the year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers
This was the toughest decision yet. There are a number of guys that could easily be crowned Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Charles Woodson, Chandler Jones all made the list. Instead, I took the shutdown corner from Carolina. Not only does Norman have four interceptions and over 40 tackles, but he’s also on the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are a team that bullies their opponents defensively and this guy is one of the main reasons why.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
It was neck and neck for the offensive rookie of the year between Cooper and Rams running back Todd Gurley, but I had to give it to the wide out from Oakland. He’s been a dominant weapon for quarterback Derek Carr, and a big reason why Oakland’s future is very, very bright. Cooper is in the top 15 for receiving yards and in first place by any rookie. His production will continue to increase for years to come.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs
Honestly, there wasn’t much of a choice for this award. There haven’t been many defensive rookies competing at the level that Peters does. The first year corner has managed to accumulate over 50 tackles and five interceptionsnumbers just a little better than Josh Norman! Peters looks like he may be a topten corner in the future.
Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
After missing most of the season last year due to his second knee surgery, Carson Palmer is back and maybe better than ever. Not only are the Cardinals first in the NFC West, but they are also tied for second most wins in the NFL. Most of this success is due to the fact that Palmer is in the top three in passing yards and passing touchdowns. No one expected Palmer to come off his injury this hot at 35 years old.
Yes, as of late Cam Newton is the popular MVP pick and yes, the Patriots aren’t undefeated, but nobody can make a team better than Touchdown Tommy. The 38-year-old quarterback continues to pick apart defenses, and is leading the league in both passing yards and touchdowns. Not only does he make the Patriots offense one of the best in the league, his tenacity encourages the defense to step up and rise to the occasion when needed. It appears Brady has started to get better with age, which is why there’s no doubt he’s my MVP.
Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Name a wide receiver on the Panthers... having trouble? That’s because there aren’t really any worth mentioning, which is what makes Newton’s season that much more special. Thus far, the Panthers have been pretty much unstoppable. Yes, they have a great defense, which is why I didn’t give Cam the MVP. He solely plays a role in scoring touchdowns and doesn’t need to worry about the defense getting a stop. That’s no knock on him, because he’s had a season for the ages heading late into the year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers
This was the toughest decision yet. There are a number of guys that could easily be crowned Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Charles Woodson, Chandler Jones all made the list. Instead, I took the shutdown corner from Carolina. Not only does Norman have four interceptions and over 40 tackles, but he’s also on the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are a team that bullies their opponents defensively and this guy is one of the main reasons why.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
It was neck and neck for the offensive rookie of the year between Cooper and Rams running back Todd Gurley, but I had to give it to the wide out from Oakland. He’s been a dominant weapon for quarterback Derek Carr, and a big reason why Oakland’s future is very, very bright. Cooper is in the top 15 for receiving yards and in first place by any rookie. His production will continue to increase for years to come.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs
Honestly, there wasn’t much of a choice for this award. There haven’t been many defensive rookies competing at the level that Peters does. The first year corner has managed to accumulate over 50 tackles and five interceptionsnumbers just a little better than Josh Norman! Peters looks like he may be a topten corner in the future.
Comeback Player of the Year: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
After missing most of the season last year due to his second knee surgery, Carson Palmer is back and maybe better than ever. Not only are the Cardinals first in the NFC West, but they are also tied for second most wins in the NFL. Most of this success is due to the fact that Palmer is in the top three in passing yards and passing touchdowns. No one expected Palmer to come off his injury this hot at 35 years old.
September - October 2015
What to Expect From the MLB Playoffs
By: Zeke Weston
October has come, the time of year when Major League Baseball's best of the best face off to see who's top dog. The average baseball fan knows that nothing else in sports is quite like the roller coaster that is the MLB playoffs. From one pitch, to one swing, to one throw, or better yet, one call, baseball games can be won or lost in the blink of an eye.
Now that the ALCS and NLCS are underway, there are only four teams still standing: the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Kansas City Royals. To the eyes of the casual baseball fan there’s something clearly odd about this group of baseball’s elite. It’s not that these teams don’t deserve to be here--it’s just that they’re not the league’s usual contenders. Besides last season’s breakout performance by the Royals, none of the four teams have made the playoffs in over five years. Better yet, not one of these teams has won the World Series since the Blue Jays won back-to-back championships in ‘92 and ‘93. The sudden rise in performance should be credited to the talented youth of each team’s roster (except for the Blue Jays, who traded for a good deal of their talent). Each matchup should prove to be entertaining and competitive as the games play out.
Breaking down the first matchup, we’ll see the Mets (90-72) take on the Cubs (97-65) in the NLCS. Both big market teams come into the series with a tremendous arsenal of youth. Although Jake Arrieta, starting pitcher for the Cubs who led the league with 22 wins, will have a huge impact on Chicago’s performance, the main highlight of their gameplay should be attributed to their young sluggers: Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, and Starlin Castro. Not one player listed above is over 25 years old, making the Cubs starting lineup the youngest in the league, with only one player over the age of 30. The Cubs are not only the youngest team in the MLB, but also are one of the only teams to have nine players who hit double-digit home runs this season. Even the Blue Jays, who led the league in total home runs hit this year, only have seven players in the double-digit home run column. This is what makes this matchup so unique, because the electrifying bats of Chicago may have finally met their match against the arms of the Mets pitching rotation.
Now that the ALCS and NLCS are underway, there are only four teams still standing: the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Kansas City Royals. To the eyes of the casual baseball fan there’s something clearly odd about this group of baseball’s elite. It’s not that these teams don’t deserve to be here--it’s just that they’re not the league’s usual contenders. Besides last season’s breakout performance by the Royals, none of the four teams have made the playoffs in over five years. Better yet, not one of these teams has won the World Series since the Blue Jays won back-to-back championships in ‘92 and ‘93. The sudden rise in performance should be credited to the talented youth of each team’s roster (except for the Blue Jays, who traded for a good deal of their talent). Each matchup should prove to be entertaining and competitive as the games play out.
Breaking down the first matchup, we’ll see the Mets (90-72) take on the Cubs (97-65) in the NLCS. Both big market teams come into the series with a tremendous arsenal of youth. Although Jake Arrieta, starting pitcher for the Cubs who led the league with 22 wins, will have a huge impact on Chicago’s performance, the main highlight of their gameplay should be attributed to their young sluggers: Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, and Starlin Castro. Not one player listed above is over 25 years old, making the Cubs starting lineup the youngest in the league, with only one player over the age of 30. The Cubs are not only the youngest team in the MLB, but also are one of the only teams to have nine players who hit double-digit home runs this season. Even the Blue Jays, who led the league in total home runs hit this year, only have seven players in the double-digit home run column. This is what makes this matchup so unique, because the electrifying bats of Chicago may have finally met their match against the arms of the Mets pitching rotation.
The Mets success this season is greatly due to three players: Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard (all with ERA’s under 3.25). Along with these three elite flamethrowers, the Mets also have three other possible starting pitchers to turn to, including rookie Steven Matz, and veterans Bartolo Colon and Jon Niese. Pairing a rotation like that of the Mets with their closer Jeurys Familia can prove deadly, which is why the Cubs will have a difficult time scoring. The outcome of the series relies on the pitching of the Cubs and the bats of the Mets to see which team can step up to the plate and show up big for their city.
Facing off in ALCS are the Toronto Blue Jays (93-69) and Kansas City Royals (95-67), two small market teams competing to show the American League who’s on top. The Blue Jays have the realistic ability to tally five home runs in one game, similar to the style of the Cubs. Toronto has a very powerful lineup, with their weakness being their pitching staff. Unlike any other team in the league, the Blue Jays have three players--Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion--who all hit at least 39 home runs with 100 RBIs this year. Any baseball fan knows it’s good to have one player on your team who puts up numbers like that, so having three who can do so makes Toronto that much more dangerous heading into the conference series. Although that list contains some of the greatest names in baseball, it doesn’t even include Troy Tulowitzki, the one-of-a kind shortstop acquired from Colorado, who’s possibly their best player when healthy. It may appear that the Blue Jays are talented enough to win the series; however, their pitching needs to show up big in games to come. After starting pitcher David Price was acquired halfway through the year, he initially dominated almost every game he’s pitched; but since the playoffs began, he hasn’t been able to find his groove, with an ERA of 7.20. The only stable arm the Jays have been able to rely on as of late is Marcus Stroman, whose ERA is 3.46 through the start of the playoffs. Stroman’s success must continue if Toronto wants to beat Kansas City.Hidden behind all the great talent on the Jays roster is their potential secret weapon, Kevin Pillar. Anytime during the series, one may see Pillar fly across the outfield to make a run-stopping catch that proves to be vital in determining the outcome of the game.
Although it seems like the Blue Jays have their work cut out for them, their opponent, the Kansas City Royals, are unlike any other team left in the playoffs. Kansas City has a very balanced attack between their pitching staff and batting lineup that can combine to put opponents away. They’ve got players like Kendrys Morales (22 HRs, 106 RBIs, .290 avg) and Eric Hosmer (18 HRs, 93 RBIs, .297 avg) who can hit the ball all day long, but they also have the great pitching of Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, and Yordano Ventura. Unlike the Jays, the Royals have many players with experience in the playoffs after their World Series loss last season. Much of their lineup returns from last year, including 2015 All-Stars Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas, and Salvador Perez. Each of the four returning All-Stars are great leaders and great fielders who will have a huge impact on the result of this series, but Kansas City’s secret weapon is the 2014 Manager of the Year, Ned Yost. Even though he’s just a coach, he has yet to make too many mistakes, so look for him to make a difference throughout the series, whether it’s a bunt call or a simple pitching change.
The only thing baseball fans like better than the playoffs of October is November, when it comes down to two teams come face-to- face in the World Series to see who’s top dog. From the ALCS to the NLCS, both matchups will display some of the best baseball of the season.
The only thing baseball fans like better than the playoffs of October is November, when it comes down to two teams come face-to- face in the World Series to see who’s top dog. From the ALCS to the NLCS, both matchups will display some of the best baseball of the season.
RBR Football Shocks RBC, 24-21
By: Ella Brockway
October 16th’s game between Red Bank Catholic and Red Bank Regional had it all. There were smiles, tears, hugs, moments in which the anticipation was so high that you had to close your eyes. And moments so great that you wished your eyes could stay open forever.
The number one rule of journalism is to remain unbiased. I spent all of this game on the sideline, taking notes and taking pictures, and I tried my best to resist showing favoritism for my own school. I wore a red and blue shirt, and tried to make it obvious that I wasn’t favoring the Bucs or the Caseys.
That plan failed exactly six minutes and three seconds into the fourth quarter, when a 58-yard touchdown run by the Bucs’ senior quarterback Jack Navitsky turned the score in his team’s favor, and won the game 24-21. For most of the game, I’d been silently fist-pumping and whispering “yes” whenever the Bucs made a good play, but in that moment with 5:57 left in the game I let go of my impartiality. I put my camera in my bag and ran onto the field when that clock hit 0:00, and I hugged as many of my friends as I could find in the pandemonium that had erupted on the field when RBR officially clinched the win.
I was standing next to a veteran reporter as I watched the inundation of black, maroon and white pour out of the Buc Deck bleachers onto the field, and I think his words summed up the game for most of us pretty well:
“I’ve never seen anything like this at a high school game before, and it’s unlikely I’ll ever see anything like it again.”
RBR vs. RBC has never been just a game. It was never just a game, even when the Bucs ended up on the losing side for nine years in a row. RBR-RBC has always been the game. It’s the matchup of the crosstown rivals in different towns. The underdog versus the powerhouse, the David vs. the Goliath. And up until this year, the Bucs and the Caseys were pretty consistent about maintaining their respective labels.
And then the 2015 season came along. Both teams, as of October 16, were riding on 5-0 records and battling for first place in the B North division. The Bucs were coming off wins against division rival Ocean and fellow unbeaten Raritan. The Caseys were coming off --well, a state championship. Senior quarterbacks Jack Navitsky (RBR) and Eddie Hahn (RBC) were sending shockwaves around the Shore, and as the weeks went on, both teams were moving up in the conference and the state rankings.
Suddenly the game turned into The Game. Local sports news outlets marked the matchup as their “Game of the Week”, and people from all over the Shore Conference started to watch the B-North division more intently than they had before. A Twitter account, sensibly named “RBR vs. RBC OCT. 16” was created, and added hype to a rivalry in much need of some rejuvenation.
Tickets were sold in schools, alumni chatted about their picks on the streets, and suddenly, Friday night arrived, and 3,872 people packed into the stands at the football field to witness something that hadn’t been seen in a long, long time.
The best analogy I’ve seen to describe this game so far is a boxing match. Each team threw punches, but the other never truly gave up. The bells were rung to signal the end of each round, but no team showed any real sign of stopping. The game was to be decided by who would make the first mistake, and who would have the strength to capitalize on the other’s weakness.
The Caseys were the first ones to capitalize on a Buc mistake, when Mike Balzofiore returned an RBR fumble for 67 yards, and put RBC on the board with a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. A few minutes later, a 15 yard run on first down by senior running back Alim Godsey tied the score up at 7-7.
A similar plotline followed in the second quarter, when the Caseys scored first with 4:32 left on the clock on a one-yard run from running back Dylan Murphy, followed by a Buc touchdown run from Sadiq Palmer, 0:40 before the end of the half.
The score at the break was 14-14, and the atmosphere could only be described as tense. For the fans on both sides, the fifteen minutes could not pass by quickly enough, and even the halftime entertainment couldn’t distract everyone in the crowd from the fact that the next twenty four minutes of football would likely define each team’s season, and define some seasons to come.
Seven plays and sixty yards later, the score was 21-14 Caseys. With that drive for the seven points from Dylan Murphy, and after major carries on the drive from Hahn, the home side of the bleachers grew quiet. Even though the Bucs added a field goal from Jack O’Connor before the end of the third to reduce the deficit to four points, the anxiety that was in the air was contagious as the quarter ended with the Bucs down but not wholly dejected. Four points felt more like forty, and the next twelve minutes would require the Bucs to play the best football of their lives in perhaps the biggest high school football game of their lives.
The important points from the fourth quarter could best be summed up in four S’s: sack, score, stop and shock. After two quick stops on the defensive end, the Bucs stopped the Casey offense with a pivotal sack from senior Kevine Jackson, and got the ball with a first down and two yards to go after a couple of penalties from the 57-yard line. All it took was one play to seal the deal for the Bucs offense, and, with ease, Navitsky sprinted into the end zone and into a new chapter for the RBR program. The defense held it for the next four minutes and twenty seconds, until the biggest moment of the game came with 1:37 left. RBC had a fourth and two opportunity from the 22-yard line, but when Hahn attempted to run the ball to the twenty, he was taken down by the Buc defense, and the call was so close that the officials had to come out and measure the distance. Everyone on the RBR sideline and in the Buc Deck held their breath, and the official review finally came. With a wave of the referee’s arm to the left, the Bucs got the first down, and the crowd took a sigh of relief that quickly turned into screams of excitement as the clock neared 0:00.
Wherever you were when that clock hit zero, you knew that it would be a moment that you would not forget for a very long time. I was standing on the sideline, frantically shoving my camera in my bag so I could join the joyful mob that had formed on the center of the field. Parents hugged each other in the stands, Coach Giglio received a classic and long-awaited Gatorade shower, and Buc players ran around the field, shell-shocked from the shockwaves they knew they had just sent throughout the Shore Conference. The announcer called for all non-participants to clear off the field, but I think everyone, from fan to player to even reporter, would have been happy to stay out there all night and just take in the experience.
This win wasn’t accomplished because of one week’s work. It was a result of the work of the last seven years, by this program and by the people who built it, from the players on the 2015 team to the Bucs of the past who cheered from the bleachers, with RBR on the front of their hoodie and in their heart.
And thus, there’s only one appropriate way to close this.
B-U-C-S. Bucs. Bucs. Bucs.
The number one rule of journalism is to remain unbiased. I spent all of this game on the sideline, taking notes and taking pictures, and I tried my best to resist showing favoritism for my own school. I wore a red and blue shirt, and tried to make it obvious that I wasn’t favoring the Bucs or the Caseys.
That plan failed exactly six minutes and three seconds into the fourth quarter, when a 58-yard touchdown run by the Bucs’ senior quarterback Jack Navitsky turned the score in his team’s favor, and won the game 24-21. For most of the game, I’d been silently fist-pumping and whispering “yes” whenever the Bucs made a good play, but in that moment with 5:57 left in the game I let go of my impartiality. I put my camera in my bag and ran onto the field when that clock hit 0:00, and I hugged as many of my friends as I could find in the pandemonium that had erupted on the field when RBR officially clinched the win.
I was standing next to a veteran reporter as I watched the inundation of black, maroon and white pour out of the Buc Deck bleachers onto the field, and I think his words summed up the game for most of us pretty well:
“I’ve never seen anything like this at a high school game before, and it’s unlikely I’ll ever see anything like it again.”
RBR vs. RBC has never been just a game. It was never just a game, even when the Bucs ended up on the losing side for nine years in a row. RBR-RBC has always been the game. It’s the matchup of the crosstown rivals in different towns. The underdog versus the powerhouse, the David vs. the Goliath. And up until this year, the Bucs and the Caseys were pretty consistent about maintaining their respective labels.
And then the 2015 season came along. Both teams, as of October 16, were riding on 5-0 records and battling for first place in the B North division. The Bucs were coming off wins against division rival Ocean and fellow unbeaten Raritan. The Caseys were coming off --well, a state championship. Senior quarterbacks Jack Navitsky (RBR) and Eddie Hahn (RBC) were sending shockwaves around the Shore, and as the weeks went on, both teams were moving up in the conference and the state rankings.
Suddenly the game turned into The Game. Local sports news outlets marked the matchup as their “Game of the Week”, and people from all over the Shore Conference started to watch the B-North division more intently than they had before. A Twitter account, sensibly named “RBR vs. RBC OCT. 16” was created, and added hype to a rivalry in much need of some rejuvenation.
Tickets were sold in schools, alumni chatted about their picks on the streets, and suddenly, Friday night arrived, and 3,872 people packed into the stands at the football field to witness something that hadn’t been seen in a long, long time.
The best analogy I’ve seen to describe this game so far is a boxing match. Each team threw punches, but the other never truly gave up. The bells were rung to signal the end of each round, but no team showed any real sign of stopping. The game was to be decided by who would make the first mistake, and who would have the strength to capitalize on the other’s weakness.
The Caseys were the first ones to capitalize on a Buc mistake, when Mike Balzofiore returned an RBR fumble for 67 yards, and put RBC on the board with a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. A few minutes later, a 15 yard run on first down by senior running back Alim Godsey tied the score up at 7-7.
A similar plotline followed in the second quarter, when the Caseys scored first with 4:32 left on the clock on a one-yard run from running back Dylan Murphy, followed by a Buc touchdown run from Sadiq Palmer, 0:40 before the end of the half.
The score at the break was 14-14, and the atmosphere could only be described as tense. For the fans on both sides, the fifteen minutes could not pass by quickly enough, and even the halftime entertainment couldn’t distract everyone in the crowd from the fact that the next twenty four minutes of football would likely define each team’s season, and define some seasons to come.
Seven plays and sixty yards later, the score was 21-14 Caseys. With that drive for the seven points from Dylan Murphy, and after major carries on the drive from Hahn, the home side of the bleachers grew quiet. Even though the Bucs added a field goal from Jack O’Connor before the end of the third to reduce the deficit to four points, the anxiety that was in the air was contagious as the quarter ended with the Bucs down but not wholly dejected. Four points felt more like forty, and the next twelve minutes would require the Bucs to play the best football of their lives in perhaps the biggest high school football game of their lives.
The important points from the fourth quarter could best be summed up in four S’s: sack, score, stop and shock. After two quick stops on the defensive end, the Bucs stopped the Casey offense with a pivotal sack from senior Kevine Jackson, and got the ball with a first down and two yards to go after a couple of penalties from the 57-yard line. All it took was one play to seal the deal for the Bucs offense, and, with ease, Navitsky sprinted into the end zone and into a new chapter for the RBR program. The defense held it for the next four minutes and twenty seconds, until the biggest moment of the game came with 1:37 left. RBC had a fourth and two opportunity from the 22-yard line, but when Hahn attempted to run the ball to the twenty, he was taken down by the Buc defense, and the call was so close that the officials had to come out and measure the distance. Everyone on the RBR sideline and in the Buc Deck held their breath, and the official review finally came. With a wave of the referee’s arm to the left, the Bucs got the first down, and the crowd took a sigh of relief that quickly turned into screams of excitement as the clock neared 0:00.
Wherever you were when that clock hit zero, you knew that it would be a moment that you would not forget for a very long time. I was standing on the sideline, frantically shoving my camera in my bag so I could join the joyful mob that had formed on the center of the field. Parents hugged each other in the stands, Coach Giglio received a classic and long-awaited Gatorade shower, and Buc players ran around the field, shell-shocked from the shockwaves they knew they had just sent throughout the Shore Conference. The announcer called for all non-participants to clear off the field, but I think everyone, from fan to player to even reporter, would have been happy to stay out there all night and just take in the experience.
This win wasn’t accomplished because of one week’s work. It was a result of the work of the last seven years, by this program and by the people who built it, from the players on the 2015 team to the Bucs of the past who cheered from the bleachers, with RBR on the front of their hoodie and in their heart.
And thus, there’s only one appropriate way to close this.
B-U-C-S. Bucs. Bucs. Bucs.
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