TENAFLY – It had the makings of “Hoosiers,” the truest tale of David and Golaith, the littlest of Group I…
Category: Sportsview
Sportsview is a weekly column that appears in The Observer and on TheObserver.com. It is written by Jim Hague, who has been covering sports for more than 30 years.
QP wrestling: Among state’s best once again
Queen of Peace’s wrestling program is back among the state’s elite once again. The Golden Griffins…
Belleville struggling to keep head above water
The record may read just 3-8, but Belleville High School boys’ basketball coach Jim Stoeckel believes that the Buccaneers are a better…
NA boys’ basketball team: 10 wins, eight in a row
When the high school basketball season began last month, North Arlington boys’ head coach Rich Corsetto didn’t know what the future had…
NA girls’ basketball: Trying to find right rhythm
North Arlington High School girls’ basketball coach Rob Lado believed that his team would be much improved over last season, his first…
Belleville wrestling program moves forward with new coach Pizzi
The Belleville High School wrestling program is undergoing another transition period, with former assistant coach Joe Pizzi taking over for Junior Nardone, who…
Who’s been naughty and who’s been nice? Santa Hague knows
Well, believe it or not, it’s that time of year, even if the thermometer says otherwise. It’s time for…
Blue Tide girls: Moving on with limited roster
As Al Ruiz begins his sixth year as the head coach of the Harrison High School girls’ basketball team, he…
Blue Tide boys ready to roll on hardwood
Noel Colon enters his third season as the head boys’ basketball coach at Harrison High School and while the Blue…
Promising year ahead for NA boys’ hoop squad
The North Arlington High School boys’ basketball team posted a 17-10 record last year and lost two key players, Jose Checo…
Seton Hall’s Gordon lives with being openly gay
SOUTH ORANGE – Derrick Gordon took a huge gamble last year, while at UMass, when he became the first active college…
Kearny’s Sawyer; Nutley’s Watson, Condito sign scholarship letters
Other than winning a championship, the absolute pinnacle that a high school student/athlete can achieve is a scholarship to college. Last…
Mazzolla’s sudden death stuns entire NA sports community
The news filtered throughout North Arlington last Wednesday morning and suddenly cast a dark pall on the entire community. Nick Mazzolla,…
Second season begins for local soccer teams
The NJSIAA soccer playoffs kicked off earlier this week and several local teams had high hopes and aspirations of winning sectional…
NA girls’ soccer: Winning easier with superstar Seca
Before the 2015 girls’ high school soccer season kicked off last month, North Arlington head coach Dan Farinola found his team…
NA boys’ soccer: Heading to Bergen tourney
Jesse Dembowski has been the head boys’ soccer coach at North Arlington High School for seven years now. He’s been able…
Harrison mourns the loss of beloved Morillo
Amy Nicosia Morillo vividly recalls the day that she met her husband- to-be, Jose, a little more than seven years ago.…
Nutley girls’ soccer: Maintaining excellence
Mike DiPiano began his fourth season as the head girls’ soccer coach at Nutley High School two weeks ago and…
Blue Tide girls’ soccer: Moving forward
When Raphael Viana took over the Harrison High School girls’ soccer program last year, coming back to coach girls’ soccer at…
Amid turmoil, QP’s grid team trudges on
It has not been an easy offseason for the Queen of Peace football program. First, former head coach Bob Kearns,…
Lyndhurst girls’ soccer: Stay the course
The Lyndhurst High School girls’ soccer team lost their leading goal scorer and leading playmaker to graduation from a team that finished…
Blue Tide looks to turn tide with new coach Glover Jr.
Pardon Rich Glover Jr.’s enthusiasm as he takes over the moribund Harrison High School football program. Sure, Glover Jr., the son…
Former Kearny resident Oyola pens book about faith
James Oyola cherishes the time he spent growing up in Kearny. “We moved to Kearny from New York when I…
QP grad Pettigrew heads to Drew as head of his class
It’s very rare when a student/athlete graduates at the top of his or her graduating class. Usually, the role…
Red Bulls now have Wright-Phillips brother act
HARRISON – Who would have ever dreamed that a simple event like the coupling of New York Red Bulls All-Star…
Kearny boys’ camp proves that interest in basketball exists
Jovan George is an aspiring basketball player with a huge upside – his tremendous frame. George is only a 10-year-old…
Harrison holds summer hoops camp
When Noel Colon got the job as the head boys’ basketball coach at Harrison High School, he knew that it…
Something new: Boys’ basketball camp in NA
When it comes to learning about the sport of basketball, there’s always room for growth, always room for improvement and always room…
Lyndhurst legend Longo dies at 73
Dick Vitale, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announcer, perhaps summed up the passing of his friend Tom Longo the best.…
Long-time friends Malanga, Nisivoccia reunite at All-Star Classic
UNION – Frank Malanga and Vincent Nisivoccia are longtime friends, going back to their middle school days in Nutley. They also…