This week our staff unanimously selected the Green Wave’s Matt DeRenzi, senior baseball player and standout, as our Player of the Week, after he delivered the game-winning run with a single, giving Delbarton the 4-3 win over Don Bosco Prep on Saturday, April 17th, 2010.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to catch up with Matt, and ask him a few questions about that game, his team and himself personally.
KENNEY- How important was it for the Green Wave to win that game against Don Bosco Prep on Saturday, particularly after the loss to Pope John the day before?

DERENZI- With the Morris County seeding meeting Tuesday night we knew we had to come away with a win. Don Bosco is a pretty good team and we were glad we could escape with a close victory.

KENNEY- It was a very well-timed and exciting victory for sure. How did you prepare yourself mentally each time before going up to bat against the well-known pitcher Eric Stevens? I know you had more than one hit in the game, but in particular for the at bat in the 7th inning.

DERENZI- I was just looking for a fastball over the plate that I could put in play and give Matt Kastner a chance to score from third. I didn't try to do too much with the pitch and luckily found a hole up the middle.

KENNEY- A perfect strategy. Are you an athlete who thrives under pressure? Obviously you knew the importance of a getting a hit in the bottom of that 7th inning, with Dering having tied up the game a  ...Read More

After some deliberation, NJAC Sports Center decided that the first “Player of the Week” for the Spring 2010 should be awarded to Roxbury’s Senior Linda Stierli, of The Lady Gaels softball team.
In the third inning of their game against Morris Hills on April 5th, Stierli hit the first homerun of the season for her team, putting The Lady Gaels ahead and creating the momentum that ultimately led the team to their first win of the season. Moments like this are what can truly turn a game around, creating a snowball effect of emotion, and evoking the team morale necessary for all-around success.

I caught up with Linda, who literally just switched from batting right-handed to left-handed, to get her feedback about that moment and her team’s big win. When I asked her how it felt to hit the first homerun of the season for The Lady Gaels, she humbly replied that her homerun was off of a drag bunt and due to overthrows by her opponents. “I never expected to run all the way home”, she explained.

In this instance, that fact actually makes no difference to me. As a former All-American high school athlete myself, I understand that it’s not always about the MVPs, who scored the most runs in a particular game, who swam their best time and broke a state record, or who will certainly be recruited by colleges and universities. When I played sports, I always felt that the true magic happened during those unexpected and equally influential moments. It’s how a team of indi  ...Read More

Jeremy Brown (54), Herbie Skinner (64) and Christian Truglio (60) have gelled closer together as the season progressed.

After his 290 yard, 4-touchdown game in West Morris’ trouncing of Nutley in Round 2 of the State Playoffs, NJAC Sports Center named the Wolfpack senior runningback Michael Burton as Player of the Week. Earlier this week, Burton graciously accepted the honor. However, after some apparent reflection, the team captain called us back and explained that if it weren’t for his offensive line he would not have earned this award. He requested that we instead name West Morris Central’s front six offensive linemen as the Player’s of the Week for Round 2 of the State Playoffs.

Upon receiving the news of Burton’s gesture, the offensive blockers were not surprised. “I wouldn’t expect anything different from Mike.” Senior guard Chris Truglio said.

So it is with great honor, that we name Herbie Skinner, Gerardo Antoniello, Jeremy Brown, Christian Truglio, Kelvin Veras and Dylan D’Alessio as this week’s Players of the Week. We caught up with the six big men to talk about their upcoming State Title game, their predictions of the other State games and what college recruiters should know about Michael Burton.

How great did it feel last weekend when you started to realize that you won the game and that you were heading to Giants Stadium?Herbie Skinner: Really good
Gerardo Antoniello: Awesome
Jeremy Brown: Unbelievable happiness
Christian Truglio: Honestly the feeling hasn't totally sunk in yet. It's amazing that we're going to be playing f  ...Read More

This past weekend, Roxbury senior Kevin Baker busted out for 183 yards on twelve carries and added three sacks on defense during the Gaels 42-7 route of North Bergen. This performance earned Baker NJAC Sports Center's Round 1 Playoff Player of the Week.

We caught up with Baker to talk about his game day rituals, who the strongest player on his team is and who should play his coach on screen.

How confident does this Gaels team feel about itself right now?Very confident. We've been getting ourselves ready for years together for this opportunity and it's in arms reach.Did any good come out of the loss to Sparta at Week 9?Maybe because it gave us a little reality check. It smacked us and the mouth like 'Hey, we can be beat and can take nobody lightly from here on out.'
Do you have any game day rituals?Turkey with mayo and a bag of chips from Roxbury Bagels. Then I eat pasta at my house before walkthrough.
Who is your best friend on your team?Our team is so close I couldn't even pick one. All my teammates are my brothers.
What is the funniest thing your coach said this year?"Were going half-speed today, so everyone practice like Baker does"Who is the strongest player on your team?Rob Wallace. The kid can squat 600 lbs.Who plays with the most intensity?Again, Wallace. Hes always  ...Read More

For his three years as a varsity quarterback, senior Greg DePugh was regarded as the best quarterbacks in Morris County.

This past Saturday morning, the Parsippany Hills football team found out that they were not going to make it into the post season because of a tie breaker in the Power Points system. How did quarterback Greg DePugh react? Well the 6’3” senior gun slinger exploded by going 24 for 37, 288 yards and four touchdowns in the Vikings 41-13 route of the playoff bound Morristown Colonials.

This display of will power earned DePugh NJAC Sports Center’s Week 9 Player of the Week Award. We caught up with DePugh to talk about his big win, his disappointment about not getting into the post season and what was his fondest memory as a three year starter.

How did it feel to get a win against such a great team like Motown?It felt great to get a win against Motown. Whenever you can beat a school that is one of the best in Morris County it is always fun.

How bummed are you that you are not in the post season?
Obviously nobody is going to be happy if they do not make the playoffs and it is my senior year so this was my last shot, but there’s nothing I can do about it now so I try to not let it bother me too much.

Who is your role model?
My role model is my father because he has helped me and the rest of our family with anything we needed in life, he is always there for me at anytime and I hope I can be as good to my family as he is to us.
What is your fondest m  ...Read More

Runningback Jim LaBell has led his team to a perfect 8-0 record while securing the scool's first Freedom Division Championships.

Senior Jim LaBell's 16 carry, 114 yard and 2 touchdown performance against Madison this weekend clinched Lenape Valley as the Freedom Division Champions and earned himself NJAC Sports Center's Week 8 Player of the Week.

We caught up with LaBell to talk about who is role model's are, which NFL player plays like him and what are the Patriot's chances of bringing home a State Title for Lenape Valley.

Who is your role model?
My Dad and my uncles, they all played for Lenape Valley and my two uncles played for Coach Smolyn.

What professional football player do you think resembles you on the field?
Brandon Jacobs, although I’ll never be even close to as good as he is, he runs hard, keeps his legs pumping, and never quits; that’s my philosophy.

How good does this Patriots team feel about itself at 8-0?
We aren’t just a team of dreamers, we get it done on the field. We have been talking and waiting for this season for a very long time. We are proud of our school and represent it with class on the field.
What is it about your team that is just steam rolling over opponents?We may not be the biggest, strongest, or fastest team but we have something that can beat all three, and that’s HEART. We will be best friends till the death. We play for each other not ourselves. Coach Smolyn puts the best eleven he’s got not his eleven best  ...Read More

Madison's junior quarterback Matt McHale has been equally effective with his arm and his legs while leading his Dodger team to a 5-1 record.

With their 23-13 win over a solid Hanover Park team, the Madison Dodgers are now 5-1 and on their way to the post season. Junior quarterback/defensive back Matt McHale has been a key part of this success.

His 127 yard rushing and three touchdown performance against the Hornets earned him NJAC Sports Center’s Week 7 Player of the Week Award. McHale sat down with us to talk about this past weekend’s victory, who his favorite receiver is and what we should expect for this weekend’s showdown against the 7-0 Lenape Vally Patriots.

What does this victory over Hanover Park mean for this Dodger team?
Another step closer to the playoffs.

You did a lot with your legs in this game. Is this something we are going to see more of?
It worked this week so we will see what happens.

Do you prefer to play offense or defense?
I really enjoy playing both sides of the ball.

What has been the highlight of your Dodger varsity career so far? My first touchdown pass to Will McDonald last season against Passaic valley.

What makes this Madison team so special?
That we have so many talented guys who can play different positions.

Who is the strongest player on your team?
Klem Calderon

Who is the best athlete?
Justin Goodwin

Who  ...Read More

Pequannock senior runningback Joe Ruggiero earned himself the Week 6 Player of the Week award with his three touchdown performance against Morris Catholic.

Pequannock senior runningback Joe Ruggiero blasted this past weekend for 216 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns in the Golden Panthers 34-26 defeat over Morris Catholic. This effort helped Ruggiero’s team basically clinch a playoff birth. Ruggiero’s output also earned him NJAC Sports Center’s Week 6 Player of the Week.

We caught up with Ruggiero to talk about his teams momentum, who the best player he faced this year and who should play his coach on screen.

How good does your team feel about itself right now?
Each week we feel confident. We practice how we play. When we have good practices it usually reflects on the field and the scoreboard.

What level of success will satisfy you guys?
Our first goal was to reach the playoffs and the win last week virtually sealed that deal. So what would satisfy us now would be to go far into the state playoffs.

How psyched was your team when they found out that Joe Heck was going to transfer back to your school?
We were all psyched adding Joe to the QB position and moving Ryan Griffin to the wide receiver. It just puts more fire power to our offense, making our team that much better.

Who is the unsung hero of your team?
Joe Diffin

Who is the most athletically gifted?
Ryan “Money” Afflito

Who is the toughest?  ...Read More

Boonton junior Andrew Regan has taken the conference by storm by scoring via kick return, punt return, from the runningback position and by intercepting a pass.

Boonton junior runningback Andrew Regan is making a statement to the Independence Division of the NJAC Conference by leading the Bombers to an impressive 4-1 record. This past weekend, Regan scored three times from the runningback position and another time on an interception earning himself NJAC Sports Center’s Week 5 Player of the Week.

We caught up with Regan to talk about who his role model is, who should play his coach on screen and what his thoughts are on his upcoming back-to-back games against undefeated Butler and Mt. Lakes.

So far this season you've scored nine times as a runningback, three times returning kicks and once defensively. What is your favorite kind of touchdown to score?
Special teams - kick and punt returns.

When will we be seeing you throw for a TD?
I've thrown a few but not for a TD yet.

In the next two weeks you face Butler and Mt. Lakes, who are both 5-0 right now. How important are those games to your team?
We're very excited to be 4-1 and know these games will decide if we make it to the States.

Was it an adjustment for your team having a new coach this season?Yes, but Coach Dubuque made it easy for us.

How different is this team compared to last year's team?
This year's team is more excited and motivated to win.

Who is your foot  ...Read More

In Week 3, Mendham quarterback Matt Crimmins threw for a school record five touchdowns in a Minuteman win vs. High Point.

In their 34-27 barn burner of a victory over High Point, the Mendham Minutemen had an array of players that had big games.  But senior quarterback Matt Crimmins led the charge when he went 17 for 21 passes for 286 yards and 5 passing touchdowns.  Crimmins feat was a school record and earned him our Week 3 Player of the Week Award.

NJAC Sports Center caught up with Crimmins to talk about the exciting game at High Point, who Mendham's unsugn hero is and what his college plans are.

How exciting was it for you to battle back and fourth with High Point this Saturday afternoon?
It was definitely a thrilling game but the excitement didn't really kick in until after Brad (Jones) caught that last pass. Going up by two scores and then losing the lead with under 3 minutes left was shocking, but the last second comeback made the win that much more enjoyable.

Who were some of the guys that suprised you by the way they stepped up?
With all the injuries so far this season we relied heavily on some younger and inexperienced players to step up for us on Saturday. Sean Lucky was a major part of moving the ball up and down the field and even though he didn't score he was a big target all game. Max St. John made a few nice plays including a one handed catch for a go ahead touchdown on the first drive of the second half. Running backs James Palazzi and Brian Cutalo filled in for some of our inju  ...Read More

Brand's high flying style has allowed him to throw six touchdowns in just two games.

Butler quarterback Peter Brand threw three touchdowns for the second week in a row in the Bulldogs 46-0 route of Whippany Park. During the contest Brand went 14 of 21 for 175 yards and earned himself NJAC Sports Center’s Player of the Week.

We caught up with Brand to chat about what its like throwing to a big time D1 recruit, what game on his schedule he has circled and who is his favorite Kardashian.

How does it feel to go from a 0-10 season to winning your first two games?
It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It’s an accomplishment but its only two games. We still need improvement to beat the rest of these teams.

What is it like as a quarterback when you have a D1 recruit in your receiving corps in Andrew Turzilli?
It not only helps me out but all the other receivers too. With his talent he draws at least two defenders his way every game which opens up all the other receivers like Ryan Lowery, Eddie DeMarchi and Tom Brigham. A.T. is a tremendous player and even with the double and triple teams, he still makes big plays. I can throw it anywhere in his direction and he WILL catch the ball over defenders. It’s great to have a player with his ability.

Why do you think Butler's passing game has been so effective in the first two games?
Its because of the receivers we have, they are all athletes and catch every ball I throw and  ...Read More

Senior runningback Kevin Ryan put on a dazzling display in Week 1 by rushing for 133 yards and scoring three touchdowns to earn him this week's Player of the Week award.

This past Friday night, Mountain Lakes runningback Kevin Ryan ran nine times for 133 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lakers in a 28-0 shutout over Hopatcong. His touchdown runs of 20, 37 and 42 yards were impressive enough. But coming off of two ACL surgeries in a row, he has earned himself NJAC Sports Centers Week 1 Player of the Week Award.

In the middle of his is sophomore season Ryan, who is also a very good lacrosse player, was sidelined with a torn ACL. He rehabbed himself back to playing form to have a very nice junior season when, the game before the State Final, he re-injured the same knee.

Now Ryan is back for his last year and as evident by his performance in his first game, he means business. NJAC Sports Center caught up with Ryan to talk about bouncing back from two ACL surgeries, what its like playing for long time Laker coach Doug Wilkins and who his role model is.

How does it feel to notch the first win of the season? It feels great to get that first one under our belts. We were all so anxious to play. The fact that we got to hit someone other than ourselves was something that we all got fired up for.

Does your team put much weight into your 14 game win streak?
No. We don’t really think too much about games we played last year. We are all about the next game coming up.

How high are expectations coming into this season, after winning the States  ...Read More

Mike Genovese's abilty and achievement were big contributors to his earning the 2009 Athlete of the Year honor. However, his leadership skills and sportsmanship is what most impressed the writers who voted for this award.

Iron Hills Sports has spent the last few weeks under lock and key pouring over notes, reviewing stats and watching endless hours of video footage in an effort to decide who would be the 2009 Athlete of the Year.

The criteria the writers were given to decide the Athlete of the Year was broken down into four categories; athletic ability, achievement in their sport(s), sportsmanship and leadership.

There were actually a lot of players whose athletic ability was obvious, all of them who deserved to be recognized. There was Anthony Santomo of Mendham who dominated three sports (football, hockey and lacrosse) for the last several years. There was Elena Noonan of Parsippany who broke the all time leading scoring record for girls and boys basketball and who was also a stellar soccer and track star. There was Mike Colvin of Morristown was in a league of his own in football this fall.

There were players who’s lead-by-example hard work impressed us. Sam Shalom of Livingston was an under achiever who made the most of his opportunities in football and baseball. Mike Suk of Randolph was a warrior on the mat in wrestling and came up big on the diamond. Cam Wood of Chatham just seemed to be the Energizer Bunny on the Lacrosse field and came back from a devestating knee injury.

There were other players’ whose leadership was hard not to notice. Ashley Addison of Hanover Park was an emotional general of her basketball team. Tyler Berntsen seemed  ...Read More

Morristown's junior pitcher Brandon Gonnella has proved to be a force in the conference from the mound.

Morristown junior Brandon Gonella has been a key cog for the Colonials at the plate and on the mound.  It all came to a head this past Monday night when Gonnella held Delbarton to one run, helping his team win the Morris County Tournament.  Gonnella earned the MCT's Most Valuable Player Award for his heroics.  This makes him our Player of the Week.

We caught up with Gonnella to talk about his team's momentum, who the unsung hero of his team is and his pregame rituals.

Iron Hills Sports: You seem to be on fire. How do you feel at the plate these days?
Brandon Gonnella: I am Comfortable, confident and seeing the ball well. It helps when you are surrounded by good players.

IHS: How does this momentum help you going into the State Playoffs?
BG: No one person carries our team. We have a lot of good hitters that are on a roll right now. Hopefully we can keep it up.

IHS: How bad does this Motown team want a State Title?
BG: We haven’t won one in a couple of years. Nothing would be better than to win one for the 3 seniors that are leaving.

IHS: At what point did you know that this team was capable of some of the accomplishments you achieved (MCT Title, playoff birth, etc)?BG: The game against Seton Hall was the turning point in our season. Beating them is always an accomplishment. We really started coming toge  ...Read More

Randolph senior Mike McKean has been swinging the bat nicely racking up a .656 batting average for the last 7 games.

This past Thursday Randolph’s Mike McKean went ballistic at the plate versus conference rival Livingston going 6-6 with two doubles, one triple, 5 RBI’s and 4 runs scored. This performance earned McKean our Week 5 Player of the Week honor.

In fact, the six days prior to playing the Lancers, McKean was on a batting tear hitting 21 hits at 32 at bats including 5 doubles, 5 triples, 1 home run, 14 RBI’s, 15 runs scored and 3 stolen bases. Currently McKean is batting .556 on the year.

We caught up with McKean to talk about how hot his bat is these days, who the leaders of his team are and who he thinks is the best player he plays against is.

Q: You seem to be on fire. You seeing the ball extra clear right now?
A: Yeah, I have been managing my at bats better and been working on my two strike hitting. I’ve been focusing on driving the ball to the opposite field, where I have gotten most of my big hits. Also I have been taking extra batting practice before I go to the field, which has been important in my success.

Q: What is this Randolph capable of doing in this conference this year?
A: I believe that when our team brings our “A” game that we are capable of beating anyone in the conference. We work every day on minimizing our mistakes both mentally and physically. Our team is gaining momentum and can hopefully upset some of the best teams in the second half of the season.
 ...Read More

Seton Hall Prep's senior right fielder, John Wiet, makes contact against Columbia earlier in the season.

In this past Wednesday’s defeat of Mount Olive 11-1, Seton Hall Prep’s senior right fielder John Wiet let his team by going 4-4 at the plate, stole two bases, had 3 RBI’s and scored a run himself. This earned Wiet our Week 3 Player of the Week honors.

Wiet sat down with George to talk about what he thinks his Prep team can do this year, what his favorite meal is and which celebrity he thinks is related to.

George Muha: How far can this SHP baseball team go this season? John Wiet: I think we are deep in quality pitchers, despite what the critics have said. We have a strong defense and our offense is very strong top to bottom. We are definitely capable of making a solid run in the states.

GM What happened to your team at the game vs. Toms River?
JW: We were embarrassed. Toms River is one of the best teams in the state and I don't think we were mentally prepared and focused. The score showed it.

GM: How well prepared does Coach Sheperd get your team for games?
JW: Coach Shep is one of the best coaches in the state, and I am lucky to have played for him. He stresses the fundamentals and we pride ourselves on strong defense. He also gives everyone scouting reports of our opponents which really helps.

GM: Do you like football or baseball better?
JW: Ever since I was young, I enjoyed playing football in the fall  ...Read More

Dawris (left) is joined by fellow senior captains Justin Hartman and John Garcia for a preseason picture.

Earlier in the week, Dover shortstop Dawris Gonzalez notched his 100th hit. Dawris (pronounced “Dar-Reese”) enters his senior year as one of the best Baseball players to come from Dover High School. He sat down with Unruly to talk about the feeling of hitting that 100th hit, his favorite pro player and who is the funniest guy on his team.

George Muha: What was the feeling of hitting your 100th hit?
Dawris Gonzalez: I was very excited! I didn’t know I hit it but after the game Coach McDonald told me and I was very excited!

GM: What were some of your goals coming into this season?
DG: To be a better hitter than last year. To hit for a better batting average, to steal more than 20 bases and win more games.

GM: What do you feel this Dover team is capable of in this season?
DG: If everybody continues to take it serious and work hard we can win a lot of games and make it into the post season.

GM: Was it a transition for you having a new coach this season?
DG: No because Coach McDonald knows a lot about Baseball. He knows so many things and we all beleive in him.

GM: Which pro player do you try to emulate the most?
DG: Derek Jeter. He is the guy I like the most.

GM: Do you like pitching or playing the field more?
DG: Playing the feild. I don’t like pitching tha  ...Read More