[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]Northern Valley-Demarest athletics recently celebrated student athletes who will continue playing sports beyond the school’s halls during a commitment ceremony on Feb. 9.
“Having our student athletes continuing their athletic careers in college is a great source of pride for everyone in the NVD community,” Athletic Director Greg Butler told Northern Valley Press. “Knowing the life lessons taught in athletics——dedication, sacrifice, and time management—have helped bring success to these student-athletes brings great satisfaction to our NVD coaches and the athletic department.”
The school has 17 student-athletes recruited and committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level, said Butler. They are anticipating a few more commitments in the coming months, he said.
Included in this recent round were: Dylan Barry, Muhlenberg (wrestling); Orcin Akman, Kenyon (field hockey); Braden Renke, The College of New Jersey (field hockey); Sophia Mottola, Roger Williams University (field hockey); Austin Albericci, Hamilton University (football); Ralph Arias, Pace University (football); Ryan Vadis, Stony Brook University (football); Luca Poliandro, College of Mount Saint Vincent (baseball); Andrew Chi, Bates College (baseball); and Travis Byrne, Merchant Marine Academy (baseball).
“The 2018 [seniors] are a special group of athletes who care and support each other in all their endeavors,” said Butler. “A number of winter teams have already won state sectional titles (boys bowling, boys indoor track, and boys swimming) while our boys basketball team looks to win their first divisional title in 11 years while also hoping to bring home a state crown.”
Recent athletic achievements at Northern Valley-Demarest include: boys swimming, 2017 state champions; boys tennis, 2017 state sectional champions; boys spring track, 2016 state sectional champions; and girls spring track, 2017 county champion banner.
Teams that have won league champion banners include: boys cross-country (’16); girls cross-country (‘16); boys winter track (’17); girls winter track (’17); boys swimming (‘17); girls swimming (’17); boys spring track (’17); girls spring track (’17); and softball (’17).
Teams that won 2017 fall championships include: volleyball, state sectional champs and league champs; boys cross-country, state sectional champs and league champs; field hockey, county champions; and girls cross-country, league champs.
—Staff report