The Pascack Valley Football Team finished the season 10-2. The one-seeded Panthers made it to the semifinals of the NJSIAA Group 3 Tournament but lost to one-seeded Old Tappan.
Key Players:
DL Shane Burke (Sr.), WR Dante Dacosta (Jr.), DB Marc Dellaquila (Jr.), WR Michael Fronzaglia (Sr.), WR Ashton Kazinci (Sr.), LB Colin Krause (Sr.), LB Colin McMorrow (Jr.), RB Kevin Regula (Sr.), DL Dante Ricciardi (Sr.), QB Adam Shaw (Jr.), RB Kai Smith (Jr.)
Memorable Games:
8/31 Pascack Valley vs. Rancocas Valley: For the first time in its history, Valley opened up its season with a Week 0 game. The Panthers played at the Battle at the Beach Event in Atlantic City, where Valley won 31-14 against Rancocas Valley. Shaw had 135 passing yards, 98 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. Regula added 86 yards and a touchdown. K. Smith added a touchdown for the Panthers, in addition to a team-leading 12 tackles.
10/25 Pascack Valley vs. Old Tappan: PV defeated Old Tappan 27-21 in a big-time rivalry game. Shaw had 132 passing yards and two touchdowns in the air, in addition to running for 96 yards and a rushing touchdown. Regula caught one of Shaw’s two touchdown passes and had 107 yards rushing. The other touchdown was caught by Dellaquila. This win in the regular season finale gave Valley the one-seed in the North 1, Group 3 State Tournament.
11/15 Pascack Valley vs. River Dell: After a 35-7 win over River Dell in the regular season to claim the “Rumble for the Rail” trophy, the North 1, Group 3 Sectional Final was a rematch between the rival schools. The stakes of the game may have been different, but the result was more of the same— as Valley got itself a ring with a 38-0 shutout over the Golden Hawks. Valley had 254 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The senior-led Valley defense forced four turnovers, highlighted by Kazinci’s 76-yard pick-six.
Challenges/Setbacks:
The Panthers faced adversity throughout the year through multiple injuries. Senior Captain Colin Krause came into the year with a knee injury and battled through it all year. DaCosta suffered an arm injury that kept him out through the entirety of the state tournament, and RB/DB Marley Smith (Jr.) suffered a wrist injury that he played through during the state tournament.
Looking Ahead:
The Panthers will graduate a senior class that is as accomplished as any in recent years. However, they return many key contributors for next season. Shaw will return for his senior year, and RB Kai Smith will have an increased role as well. WR’s DaCosta and Dellaquila will continue next year. Defensively, M. Smith and McMorrow will be back next year.
The Pascack Valley Boys Soccer Team finished the year 6-12-1. The 12-seeded team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 Tournament, where the boys lost to the four-seeded West Milford team, 3-2.
Key Players:
Steven Gifford (Sr.): Forward Steven Gifford was the lead goal scorer for the Panthers. Gifford scored 16 goals this year, giving him a total of 41 goals in his career at PV.
Josh Reiser (Sr.): Goalie Josh Reiser was the leader for the Panthers in saves, making 75 saves; he had three shutouts this season.
Robbie Wasserman (Sr.): Midfielder Robbie Wasserman controlled the middle of the field for Valley. He led the team in assists, with seven, and had the second most goals, with six.
Memorable Games:
10/1 Pascack Valley vs. Teaneck: Valley won this game 5-0 on Senior Night. Steven Gifford scored three goals; forward Cristiano Fiorillo (Sr.) and defender Adam Dinic (Sr.) scored one goal each. Robbie Wasserman had two assists in the game.
11/5 Pascack Valley vs. Demarest: Pascack Valley upset the fifth-seeded Demarest team 3-2 in the first round of the state tournament. Josh Reiser made 15 saves, and Robbie Wasserman and Steven Gifford each scored one goal. Defender Hudson Sollecito (So.) assisted on both goals to force overtime. Reiser saved a penalty shot to keep the game alive, and Tristan Verdonck Flores (So.) scored the winning penalty kick in the seventh round.
Challenges/Setbacks:
The team went on an eight-game losing streak, compounded by multiple player absences. Valley’s young team, with only three senior starters, faced challenges due to inexperience with two juniors and six underclassmen starting.
Looking Ahead:
Valley will need to fill three starting positions going into next year, but the team has seen good play from the underclassman. Valley will return forward Adrian Cano (Jr.), midfielder Adrian Gutierrez (Jr.), midfielder Tristan Verdonck Flores, and defender Liam Verdicchio (So.). Goalie Jake Liebchen (Jr.) will be stepping into Reiser’s shoes.
The Pascack Valley Girls Soccer Team finished the season 13-7-2. The five-seeded Panthers made it to the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 Tournament but lost to the undefeated top-seeded Ramsey Rams.
Key Players:
Celina Bussanich (Sr.): Bussanich contributed seven goals and seven assists from the midfield position.
Allie Polyniak (Jr.): Allie Polyniak led the Panthers in both goals and assists with 14 goals and 13 assists.
Gabby Velecela (So.): The goalie recorded 183 saves in 21 games, including eight shutouts and five games with 10 or more saves.
Memorable Games:
10/28 Pascack Valley vs. Ridgewood: On Senior Night against Ridgewood, the Panthers trailed 2-1 at halftime but rallied to tie the game with 11 minutes remaining. Forward Ella Saxon (Sr.) scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to secure the victory.
11/7 Pascack Valley vs. Mahwah: In the state tournament quarterfinals against Mahwah, the Panthers trailed early in the second half, but defender Alex Lambrinos (So.) scored a late goal to send the game to overtime. Lambrinos, who scored the game-tying goal in regulation, also converted the decisive penalty kick to secure the victory.
Challenges/Setbacks:
The Panthers started the season slowly, losing three of their first five games, but they quickly found their rhythm and went on a five-game winning streak. This year’s young team, with only two consistent senior starters, lacked experience.
Looking Ahead:
The Panthers will lose their two captains, but they will return their leader in goals and assists, Allie Polyniak. The entire defense will return as well.
The Pascack Valley Girls Tennis Team finished the year 12-9. The fourth-seeded Pascack Valley Girls Tennis Team reached the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 Tournament, where The Panthers lost to the top-seeded Demarest team, 5-0.
Key Players:
Jordyn Ban (Sr.): The senior first singles player finished the season with an 11-8 record. All of her wins except one occurred in straight sets.
Jillian Herzog (So.): The sophomore second singles player won seven matches, including one three-set victory.
Gabrielle Rothenberg (Sr.): The senior third singles player won seven matches, including two three-set victories.
Memorable Games:
10/1 Pascack Valley vs. Sparta: In the first round of the state tournament, Pascack Valley defeated Sparta 4-1. Second doubles Sophia Levine (Jr.) and Emilia Rettew (Jr.) won their match, as did first doubles Alexa Ganz (Jr.) and Kristina Wegner (Jr.). Herzog and Ban won as well.
10/8 Pascack Valley vs. Montville: Pascack Valley advanced to the semifinals with a 3-2 victory over Montville in the second round of the state tournament. Wins by both doubles teams and Herzog at second singles secured the victory.
Challenges/Setbacks:
The girls had a difficult schedule this season, playing teams such as Demarest, Tenafly, and Old Tappan. Additionally, the team constantly had to deal with missing players due to injuries and sickness. Despite these challenges, the girls finished with a 12-9 record and made it to the semifinal round of their state tournament.
Looking Ahead:
The team had a very young roster this year, as only two of its seven varsity were seniors. The Panthers also had many players on junior varsity this year who look to be on varsity next year to contribute to the team’s success.
The Pascack Valley Volleyball Team finished the year 17-7. The fourth-seeded team advanced to the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 Tournament, where the girls lost to the top-seeded NVOT Golden Knights, 2-0.
Key Players:
Jillian Feeley (Sr.): Jillian Feeley led the team in kills with 247 and was second in blocks with nine. Feeley also recorded the second-most digs on the team at 156 and had the second-most aces with 30.
Maddy Romero (Jr.): Maddy Romero led the team in digs with 305, while also contributing 41 assists and 29 aces.
Celia Torres (Jr.): Celia Torres contributed 473 assists and a team-high 42 aces.
Memorable Games:
9/6 Pascack Valley vs. Ramapo: Pascack Valley opened the season against Ramapo, winning a thrilling three-set match (25-20, 23-25, 26-24). Feeley led the team in kills with 17. Romero had 17 digs, Addison Demyen (Jr.) had 14 digs, and Torres had 28 assists, propelling the Panthers to the win.
10/30 Pascack Valley vs. Pascack Hills: Pascack Valley defeated Pascack Hills in the annual ‘Dig Pink’ match, winning in two sets (25-17, 25-20). Feeley had eight kills, Alexys Bland (Sr.) had five kills and two blocks, and Torres had 15 assists.
Challenges/Setbacks:
Despite a 17-7 record, the team faced a significant challenge in its three matches against the undefeated and eventual Group 3 State Champions, Old Tappan Golden Knights. The Panthers did, however, keep the games close.
Looking Ahead:
The Girls Volleyball Team will look to replicate this success again next year, as it’s only losing three seniors and has a number of juniors. The juniors saw what it took to lead a team this season. The Panthers will return juniors Romero, Torres, and Demyen.
Key Players: Jenna Areggui (So.), Sofia Alepa (Sr.), Ellie Buchanan (Sr.), Marcus Koshy (Jr.), Marc Monti (Sr.), Brian Slasinski (Jr.)
Memorable Moments:
Koshy Qualifies for Nationals: Koshy advanced to Nationals this season, which was held in Holmdel, New Jersey. Koshy was the only member of the Pascack Valley Cross Country Team to qualify for this event.
10/19 The Bergen County Group Championships: This was the final race for Valley in the regular season and the final time that the group of 12 seniors would run together. The senior group consists of Mikey Ajalat, Sofia Alepa, Ellie Buchanan, Ben Faber, Jacob Fischbein, Peyton Gallo, Olivia Glasser, Rowyn Maier, Marc Monti, Timmy Ngai, Philip Orso, Austin Purrinos, and Dominick Scozzafava.
Challenges/Setbacks:
The main challenge that the Cross Country Team faced this season was a numbers problem. This year, the program had 40 athletes. This was a smaller of athletes than in previous years, so there was more running that needed to be done by the 40 athletes.
Looking Ahead:
The future of this team includes the need to replace the 12 seniors. The team will have some returners though—such as Areggui, Koshy, and Slasinski—who will help lead the younger athletes with varsity-level experience.
