Pascack Valley’s physical education teacher, Len Cusmano, history teacher, Leah Jerome, and science teacher Craig Buckley all have something in common. They were all college athletes. They were able to balance their love for the game while making time for their schoolwork.
“Everything was detailed and structured. Being regimented and having a routine helped in progression after college,” Cusmano said.
Jerome felt similarly about the value of time management.
“I think being an athlete, I knew I had to have good time management. So I was never procrastinating,” Jerome said. “I surrounded myself with good people. They always had a good study crew, but I never got distracted by the social life of college.”
Cusmano played Division I football at Syracuse University. He went into college playing different positions but finally stuck with [as a] tight end.
“The coaches asked me to make the switch over [to] tight end, which was just a more natural position for me because I played in high school and I was able to adapt fairly quickly. I was able to play a couple of different spots but the more natural position was [as a] tight end,” Cusumano said.
During Cusmano’s senior year at Syracuse, he started 9 out of 12 games and was 1 out of 39 players to participate in all 12 games. He also received the Syracuse University’s Duff Daugherty Award for his sportsmanship.
Cusmano also majored in Physical Education and minored in Speech Communication.
Similar to Cusmano, Craig Buckley also went to New Jersey City University in 2004 for his master’s degree. Buckley also played lacrosse at Rutgers University from 1994 to 1998. He had scored the highest goals on the team three out of four years at Rutgers.
“Being a part of that as a young kid and seeing it, you know, that’s really what kind of set my goal to kind of want to go there. Plus Rutgers it’s close to home. You know, my family was able to attend most of my games and all that kind of good stuff,” Buckley said.
In October 2009, he was inducted into the Fair Lawn Hall of Fame. In February 2014, he was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and in June 2015, he received the NJILOA Len Rowland Sportsmanship Award.
“It was a great honor. It was one of those things it’s you know it’d be kind of recognized with great athletes from my high school, great athletes that played in the state of New Jersey. Then that last award with New Jersey, I guess it just kind of reflects on your journey a little bit the process and how everything came full circle kind of thing,” Buckley said.
Buckley also shares that his brother had inspired him to play lacrosse.
“Well, my older brother was into lacrosse and I was able to pick up the stick and play with him. And then watch him play and you know, see him in college,” Buckley said. “That’s kind of really what set my goal in motion and I knew I wanted to play lacrosse in college.”
Unlike Buckley, Leah Jerome found her passion for soccer differently.
“Freshman year, when the women won the World Cup, so I remember being very inspired by the 1999 World Cup,” Jerome said. “That was really like an amazing thing to see, the Rose Bowl full of people watching women’s soccer.”
Over her career, Jerome was MVP twice for her team, an Academic All-American, and Conference her senior year at Fordham University. She had scored 22 goals and added 11 assists for 55 career points in 77 career games. She broke the school’s record, set by Beth Kitson (1999 – 2002) for most games played (75). She was named team captain for two years.
Her senior year they had gone 14-7, which still holds the record today. They made it to the conference finals and were up 2-0. Unfortunately, they were not able to make it to the NCAA bid.
Jerome was named 2019-2020 Bergen County Teacher of the Year. She was featured and able to visit every school district in Bergen County and had invented a project called “Mission 76.”
Buckley, Jerome, and Cusmano all shared their advice for students who are going through the recruitment process and the steps they took.
“I think you have to choose the whole school. You know, you’re not just choosing a sports program, you’re also choosing a good academic fit for you. you should know the coach,” Jerome said.
Buckley also commented on the topic.
“I would just say go to the school that you love because of the academics and the environment, and then follow your passion for athletics.”
“Don’t take anything for granted. You have to know that there’s always somebody out there trying to work harder than you,” Cusmano said. “Whatever it is, you’re capable of getting better. Don’t waste time. Don’t procrastinate. Do it now. Get it done. Don’t wait.”
