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Giordano Twins receive 33% of the Votes as N.J.’s top girls basketball Senior

Jan 17, 2024

Maya Giordano & Layla Giordano, also known as the Giordano Sisters or Giordano Twins totaled 33.42% of all votes cast in the poll for N.J.’s Top Girls Basketball Senior. As a total, they are N.J.’s top girls basketball seniors. But, this was an individual poll. So they came in 2nd and 3rd place.A little history of the Giordano Twin’s story.As Freshmen in 2021 they came in 5th and 6th, receiving 21,785 total votes.As Sophomores in the 2021/2022 season , Maya Giordano won outright with 28% of the votes.As Juniors in the 2022/23 season, Layla Giordano took 1st and Maya Giordano 2nd. Combined they received 63% of the votes.As their high school careers near the end. We take our hats off for them as a gesture of a Thank You for all the great moments we got to see them together on the court. And good luck for the rest of the season. We hope you have been saving your best for last.

Old Tappan wins in Bergen County Tourney opener vs Glen Rock

Jan 27, 2024

Seventh-seeded Old Tappan rolled to a 49-40 win over 10th-seeded Glen Rock in the opening round of the Bergen County Tournament, in Old Tappan. Layla Giordano with a team high 12 Points and Maya Giordano chipped in 7, while she cleaned the paint with 10+ rebounds. Old Tappan will face 18th-seeded Cresskill in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb 3 at Demarest.Old Tappan improved to 13-5 on the season, while Glen Rock fell to 12-4.

Old Tappan wins seventh straight, tops Demarest – Girls Basketball

Feb 01, 2024

Layla Giordano had 15 points as Old Tappan won its seventh game in a row, defeating Demarest, 46-39, in Old Tappan.Maya Giordano scored 12 points and Sadie Murphy added eight for Old Tappan (15-5), which closed the game on an 11-3 fourth quarter run.Demarest, which saw its 11-game winning streak come to an end, falls to 17-4.

OUTDOOR TRACK

Injured Shue repeats at Meet of Champions

Jun 05, 2025

Shue repeats as discus champion despite injury woesShue is undoubtedly the best thrower in New Jersey. A 43-year-old North Jersey discus record? In the bag. 2024 New Balance Nationals? Of course, he brought home the title. 2024 State Meet of Champions? It was a given. But a torn pectoral muscle has slowed down his trajectory. For the last four weeks, Shue has not practiced and his results, although still among New Jersey’s best, have significantly dropped. A 174-10 throw at the Gene “Red” Littler Bergen County Championships was still good for first place, but was over eight feet behind his throw at the league championship. Teaneck’s Everton Bills outhrew Shue by over 13 feet at the Bergen Meet of Champions. Shue’s throw of 173-4 at the Non-Public A group meet led to just his third second-place finish at a New Jersey track and field meet in four years. Shue called his injury a guessing game. One day it would be great. Another day it wouldn’t. To repeat at SMOC, he needed luck to be on his side and a fast start to break his funk. He got both. “I knew that if I was going to do something, I was going to have to put something out there first to set the tone. I feel like I did that today,” Shue said.A throw of 186-11 set the standard. But the job wasn’t finished as Petter Donini, Anthony Liakhnovich, Capp DeShelpo and Bills remained in contention. He paced back and forth between throws. His father, Bill, shouted instructions and guidance to him and Bills, who he helps train, to help with the process. Yet as the event continued, his chest pain got worse and worse, which resulted in shorter throws. Liaknovich went close. Donini went closer and came within two feet of the Texas signee. It seemed inevitable that someone would catch the stricken Shue. But his first throw was enough to hold off the six from each of his close competitors for a first title in just under a month. “I saw them bomb and I just got that feeling like when I’m about to wrestle or play a football game,” Shue said. “It wasn’t easy, but getting the first throw out of the way just took a lot of pressure off me.”

Old Tappan's Caroline Ognibene is only North Jersey athlete with two individual medals

Jun 05, 2025

Soph Caroline Ognibene is only North Jersey athlete with two individual medalsOne could call Caroline Ognibene’s performance at the Group 3 Championships the best in her short but storied career. After all, the Old Tappan soph set personal records in the long jump and pole vault while placing third in the high jump. That’s a complete performance. However, nothing compared to her performance at SMOC, where she set personal records while being in two places simultaneously. Ognibene was the only North Jersey athlete at the State Meet of Champions to place in the top eight in multiple individual events. “The goal was to place at states in both events and doing both of those throughout the entire season helped me get to where I am today,” Ognibene said. Ognibene first placed fourth in the high jump of 5-6 in one end zone and then rushed to the pole vault pit beyond the opposite end zone, where she and her fellow Golden Knights vaulter Jamie Kim, who medaled at SMOC for the fourth straight year, placed sixth and seventh, respectively, with a vault of 11-0. It was at least the fourth time she had raced back and forth during the competition. "She did all that and got her steps in, too'', joked OT boys head coach Pete Dunn.“It was a great send-off and definitely motivating for next year,” Ognibene said.

Meet of Champions: Ben Shue repeats as discus champ

Jun 04, 2025

Bergen Catholic’s Shue overcomes injury to defend discus title at 2025 Meet of ChampionsDespite battling a partially torn pectoral muscle that has hampered his performance in recent weeks, Bergen Catholic senior Ben Shue delivered when it mattered most. On Wednesday, Shue captured his second consecutive Meet of Champions discus title with a throw of 186-11—an emphatic statement of resilience and determination.Shue had finished second in both the Bergen County Meet of Champions and the Non-Public A Championships, falling 30 to 40 feet short of his personal best. Many in his position might have ended their season early. But Shue, driven by a champion’s mindset, chose to compete.With the crowd clapping in rhythm—a signature move that’s become synonymous with his throws—Shue stepped into the circle and launched the winning mark, securing his place atop the state once again.“It’s not sugarcoating it to say that this season was tough,” said Shue afterwards. “I was coming from football season where I had torn rotator cuff and the throwing didn’t hurt, so in in my head i’m fine, but I couldn’t lift at all. I had to stop lifting during football and wrestling seasons. I finally was able to go 100% and had my best chest workout the Saturday after Penn Relays. That Tuesday afterwards was when I tore my pec”.“This was the best I felt with my chest”, Shue added. “Can’t complain with having it on a day like this and it’s it is special because of how things went last year, being pissed off from shot put to coming over here to PR and have a top five mark all time in SMOC [State Meet of Champions] history with no technique involved, I was just pissed off”.“I didn’t know how far it was gonna be, I thought it would be around what I threw or a little bit farther, but I knew I could come up with something around there because I’ve done millions of times, but it was just it was getting it done and that feeling of relief. After that last one, I looked at my dad, he fist bumped me and I shed a little tear, I knew it was special”.His journey through the Meet of Champions has been anything but linear. As a freshman, he entered as the top seed but finished sixth. He placed second as a sophomore before breaking through last year with a 205-4 throw, the fourth-longest in New Jersey history“Through the years this meet has owed me,” said Shue with a smile. “From freshman year, me and Fabian [Gonzalez] being one and two in the state all year long to finishing sixth, I went from freshman year to sophomore, both me and Fabian, dueling it out to where we’re both injured by the end of the season, then last year, I just kind of put it all together and this year, I just had to rebuild myself to to make my chest as good and ready as possible and it was enough today”.This season, he closes out his high school career with a season-best of 200-1, once again finishing as the state’s top discus thrower.For Shue, it’s a fitting end to a remarkable high school career—one defined not just by distance, but by heart.

SOFTBALL

Amelia Plescia hits a homerun on her way to 100 hits

May 03, 2025

Old Tappan's Amelia Plescia Reaches 100 Career Hits with a Home Run Amelia Plescia, a standout shortstop for Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, recently achieved a significant milestone by recording her 100th career hit—a home run. The accomplishment was celebrated by the school's softball team, highlighting Plescia's impressive feat. Her 100th hit not only marks a personal achievement but also underscores her consistent performance and dedication to the sport. As the season progresses, Plescia's experience and leadership are expected to continue playing a vital role in Old Tappan's pursuit of excellence on the softball field. Congratulations to Amelia Plescia on reaching this remarkable milestone!

Jamie Farrington Joins Elite Club with 400th Career Strikeout

Apr 28, 2025

Jamie Farrington, a standout pitcher for Old Tappan High School's softball team, has reached a significant milestone by achieving 400 career strikeouts. In a dominant performance against Demarest on April 22, 2024, Farrington pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out 13 batters, leading Old Tappan to a 10–0 victory. This achievement underscores Farrington's exceptional skill and consistency on the mound. Her ability to control games and neutralize opposing hitters has been a cornerstone of Old Tappan's success. With a current season record of a perfect 10–0 in the Big North – National division, the team is well-positioned for a strong postseason run, bolstered by Farrington's leadership and pitching prowess. Farrington's milestone not only highlights her personal dedication and talent but also serves as an inspiration to her teammates and aspiring athletes in the community. As she continues to build on this impressive record, her contributions remain integral to Old Tappan's ongoing success on the field.

#1 Steinert Overpowers #18 Paul VI Behind Pope and Miller

Apr 22, 2025

Steinert uses big bats and strong relief to down Paul VI, 9-3 Top-ranked Steinert showed why they’re New Jersey’s No. 1 team, powering past No. 18 Paul VI, 9-3, in a battle between state softball heavyweights. The Spartans collected 12 hits, with standout games from Ellie Miller (2-for-2, 2 runs), Mia Pope (2-for-3, 4 RBIs), and Gianna DiMeglio (2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI). Steinert’s offense was consistent throughout, as they matched Paul VI by stranding seven runners but capitalized on their chances, plating runs in three key innings. On the mound, Katie Simonka and Ellie Miller combined to limit Paul VI to six hits. Miller came on in relief to earn the win, tossing four shutout innings with three strikeouts. Paul VI was led by Jules Jackson, who went 3-for-4, but they struggled to break through after a three-run fourth inning. Defensively, Steinert overcame three errors, while Paul VI was cleaner with just one miscue. Both teams left seven runners on base, but Steinert made their hits count, and Miller shut the door late to secure the victory. The win keeps Steinert rolling at 7-1, while Paul VI slips to 6-2.Key Game Stats Steinert totaled 12 hits as a team, while Paul VI managed 6. Mia Pope (Steinert): 2-for-3, 4 RBIs, 1 run scored. Ellie Miller (Steinert): 2-for-2, 2 runs, 1 walk; pitched 4 scoreless innings in relief with 3 strikeouts. Gianna DiMeglio (Steinert): 2-for-2, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI. Jules Jackson (Paul VI): 3-for-4, including a double. Danielle Audet (Paul VI): 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored. Both teams left 7 runners on base. Steinert committed 3 errors; Paul VI had 1 error. Winning pitcher: Ellie Miller (Steinert) Losing pitcher: Camryn Strother (Paul VI), allowed 9 runs (8 earned) over 4.1 innings. Steinert improves to 7-1; Paul VI falls to 6-2.

VOLLEYBALL

Markle and Lapinski Lead Old Bridge Past Southern in High-Drama Match

Apr 19, 2025

Photo Credit Dave Hernandez | For NJ AdvanceTop-ranked Old Bridge outlasted No. 2 Southern Regional in a thrilling five-set battle, as the two rivals delivered another classic matchup between New Jersey boys volleyball powerhouses. With the gym packed and the energy electric, Old Bridge leaned on the firepower of Oskar Lapinski and Adrian Marke, who each tallied 16 kills to help push the Knights over the top. Setter Troy Markle was the engine behind the offense, racking up 48 assists while also chipping in defensively with 7 digs. Old Bridge’s net play and relentless effort on both sides of the ball proved to be the difference in a showdown that showcased the best of Garden State volleyball.Southern kept pace throughout, responding with a balanced attack led by Aiden Krinic’s 14 kills and the steady setting of Logan Homme, who finished with 38 assists and 6 digs. The Rams matched Old Bridge point for point behind strong defensive play, notching 51 digs as a team and getting big contributions from Jonah Krinic and Van Miller at the net. In the end, however, Old Bridge found a way to seize the momentum in the decisive fifth set, clinching a statement victory and maintaining their hold on the No. 1 ranking. The match reaffirmed the fierce rivalry between these teams and set the stage for a possible postseason rematch. Team Highlights:Old Bridge:Kills: 58 total, with standout performances by Oskar Lapinski and Adrian Marke, each contributing 16 kills. Assists: Troy Markle led with 48 assists, orchestrating the team's offensive plays. Digs: The team accumulated 48 digs, with contributions from multiple players. Blocks: 15 total blocks, showcasing their defensive efforts at the net. Service Points and Aces: 37 service points and 3 aces, indicating effective serving throughout the match. Southern Regional:Kills: 40 total, with Aiden Krinic leading at 14 kills, followed by Van Miller with 10. Assists: Logan Homme orchestrated the offense with 38 assists. Digs: The team recorded 51 digs, demonstrating strong defensive coverage. Blocks: 11 total blocks, contributing to their defensive strength. Service Points and Aces: 38 service points and 2 aces.

Old Bridge Volleyball Still UNDEFEATED

Apr 01, 2025

Old Bridge put together a strong all-around performance to defeat Monroe 2-0 in boys volleyball action. Oskar Lapinski led the charge with 6 kills and a block, while Troy Markle kept the offense flowing with 18 assists and had 11 service points.. Logan Fernandes also made a key impact, contributing with 5 kills and helping anchor Old Bridge’s consistent play. With solid execution and teamwork, Old Bridge continues to build momentum as the season has just started.

Undefeated State Champs

Nov 22, 2024

Last pictures of the season with the Undefeated State Champs. For the first time since 2017, Old Tappan - ranked No. 4 in the NJ.com Top 20 - is a state champion. The Golden Knights’ 25-20, 25-11 tally over No. 9 Gov. Livingston in the NJSIAA Group 2 state finals on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Franklin High School capped one of the most incredible campaigns in program history, closing out the year with an unblemished 25-0 record.

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