The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 43

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2000 NORTH JERSEY SPORTS 2B THE RECORD S-9 Ul ITU Rolls to seventh consecutive title sdJdls ft Bits I V.K I BOB KURLAND HIGH SCHOOLS I 1 I' "It's tremendous pressure, but that's what makes us go as fast as we do," Hughes said of trying to extend the streak. "This was our last meet, and we knew they were going to try to get us." But the team from Middlesex County never did. IHA won nine of the 11 events and had two of the top three finishes in 10 events. The Blue Eagles did not finish sixth in any event, with each swimmer contributing to the team's 114-point total. Senior co-captain Jennifer Cancro won the 50 and was second in the 500 behind teammate Kristen Gillman and also swam a leg on the winning 400-yard relay team.

IHA also got first-place finishes from Kate Miller in the 200 individual medley, Elizabeth Parker in the 100-yard butterfly, and Sheryl Weaver in the 100-yard backstroke. "The big thing is that we have so many good swimmers that we can spread them out and give them rest," said Lemley. "At a meet like this, where it's just girls and it moves quick, that's big and Bishop Ahr couldn't" rest their swimmers the same way. Katie Sobocienski was the Trojans' strongest performer, accounting for Bishop Ahr's only victory in the individual events with a time of 1:10.03 in the 100-yard breast stroke, edging IHA's Elizabeth Kraljic Sobocienski also swam a leg on Bishop Ahr's winning 200 medley relay team, which finished in 1:56.04, just ahead of IHA "Our main goal was to put up a respectable performance because the outcome was a given," said Bishop Ahr coach Mark Snensky. By NICK F0RTUNA Special to The Record EWING Every year before the State championship meet, the Immaculate Heart Academy swim team has a pasta party at the home of one of its captains.

The team does cheers, watches a highlight film of the season, loads up on carbohydrates, and goes over the next day's meet. "It's turned into a ritual," said co-captain Megan Hughes, one of 10 seniors on IHA's 31-member team. "It's basically to get everyone psyched and let them know this is a big meet." At Saturday's party, coach Bob Lem-ley told his team that he expected a 15-point victory over Bishop Ahr at the College of New Jersey on Sunday, a figure that proved to be far too conservative for his powerhouse squad. Instead, the Blue Eagles rolled past the Trojans, 114-56, to capture their seventh straight Parochial A State title and their 87th consecutive victory. "We were really up for this," said Lemley, who has coached IHA (11-0) the last 13 seasons.

"We didn't think this was going to be as big a win as it was, but our swimmers came out focused and swam great times." Hughes was perhaps the most dominant Blue Eagle, winning the 100- and 200-yard freestyles and anchoring IHA's winning 200 freestyle and 400 relay teams. Hughes swam 1 minutes 56.77 seconds in the 200 freestyle, almost four seconds better than Jennifer Vanassen, the Trojans' top swimmer Hughes' time of 54.52 in the 100-yard freestyle distanced her from Bishop Ahr's Regina Bush, who finished second in 56.39. With the decisive victory behind her, Hughes knows she will graduate with IHA's streak of State titles intact, a major motivational factor for the senior. I I I I I At I Megan Hughes of Immaculate Heart, right, congratulating teammate Kristen Gill-man after her victory in the 500 freestyle in IHA's Parochial A title win. i.

iim. i rtowtmKm Cup victories sweet for Bergen teams Jamboree traditon lives on onsidering the excitement lavished on the Bergen County Jamboree by players, coaches, and basketball fans, it's hard to believe the tournament disappeared from 1967 to 1970. A combination of waning interest and a limit of how many games a team could play sidetracked the event that had started in 1951. Pete LaBarbiera, who was presented with the annual Howard H. Bol-lerman Sr.

Memorial Award for contribution to Bergen County basketball prior to Saturday's championship game, remembers those He was president of the Bergen County Coaches Association when it revived the Jamboree in 1971. "At the time, it seemed the State frowned the tournament but we decided iJo try and reinstitute it because it was a great event." LaBarbiera said. "We also felt it would provide some revenue for the organization which at the time was run strictly on the $5 membership fee." A committee was formed that in-cluded present-day selection committee members Mickey Corcoran, Charlie Brown, and Tony Comeleo. "At the time, the State used the Hackensack gym for tournament 'games so we had the late Tommy Delia Torre talk to the NJSIAA and he them to allow us to have an eight-team tournament," LaBarbiera said. "Our plan was to have it it one site and for years it was at Hackensack.

And in order to squeeze in the games, we decided the spread them out throughout February. It has grown into a great tournament. That first year we took in and now they're able to give out close to that every year in scholarship money." There was a slight stumble in 1973 when the Jamboree was played in two sections small schools and large schools in order to have the Jeams play only two tourney games and stay under the State limit. After that, it developed into the tourna- nient we have today. Looking back, there are a couple of games LaBarbiera hasn't forgotten.

"Teaneck beat Bergen Catholic 90-1 82, in 1980 after its star, Tony Campbell, fouled out. And 1985 Dema-rest beat Rutherford, 68-64, in double overtime." What made that game one of the greatest in Jamboree history is that both teams entered unbeaten. "The one team that didn't appear in it was Dick Vitale's East Ruther- ford team now Becton. They were unbeaten and had Les Cason Bergen County's all-time leading scorer and it would have been great to see him against the big schools. But they said they had a game with Harrison, so they couldn't enter." LaBarbiera has enjoyed the tour- nament as a fan "I saw my first one back in '52 when Hackensack beat Lodi." and as a referee who worked three finals.

"I really enjoyed officiating the games at neutral sites be- cause you had a much more objective crowd." Any one interested in competing in Sunday's New Jersey High School power-lifting championships at St. Joseph in Hammonton can call Paul Sacco at (609) 567-0046 or (609) 561-9016 The Don Bosco Prep pompom squad, made up of girls from Holy Angels, finished fifth in the National Dance Team Champion- -t ships at Disney World. It was the fourth straight year that coach Rick DeLillo's team finished in the Top 10 nationally. "It's hard to believe that j. there are only two seniors on the team," says DeLillo.

The competi-' tion will be shown on ESPN on Apr. '28 at 1 p.m Kristin Comery of Paramus is a fine example of an out-; standing student-athlete. She's a top (3.64 GPA) who led the bas-i. ketball team in scoring with a 17-. point average, was a member of the Group 4 final Softball team, and was an All-NNJIL Division -2 first-team soccer player.

She'll graduate with 11 letters and expects to play basketball in college. ''j' The AU-Bergen boys basketball selection meeting has been moved to Sunday at 10 a.m. at Dwight-Engle-. wood School in Englewood. League representatives should contact Joe DelBuono at (201) to confirm their attendance.

aramus did it easily. Hackensack had a bit tougher time. But both teams got what they came for Saturday at South Mountain Arena in West Orange. The Spartans redeemed themselves for a loss in their cup final last year, by defeating Brick Memorial, 6-0, in the final of the Handchen Cup. The Comets scored two late goals to break a 4-4 tie and avoid an upset with a 6-4 win over Wayne Valley in the final of the Mclnnis Cup.

Paramus (20-2-2), the regular-season champion of the New Jersey Interscholas-tic Hockey League American A Division, was motivated by the memory of a 3-2 overtime loss to Toms River South in its cup final last year. The Spartans won the division in the regular season last year, too. "We had been waiting for this all year," Paramus coach Vince Nardo said. "The kids played their best game of the season." As usual, the Spartans received a stellar J.P. PELZMAN rlUUKcY 1.

Bergen Catholic (13-7-3) The Crusaders suffered a 3-2 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy in the quarterfinals of the Gordon Cup Feb. 20, and could face CBA again in the State Parochial tournament. Fourth-seeded BC has a first-round bye, but could meet the fifth-seeded Colts in the second round. 2. Paramus Catholic (19-3-1) Senior Derek Scheuer recorded his 100th career goal In the Paladins' 5-3 loss to West Essex in the National Cup final on Saturday.

3. Paramus (20-2-2) The Spartans captured the Handchen Cup title with a 6-0 victory shootout win over Verona after the teams had played a 1-1 tie through overtime. CHAMPIONS, SORT OF Tenafly coach Andy Escala has a hard time explaining the result of his team's American cup final against Bernards on Friday. "I can't say we won the championship," he said, "but I have to say we're champions, and then explain the story. It's weird." No question about that.

Tenafly (17-4-3) and Bernards played to a 1-1 tie through three periods and a 10-minute overtime, and then were declared co-champions. "You didn't win, and you didn't lose," said Escala. "It's an empty i -V'11 1 ur BETH BALBIERZSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER over Brick Memorial, led by two goals by Chang Lin and three assists by Stephen Scholtz. 4. Rldgewood (15-7-1) The Maroons recorded a 2-1 overtime win over Toms River East In the first round of the National playoffs before losing to eventual champ West Essex in the semifinals.

5. Hackensack (23-2-1) The Comets rallied from a 4-3 third-period deficit to defeat Wayne Valley, 6-4, and claim the Mclnnis Cup title on Saturday. Also River Dell (13-5-3), Clifton (8-13-2), Wayne Hills (10-7-1), Lakeland (11-6-3), Tenafly (17-4-3) Rankings by The Record sports staff. feeling. I think that in a championship game, a champion should somehow be decided." That doesn't mean that Escala would have preferred a shootout to decide matters.

"That would have been a terrible way to decide it," he said. "That's a lot of pressure to put on a kid." Still, he and his team can take pride in the fact that they rebounded from a 4-13-2 season a year ago. "It's a great turnaround for us," he said. "Bernards did outshoot us, but we played great defense and my goalie was excellent." Eric Hediger made 34 saves for the Tigers, who will visit Princeton in the State tournament today at 4:30 p.m. 4 High series (three games) 1.

Helfrich. Oueen of Peace. 633; 2. Robles. IHA 631.

1. Mastropasqua, NVOld Tappan. 255; 2. Amanda Pezzano, Hawthore, 246: 3. Leilrlch, Queen of Peace.

243; 4. Robles, IHA, 224: 5. Robles. IHA. 223.

Friday Quarterfinals. 6 p.m. REGION 4 At Passaic Valley Tuesday Preliminaries, 6 p.m. Friday Quarterfinals, 6 p.m. More Sports on S-18 A Summaries on S-7 performance from goalie Mike Williams, who made 18 saves to record his 11th shutout.

"Mike stood on his head," Nardo said. "He saved a couple of uncontested breakaways. He just played phenomenal. Everyone did a great job. This was something we needed to do.

I think this kind of legitimizes us as a team." Hackensack (23-2-1) was also a regular-season champion, capturing the American title. But coach Tom Garcia realized the pressure was on the top-seeded Comets, especially because they were facing a seventh-seeded Wayne Valley team that had reached the final with convincing upsets over Livingston and West Orange. "They had nothing to lose," Garcia said. And the Indians played like it, taking a 4-3 lead on Keith Pagano's goal 41 seconds into the third period. But Hackensack's Victor Stross tied the score with a goal 3:25 into the period, and Brendan Stapleton broke the tie by converting a pass from Jan Heusser with 3:27 left.

Will Ferranti added an insurance goal for the Comets. "This year, we won just about every one of our tough games. That's character," Garcia said. "I'm real proud of the kids. Even when we were down, we generally pulled it out.

Especially in the playoffs." Hackensack had reached the final with a tournament, also rolled a 631 for three games, buoyed by scores of 224 and 223. Helfrich rolled a 633 for three games and a 1,105 for six. And Mastropasqua rolled a 255, the highest game of any girl, en route to a 1,118 series. "I competed in this last year but I had a better time this year," said Mastropasqua, a Norwood resident who plans to study interior design at Cazenovia College near Syracuse. "I think it was because this was my senior year, my last time representing my school.

I have a lot of memories to take to college. It felt good to bowl a 255 in my very last game." Hawthorne's Amanda Pezzano saw her name on two major lists Sunday. She rolled a 246, the second highest game among the girls, and an 1,174, the third highest six-game series behind Robles and Paramus Catholic's Kristina Szalay BOYS (el 1. Steve AMo, Passaic Tech, 1,318: 2. Jerome Ong.

Bergen Catholic. 1.287: 3. Richard Falrtey. Eastslde. 1.267: 4.

Rex Cruz. Bergen Catholic, 1.262; 5. Juan Fellz, Passaic, 1,257. High series (three games) 1. Ong, Bergen Catholic 685: 2 Aiello, Passaic Tech.

668. High gamoa 1. Ong. Bergen Catholic. 280; 2.

Bob Zufterman, Clifton. 279: 3. Jon Masur. Paramua Catholic, 269; 4. Anthony Sanllllppo.

St. Joseph, 258: S. FaJrley, Eastslde. 249; 6. Fellz.

Passaic. 246: Falrtey. Eastslde. 246; Adam Dabney. Teaneck.

246; Ong. Bergen Catholic. 245. Ong finishes strong and looks to future L. t.

By JOE CHESSARI Staff Writer LODI Jerome Ong went to Lodi Lanes on Sunday morning to have a good time on the last, rlav nf the 1Q9Q.9nfin bowling season. Ong, and dozens of oth- l. 1 ris ers, vumpctcu iii tuc iuui ui-aiiuuiii ras-snip-Rerffen All-Star Bowlinu tnnrnnment but it was also a business trip to the Ber gen Catholic junior. "I had fun. I enjoyed the day but it was an opportunity to concentrate on next year," said Ong, who had the best three-game series (685), the highest single game (280), and the second-highest six game series "You get a chance to see some of the best bowlers for next season." Ong, an All-Bergen second-team selection, also watched Passaic Tech's Steve Aiello roll a 668 for three games and a 1,318 for the best six-game series.

Ong's Bergen Catholic teammate, Rey Cruz, shot a 1,262, the fourth highest series. Clifton's Bob Zutterma the Mustangs capture the State championship Feb. 19 at Carolier Lanes, bowled a 279 for the second best single game. The girls competition featured the skills of Dyanne Robles of Immaculate Heart. Helfrirk nf Queen nf Peo and Jackie Mastropasqua of Northern valley at Uld 1 appan.

Robles had a 1.253 for SIT rnmea the best among the girls. The Maywood resi dent, wfto helped IHA take second to aramus Catholic at last month Bergen BETH BALBIERZSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Dyanne Robles of Immaculate Heart rolling en route to the high six-game series. GIRLS High HrtM (tlx gam) 1. Dyanne Roble. Immaculate Heart Academy.

1.253; 2 Kristin" Szalay, Paramus CattKHic. 1.184; 3. Amanda Pezzano. Hawthorne. 1.174; 4.

Kathleen Wslssman. Paramua Catholic, 1,127:5. Jackie Mastropasqua, NWOId Tappan. 1.118; 6. Jackie Helfrich.

Oueen of Peace. 1,105. REGION 1 At Randolph Tuesday Preliminary and first rounds, 6 p.m. Friday Quarterfinals, 6 p.m. Saturday Semifinals.

10 a.m.; consolations, 2 p.m.; finals to follow REGION 2 At Paramua Tuesday Preliminaries, 6 p.m..