What Are Teachers’ Favorite Sports Moments?

Christine Massaro, Girls Basketball Assistant Coach: “I would say it’s the 2016 girls basketball team State Group 3 championship over Middletown South, played before a packed arena in Toms River. We had lost to the same team in the championship the year before, and we came back ready for them the following year. It was our program’s first-ever state group championship, the first of 2 (2018 was our other one). Emily Crevani scored a game-high 20 points while Maia Levenshus outscored the entire Middletown South team in the 1st half. The girl’s volleyball program has had some GOAT moments as well. I can’t even decide which was better–their first Tournament of Champions outright title, or the epic rally and volley against IHA in the county final on our home court in 2019. Coach Landeck has a GOAT program here.”

Mr. Brandon Gregory, Track and Field Coach: “The most memorable moment for me would be back in 2014 when Tom Renias, Will Renias, Andy Schumacher, and Jo Jordan won the state meet of champs in the 4×400 meter race. What was amazing was that they won by a lean over Cory Poole from East Orange.”

Dr. Bruce Sabatini, Principal: “Of course, the football team’s victory against Wayne Hills at Met Life was big considering that it was the first sectional championship since Cory Booker. OT had lost to Wayne Hills two times prior in the same season so finally winning the championship game was huge. Another big moment was when the volleyball team won county champs against IHA in 2019–a huge comeback as IHA were previously state champions.”

Mr. Antonio Marino, Boys Cross Country Head Coach: “One of the greatest sports moments would have to be Jin Woo Song’s individual win at the Bergen County Meet of Champions in 2019. He is the only boy in Old Tappan history to accomplish this feat. A close second would have to be Taryn Deleon’s individual state championship in Cross Country back in 2016.”

Mr. Thomas Kaechele, Director of Athletics: “The Boys Basketball Team winning the State Sectional Championship at NVOT. It took five overtimes to defeat Passaic Valley. The Bergen Record listed it as one of the most amazing High School Basketball games ever played. The Softball Team winning the first ever Bergen County Championship in history of school upsetting a dominant Ramsey HS Team. The Football Team defeating Wayne Hills HS for the State Championship in a thriller at Giants Stadium, especially since the year before we lost to them in the Finals. The Baseball team defeating St. Joe HS for the Bergen County Championship.”