Sports
Mount St. Dominic Academy Celebrates The Honoring Of Athletic Director
Mount Athletic Director Lorenzo Sozio to be Honored at NJ Pride's Super 36 All-Star Game on June 10th
Mount St. Dominic Academy is proud to announce that Coach Lorenzo Sozio, of West Caldwell, who has served as the Mount’s Athletic Director for over two decades and retired as the MSDA softball coach in 2021, will be honored as the State Coach of the Year Honorary Coach at the NJ Pride Super 36 North-South Senior All-Star Game on Monday, June 10, 2024. This recognition highlights his exceptional contributions to the sport and his significant achievements at Mount St. Dominic Academy. The ceremony will take place during the game, which features top high school softball talent, including three Class of 2024 Mount players: infielders Naya Martinez from Lyndhurst, who will play softball at Seton Hall University, and Gianna Stern from Bloomfield, who will play softball at Monmouth University, along with outfielder Olivia Bibbo, of Summit, will play softball at Sacred Heart. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 pm at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field at Ivy Hill Park.
“We are thrilled for Coach Sozio and couldn’t think of a more deserving person for this honor,” says MSDA Principal Laura Hollenbaugh. “His dedication to the Mount sports program is unparalleled, and we are delighted that he will be recognized.”
Coach Sozio stepped down as the Mount’s head softball coach after the 2021 season. His coaching career spanned several decades, profoundly impacting high school sports, especially softball, through his dedication and leadership. He led the Mount Lions to numerous victories and accolades, making a lasting impression on both the school and the wider softball community.
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His impressive coaching record stands at 617-173-1, with numerous championships, including nine Essex County Tournament titles and multiple sectional state titles. His teams won the Non-Public, North A Championships in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2018, and 2019, and the Non-Public, North B Championship in 1996. They also secured ECT Championships in 1996, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021, appearing in the ECT Finals multiple times. Coach Sozio was named Essex County Coach of the Year in 2001, 2004, and 2008, and Northern Hills Conference Coach of the Year in 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2009.
As the Mount St. Dominic community looks forward to celebrating this well-deserved honor, we invite alumnae, students, and local sports enthusiasts to join us at Ivy Hill Park to cheer on our remarkable athletes and acknowledge a legendary coach. Coach Sozio's enduring legacy at Mount St. Dominic Academy continues to inspire current and future generations, highlighting the profound impact one individual can have on cultivating talent and fostering a spirit of excellence and community.
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About Mount St. Dominic: Mount St. Dominic Academy, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is an independent, Catholic college preparatory school dedicated to the education of young women from a variety of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. Located in the heart of bucolic Caldwell, New Jersey, the Mount has been empowering young women in the Dominican tradition since 1892. Mount St. Dominic Academy is a proud member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the International Coalition of Girls Schools, the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools, the National Catholic Educational Association, and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Visit the Mount for more information.
MSDA 2023-24 Highlights: The Mount earned many accolades during the 2023-2024 school year. MSDA is a recipient of the 2024 College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for its outstanding achievement in fostering high female representation in both AP Computer Science A (CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (CSP), the 2023 Best of Essex Gold Medal in the "Best in Private School” category, and has been named a Niche A+ 2024 Best School, which is only achieved by 2.5% of schools in the country. In addition, the Mount boasts an award-winning Performing Arts Program, and The Mount's Lady Lions Soccer team won the 2023 Super Essex North, Non-Public A Liberty Division Conference, and the Varsity Softball team recorded a record 11th consecutive Essex County Tournament win in 2024.
