By Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
2016-17: What a year!
It was an amazing school year for high school sports in New Jersey, where we encountered lots of the good, the bad and the scandalous. We saw a high schooler make the Olympics, then return home and shatter multiple records. We had one of the nation’s most famous private schools close its doors for good. And what about the international pipeline at a prominent North Jersey school, or the ouster of perhaps the greatest high school football coach in state history?
Scroll down to see which stories made our list of the best 25 for 2016-17. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below, and make sure to use the share buttons to send the list to other high school sports fans.
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28. Hockey referee and parent fight
The story came back to life in December when the referees' organization said its conflict with the Freehold Regional High School District hockey team is settled, except its president, while no longer "banned," said he still cannot officiate the school's games. The movement came after two hockey refs said two parents of Howell players barged into their dressing room in February 2016 and assaulted them. The school district, police and others investigated, no charges were filed and mediation remained at a stalemate.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
27. The punch heard 'round New Jersey
In the waning moments of a fifth-place bout at a county tournament between Joseph Pelliteri of Hamilton West and Patrick Smith of Ewing, Smith struck Pelliteri in the face and shoved him into the scorer's table, sending scorekeepers and equipment flying. Before the punch, Smith appeared to be conceding at the end of the match, showing little interest in avoiding the takedowns. But once Pelliteri pushed his head down into the mat, Smith retaliated. Smith was disqualified and Pelliteri was awarded the win, while Smith was then escorted from the building by local police.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
26. A final for the ages
Stephan Glasgow of Bound Brook captured his second state wrestling title this winter by beating two-time state champion and favorite Shane Griffith of Bergen Catholic in the final. The victory denied Griffith a chance to become New Jersey's fifth four-time state championship winner, in the process squashing what would have been perhaps the biggest storyline heading into the 2017-18 wrestling season.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
25. Mater Dei's heroics
Mater Dei, a team that had never won a state title, was tied with St. Joseph of Hammonton, a team that had won seven straight games, with less than a minute to play in the Non-Public, Group 2 final this winter at Kean University. Needing a miracle to win, Mater Dei dived into its bag of tricks for a player it had practiced every day since August. As the seconds ticked down, the team executed a championship-winning hook-and-ladder that crossed the goal line with nine seconds on the clock, lifting Mater Dei to its first state championship.
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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
24. The transfer rule!
Less than three months after the NJSIAA approved a new transfer rule that would have drastically changed the high school sports landscape, acting Commissioner of Education Kimberley Harrington overturned the decision, sending New Jersey back to square one. Transfers are a yearly issue in the state and around the nation, and officials thought they had passed a rule that would help resolve some of the issues. Now, it's back to the drawing board after Harrington's stunning decision reverted the state back to the old rule.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
23. The Miller dynasty
Millburn won its fourth straight Tournament of Champions crown in fall of 2016 while also going undefeated for four straight years. The Millers are 99-0 since 2013 led by Stephanie Schrage, who won a state singles title as a junior in 2015. Schrage won four Essex County Tournament titles, she never lost a team first-singles match and she made the state singles final three times.
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22. Chris Silva's coming out party
Just two years after starring at Roselle Catholic and helping build the program into a national power, Silva upped the ante by leading underdog South Carolina to the East Regional title at Madison Square Garden and a trip to the Final Four. Silva's incredible story -- from a village in Gabon, Africa to Roselle Catholic and then South Carolina -- captured the attention of fans across the nation as the seventh-seeded Gamecocks reeled off one upset victory after another.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
21. Rolling to perfection
Woodbridge sophomore James Stoveken became the first bowler in high school history to roll five 300 games in a career this winter, per the U.S. High School Bowling Foundation. He rolled three 300 games the previous season and two 300 games this past year. The previous high school bowling career record was four 300s set by A.J. Johnson. According to the U.S. High School Bowling Foundation, Johnson rolled all four of his 300 games in the 2010 season, which is currently the record for most 300 games in a single season.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
20. An emotional victory
Exactly one month after Montclair Kimberley Academy track coach and iconic figure Tom Fleming died suddenly while coaching a meet, MKA senior Billy Massey honored the team's fallen leader by winning the 1,600-meter run at the Essex County Championships. Massey made his move with about 600 meters to go to pull out the thrilling win. After the race, Massey said of Fleming, "He wasn’t just a great coach, he was a great friend. He was well-known and well-liked by everyone. He just made you feel welcomed."
Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
19. Parsippany Hills' Cinderella run
The Parsippany Hills girls soccer went 0-8-1 in September and seemed destine for a forgettable, losing season. The team rebounded and got back on track, but still entered the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 sectional bracket as the No. 13 seed. Somehow, the team caught fire and went 6-0 when it really counted to win the Group 2 state title over Haddonfield, marking one of the most astounding turnarounds in state history.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
18. A most perfect game
Cedar Grove sophomore pitcher Mia Faieta struck out all 21 batters she faced in a 4-0 victory over North Warren in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 semifinals this spring, gaining widespread notoriety for hurling a perfect game by way of all strikeouts. The astounding effort came one shy of Nicole Webb of Manchester Township's state record of 22 strikeouts in a seven-inning game (Webb had 22 in 2003 due to a wild pitch after a strikeout). However, Faieta's performance came impressively in the postseason. Faieta followed up with another perfect game in the postseason, leading Cedar Grove to the Tournament of Champions semifinals. For her feats, she was invited to throw out the first pitch, along with her teammates, at Saturday's Yankees game against the Orioles.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
17. Sayreville football is back
Two seasons after Sayreville had its season cut short because of a hazing scandal that rocked the community and attracted national headlines, the Bombers were back celebrating a state title as North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 winners. Sayreville defeated Middletown North for the title, prompting coach Chris Beagan -- a Sayreville graduate who returned to the school after the scandal to return the program to glory -- to collect NJ.com Coach of the Year honors along the way.
Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
16. FieldTurf investigation
A six-month NJ Advance Media investigation into the world's leading maker of artificial sports fields, FieldTurf, revealed the company knowingly sold roughly 1,500 defective fields to towns, schools, universities and recreation departments across the country, bilking taxpayers out of millions even as the Great Recession was forcing communities to lay off teachers and police officers. More than a hundred of those fields were installed right here in New Jersey and on high school sports facilities across the state, prompting a rash of lawsuits against FieldTurf. The litigation is ongoing.
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15. Ramsey ice hockey scandal
Two years after leading Ramsey to a state championship, head coach Dean Portas, NJ.com's state Coach of the Year in 2016, lost his job because he did not give enough playing time to the Board of Education president's son, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Texts and emails also revealed how Portas and the Ramsey athletic director were forced to cater to BOE president Tony Gasparovich and his son, James. It was a disturbing story that generated tons of opinions across the board.
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14. Major football records fall
Timber Creek quarterback and NJ.com Player of the Year Devin Leary set state passing records for yards (3,688) and touchdowns (48) in a single-season, while Salem's Johnathan Taylor finished the season with a South Jersey and state modern-era single-season record of 2,815 rushing yards. Both records came from players in South Jersey, shifting the spotlight from the state's northern powerhouses.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
13. Wayne Hills transfer saga
The Patriots' thrilling run to a state championship almost never happened after the football team was disqualified from the playoffs by the NJSIAA after the organization determined Wayne Hills had used ineligible players. The school, which had self-reported the violations in the first place, appealed the decision to the department of education and was granted a new, emergency hearing before the NJSIAA's controversies committee -- a hearing Wayne Hills ultimately won. It was a saga that captured the attention of the New Jersey high school sports world, as the fate of one of the state's premier teams hung in the balance.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
12. NJSIAA boss retires
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Executive Director Steve Timko -- one of the most influential and powerful people in the state's high school sports landscape -- announced Wednesday he will retire from his position at the end of the calendar year. Timko, 72, has served as the NJSIAA's top official since 2006 and was hired by the organization in 2001 as an assistant director. Under his direction, the NJSIAA became among the first state athletic association's to implement steroid testing, rules against biased language at sporting events and hydration and weight management protocol for wrestling.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
11. West Essex ends Eastern's unprecedented reign
It took an overtime penalty stroke to do it, but Eastern's five-year Tournament of Champions domination and almost unthinkable 144-game win streak came to an end when West Essex's Lia Sinisi sunk a game-winner. West Essex's victory put a halt to Eastern's unprecedented reign of dominance, which included criticism for attracting out-of-district field hockey stars who enrolled in the school as tuition-paid students. The win also allowed West Essex to avenge a pair of bitter TOC losses to Eastern.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
10. Woodrow Wilson High kneels during national anthem
The football team from the inner city high school in Camden became the first and most prominent of a few New Jersey teams to join a national protest against social injustice and police brutality. The decision to kneel -- organized by players and students and supported by the coaching staff -- made national headlines and elicited thousands of online reader comments.
Photo courtesy of Rich Prehart
9. Scholarship snub
Two weeks after assuring Raritan High football player Ryan Dickens that his scholarship to the University of Connecticut was safe, new head coach Randy Edsall did the unthinkable: He called Dickens back and told him the school no longer had a spot for him. Oh yeah -- Edsall did so with National Signing Day only 15 days away, leaving Dickens without any options at the time. The move sparked a groundswell of local and national criticism over the unseemly side of big-time college recruiting, with loads of animosity directed at Edsall. Dickens eventually recovered, accepting a full scholarship offer to Lafayette, which competes at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
8. IHA dynasty
The Immaculate Heart softball team staked its claim as one of the greatest dynasties in state history this spring, when it won its third straight Non-Public A state title and captured the inaugural Tournament of Champions softball crown after outfielder Caroline Ventor stroked a two-out, two-strike, walk-off single to plate the game-winning run. IHA also padded its lead with an all-time best 12 group softball titles.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
7. A shot for the ages
On New Jersey's grandest stage and with everything on the line, Franklin freshman guard Kennedy Schenck gathered a last-second rebound and drained a jump shot from the baseline just before the final buzzer to propel her team to a thrilling 50-48 victory over Manasquan in the Tournament of Champions final. It was one of the biggest shots in state history -- regardless of the sport -- and an example of heroics that will live forever in a state with no shortage of great moments on the hardwood.
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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
6. The Wayne Bowl
Simply put: Wayne Hills's thrilling overtime victory over cross-town rival Wayne Valley in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 state championship was one of the greatest New Jersey high school football games of all-time. The back-and-forth contest was highlighted by one thrilling play after another and then cemented with a gut-wrenching miscue in the game's final moments. The game is certain to live on in state lore for years to come.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
5. National record-setter
Entering the spring track and field season, Donovan Catholic's Alyssa Wilson had already broken the indoor national shot put record with a throw of 57-5 1/2, making her the only shot putter in high school history to break 57 feet twice in her career. She followed it up with a toss of 57-1 1/4 at the Ocean County Championships to set the national high school outdoor record, and she also achieved a new record at the prestigious Penn Relays. Wilson's stellar 2017 season helped her make a solid case as the greatest high school shot putter ever.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
4. Greg Toal's ouster
In a stunning turn of events, Greg Toal, arguably New Jersey's greatest high school football coach of all-time, abruptly retired from powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in February. But that wasn't the whole story. Despite 305 career victories and nine state titles at Don Bosco, Toal didn't even appear at the press conference announcing he had left the school, and he has declined numerous interview attempts since the decision was made. Confidants of the coach said Toal was forced out of Don Bosco over a power struggle with the administration. Toal, 63, could even return to coaching for the 2017 season.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
3. The shuttering of St. Anthony High
The students, faculty and alumni of legendary St. Anthony High in Jersey City ran out of miracles when the Archdiocese of Newark announced it would close at the end of the 2016-17 school year due to financial constraints. St. Anthony opened in 1952 and became a haven for inner city kids looking for a quality Catholic education at an affordable price, but it was perhaps more famous for its powerhouse boys basketball team, coached by Hall of Famer Bob Hurley. The Friars won 28 state titles, 13 Tournament of Champions crowns and four national championships during Hurley's time at the school, becoming arguably the greatest boys basketball program in the nation. St. Anthony also sent countless teens--and prominent players -- into the college ranks. But dwindling enrollment and surging operating costs marked the school's downfall.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
2. Sydney McLaughlin: G.O.A.T.
After her thrilling and stunning run to last summer's Rio Olympics, McLaughlin returned to New Jersey and put the finishing touches on perhaps the greatest high school track and field career of all-time. McLaughlin tied Columbia great Olivia Baker with 11 career Meet of Champions gold medals (winter and spring combined) and culminated her final Group meet with three new state records, a junior world record and the third fastest 400-hurdle time in the world, regardless of age.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
1. Paterson Eastside basketball scandal
Human trafficking. An international pipeline. Grade fixing. The Paterson Eastside basketball scandal -- the result of numerous investigative reports published by NJ Advance Media -- had all the elements of one of New Jersey's most compelling high school sports dramas in years, if not ever. And it's still ongoing. The state Attorney General's office launched a criminal inquiry, New Jersey's Immigration and Customs Enforcement also is investigating, five district employees have faced discipline and the state's governing body for high school sports has vowed legislation to combat international transfers. More movement on Eastside is expected before the end of 2017 in a story that is sure to reverberate in New Jersey for years to come.
What did we miss?
Which high school sports stories from 2016-17 didn't make the cut that should be included? Which athletes or storylines did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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