As the school year winds down, the Chiefs wrapped up another exciting spring sports season filled with hard-fought games, standout performances, and moments that brought teammates closer together. From the baseball diamond to the lacrosse field and the golf course, each team brought their own energy and effort to represent JCHS with pride.
Baseball: Unity at the Heart of Success
Led by head coach Ryan Smith, the varsity baseball team finished the season with an impressive 13-9 record. With two final games—one against Verona on May 21 and a senior night showdown against West Milford on May 22—the team has already celebrated significant victories, including a dominant 13-0 win over Bloomfield and a shutout against West Orange, 6-0.
Coach Smith reflected on the season with pride:
“My thoughts on our team’s overall performance this season are that we’ve worked really hard at overcoming different challenges. Our senior leaders have done a great job keeping the team focused on what matters, and it’s been a pleasure coaching such a dedicated group of kids.”
Senior leaders like Christian Wigley, Christopher DePrenda, Nick Arvanites, Marco Sozio, Nick Kyriacou, Pat Devaney, and Sean Skikus played a huge role in the team’s chemistry. The players themselves credited their success to playing as a united front.
“Everyone playing as one unit and picking each other up is what led to those big wins,” said Pat, Christian and Nick. “We believed in each other, played hard behind one another, and that showed in our biggest games.”
Softball: A Young Team on the Rise
Though still in a rebuilding phase, the softball team, coached by Coach Mike, showed heart all season long, finishing with a record of 6-13. With no seniors on the roster, the future is bright. One of the team’s biggest wins came against West Essex, showing their potential when everything clicks. With three games left, the girls are looking to close out strong and continue growing into a more competitive squad.
Track & Field: Record Times and Sectional Highlights
Coached by Collura and Schechter, the track and field team celebrated a major highlight this spring with a top-five finish in the North 2 Group 2 Sectional Championships. The girls’ 4x400m relay team—Summer Schlomann (65.41), Fallon Fiore (59.38), Tea Fiore (63.99), and Elena Kearns (61.42)—earned 5th place with a season-best time of 4:10.19, a testament to the team’s hard work and commitment to constant improvement.
Girls Lacrosse: Leadership and Growth
Coach Giampino’s girls lacrosse squad faced a tough schedule, finishing with a record of 3-13, but the season was full of development, leadership, and important lessons. A 19-9 win over The Mount highlighted the team’s potential and drive.
Senior leaders Isabella Medina, Tatumn Lattimer, and Riley Mazepa guided the team through challenges while helping underclassmen grow
. Junior Ava Tsettos reflected on the season, saying, “My goal for next year is to win more games. I’ve improved by becoming more of a leader on defense and helping guide the underclassmen. It’s about taking initiative.
Senior Riley Mazepa left this advice for the younger players: “Make the most out of your experience and four years. Have fun, because it goes by fast.”
Boys Lacrosse: Big Wins and New Energy
Coach Esposito, who took over as head coach this season upon Coach Timon’s retirement, led the boys lacrosse team to a 7-9 record with two final games remaining. Major wins over Columbia (15-4), West Essex (8-2), and Livingston (13-5) showed the team’s competitive edge and ability to bounce back.
Seniors Skyler Brown, Milo Ruggiero, Sean Murtagh, Will Swift, and Lucas Turner helped set the tone for a season of determination.
JV player Hussein—who’s had opportunities to get involved with varsity—shared his drive: “I want to make it to the finals and get a win against Rumson. That’s the goal.” Varsity player Vincent Goodwin reflected on his growth: “I’ve been inspired by my captain Jordan Gruzas. Watching him lead showed me what it means to stay composed and focused.”
Ryan Livelli added, “I’m happy with how I improved this year. The new coach brought a fresh dynamic, and that really made a difference for us.”
Boys Tennis: Finding Positives in the Fight
Under Coach Russ, the Boys Tennis team battled through a challenging season, finishing 3-15—but they had a shining moment in the state tournament with a 5-0 win over Boonton to advance to the next round.
The senior group—Joseph Carsillo, Vincent Chi, Peter Ermilkin, Justin Rodriguez, and Josiah Zaki—provided crucial experience and leadership. Despite the record, the team demonstrated grit and growth every time they stepped on the court.
Boys Golf: Team Bonding and Course Confidence
The Boys Golf team wrapped up their season with a record of 8-14. While they didn’t always get the results they wanted, the team bonded and improved steadily over the season.
Lenny Minichino highlighted “Taco Fridays” as a favorite moment—when Coach McLaughlin would treat the team to tacos, building camaraderie off the course.
“I’ve learned how to navigate the course better and grown as a player,” said Lenny, who also named Trump National as his favorite course this season.
As JCHS closes out another spring season, it’s clear that each team has something to be proud of—whether it was a championship relay, a game-winning hit, or simply the bond built between teammates. Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches who represented the Chiefs with heart and hustle this spring.
