Few years have highlighted the strength of West Essex Athletics, under the direction of Assistant Principal for Athletics Timothy Walsh, quite like this one. Throughout the year, student-athletes earned championships, received individual honors, reached significant milestones, and represented their school with distinction. These accomplishments reflect not only athletic excellence, but also the commitment, teamwork, and determination that continue to make West Essex a source of pride both on and off the field.

Boys & Girls Cross Country

The Boys and Girls Cross Country teams enjoyed historic seasons in 2025. For the first time since the formation of the Super Essex Conference in 2009, both teams won their respective conference championship races while also completing undefeated dual meet seasons.

Boys Soccer

The Boys Soccer team competed hard throughout the fall season and earned a berth in the NJSIAA sectional tournament. The Knights finished the year with a strong postseason appearance and continued to build on the program's tradition of competitive play.

Cheer

A special thank you goes to the West Essex Cheer team for their unwavering school spirit and enthusiastic support throughout the fall season. Their dedication helped energize athletes and fans alike while contributing to the outstanding atmosphere at West Essex athletic events.

Girls Tennis

The Girls Tennis team captured the SEC Liberty Division Championship and finished the season with a 10-8 record. The Knights advanced to the state quarterfinals, where they fell in a closely contested match against Sparta. Congratulations to Head Coach Valerie Martin for being named SEC Coach of the Year!

Girls Volleyball

Junior Olivia Blanco etched her name into the West Essex record books by setting the program record for career assists. Her accomplishment reflects her skill, leadership, and continued impact on the Girls Volleyball program, with more opportunities still ahead in her West Essex career.

Field Hockey

The nationally recognized Field Hockey team continued its remarkable tradition of excellence by winning its 14th consecutive Essex County Tournament Championship with a victory over Montclair Kimberley Academy. Ranked among the top teams in the nation, the Knights once again proved themselves to be one of New Jersey's premier programs.

The victory also marked the 600th career win for Head Coach Jill Cosse, placing her among the elite coaches in the sport. Cosse was also named 2025 FH Coach of the year!

Senior Adelaide Cosse-Minnella capped off an extraordinary career by earning New Jersey State and Region Player of the Year honors while finishing as the program's all-time leader in goals (161), assists (114), and points (436).

Football

West Essex Football welcomed new Head Coach Dan Fulton, who guided the Knights to a 5-3 record in his first season at the helm. The team advanced to the sectional semifinals, building momentum for the future under his leadership.

Senior quarterback Jake Long made program history by becoming the first player in West Essex history to both throw for and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, adding his name to the record books with a truly unique accomplishment.

Girls Soccer

The Girls Soccer team enjoyed another successful season, advancing to the sectional semifinals and continuing the program's tradition of competing at a high level throughout the state tournament.

 

Winter Sports Highlights

Boys & Girls Basketball

Head Coach Bill Humes reached a major coaching milestone by earning his 300th career victory. Since arriving at West Essex in 2011, Coach Humes has built a program defined by hard work, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence while positively impacting generations of student-athletes.

The Girls Basketball team competed in one of Essex County's toughest divisions and earned a spot in both the county and state tournaments. The Knights demonstrated resilience throughout the season while continuing to compete against some of the area's top programs.

Boys & Girls Fencing

The Boys Fencing Saber Squad delivered an outstanding performance at the 95th Annual All-State Cetrulo Fencing Tournament, earning a ninth-place finish in one of the state's premier competitions. Highlighting their impressive run were two victories over eventual tournament champion Lawrenceville, showcasing the skill, determination, and teamwork of the Saber squad.

The Girls Fencing team competed against some of New Jersey's top programs throughout the winter season and represented West Essex at the 45th Annual Santelli Fencing Tournament at Drew University. The Girls Saber Squad turned in a strong performance, finishing 33rd out of 52 participating teams while continuing to gain valuable experience against elite competition.

E-Sports

West Essex's E-Sports program continued to make history as the "Overcooked" team completed an undefeated season and captured the State Championship at Georgian Court University. Student-athletes Emily Kim and Lucas Reilly led the championship effort under the guidance of coaches Michael Johnson and Steve Siragusa.

Ice Hockey

The Ice Hockey team represented West Essex with pride while competing in one of the state's most challenging divisions. The Knights earned the No. 9 seed in the NJSIAA State Tournament and battled to a hard-fought 4-3 playoff game. Junior Cale White was recognized for his outstanding season by earning First Team All-McInnis Division honors.

Swimming

The West Essex Swim Team continued to show determination and growth throughout the winter season. Both the boys and girls teams earned victories during the year while demonstrating perseverance, teamwork, and a commitment to improvement in and out of the pool.

Wrestling

What was expected to be a rebuilding year became one of the most memorable seasons in West Essex Wrestling history. The Knights finished as Essex County Tournament runners-up, won 14 consecutive dual meets, captured the North II Group III State Sectional Championship and District 8 Championship, and advanced four wrestlers to the state tournament. 

Along the way, Christian Bastante and Reid Clausi each earned their 100th career victories, while Clausi capped off his remarkable season with a fourth-place finish at the New Jersey State Championships. The program also earned numerous individual honors, including Bastante being named Essex County Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler, Clausi being named District 8 Wrestler of the Year, and Coach Mike Markey and Coach Nick Hughes receiving District 8 Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

 

Spring Sports Highlights

Baseball

The Baseball team welcomed new Head Coach Anthony Genchi and enjoyed a strong season, earning the No. 2 seed in the North 2 Group 2 NJSIAA Tournament. The season also featured a special ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the 2006 Greater Newark Tournament Championship team, one of the most memorable squads in program history

Boys & Girls Golf

The Boys and Girls Golf teams enjoyed a successful spring season and represented West Essex at the Essex County Tournament held at Hendricks Golf Club. Sophomore Skylar Lacerda led the girls team with a score of 88, while Michael Molinaro and Sean Ziegler paced the boys team in a seventh-place county finish.

Boys & Girls Lacrosse

West Essex lacrosse athletes achieved several impressive career milestones this spring. Madelyn Schlosser recorded her 300th career save, while Luca Tartara and Michael Corbo each surpassed 100 career points. Teddy Skopak added another remarkable achievement by recording his 700th career save and scoring the first goal of his career as a goalkeeper.

Boys Tennis

Rohan Vyas made school history by winning the NJSIAA State Singles Championship, becoming the first individual state champion in Boys Tennis program history. Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, he defeated both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds en route to the title and finished the season with an outstanding 25-1 record.

Boys Volleyball

The Boys Volleyball team enjoyed a successful season highlighted by a competitive run in both the county and state tournaments. After pushing No. 2 seed Payne Tech to three sets in the county tournament, the Knights earned the No. 15 seed in the North Jersey Group 2 state tournament. Senior Noah Clemente emerged as one of the area's top players, finishing the season ranked first in Essex County and among the state's leaders in kills.

E-Sports

The West Essex E-Sports program added another championship to its growing legacy as the Mario Kart team captured the State Championship at Georgian Court University. Seniors Joey Bogert, David Douglass, and Michael Douglass led the title-winning effort.

Softball

Senior Gabriella Sia recorded her 100th career hit during the final at-bat of her West Essex career. A four-year varsity starter, two-year captain, and multiple All-Conference selection, Sia leaves behind a legacy of leadership, dedication, and excellence within the softball program.

Track & Field

The Boys 4x1600-meter relay team of Blake Berwanger, Brandon Berwanger, Justin Fredella, and Miles Schmidt set a new school record with a time of 19:24.67, breaking the previous mark by nearly 40 seconds. Several athletes also excelled at the state level, including Justin Fredella, Serena Rauscher, and Madison Spango, who qualified for the Group 2 State Championships.

Unified Sports & Special Olympics

West Essex students proudly participated in the annual Area 9 Track and Field Special Olympics at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield. Joined by Unified Sports partners, staff members, and family supporters, student-athletes competed in a variety of events and earned gold, silver, bronze, and participation medals while demonstrating sportsmanship, perseverance, and school pride.

 

Excellence Beyond Competition

West Essex student-athletes continued to demonstrate excellence not only in competition, but also in the classroom and as leaders within the school community. This year's honorees earned some of the most prestigious academic and character-based awards in Essex County and throughout New Jersey.

The Essex Award: Adelaide Cosse-Minnella

Senior Adelaide Cosse-Minnella received the prestigious Essex Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon an Essex County student-athlete. Selected from among thousands of graduating seniors throughout the county, Adelaide was recognized for her exceptional accomplishments in athletics, academics, and leadership, further cementing an extraordinary legacy at West Essex.

NJSIAA Scholar Athlete: Kai-An (Kash) Tsai

West Essex proudly recognized Kai-An (Kash) Tsai as its recipient of the NJSIAA Scholar Athlete Award. Selected as the school's nominee for this prestigious statewide honor, Kash exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional student-athlete through his achievements in both academics and athletics.

SEC Scholar Athletes: Madelyn Schlosser & Blake Berwanger

Madelyn Schlosser and Blake Berwanger were honored at the Super Essex Conference Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner as West Essex's top female and male student-athletes. The award recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic achievement while competing at a high level in athletics.

SEC Best Teammate Award: Elyana Ghattas

Elyana Ghattas was selected as West Essex's recipient of the Super Essex Conference Best Teammate Award. Nominated by her coaches, Elyana was recognized for her leadership, sportsmanship, positivity, and unwavering commitment to supporting her teammates both on and off the field.

 

Continuing at the Next Level

Fifteen West Essex student-athletes (4 this past fall and 11 this past spring) committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and success both in the classroom and in competition.

• Natalia Baca — Women's Volleyball, Susquehanna University
• Drew Cerqueira — Men's Soccer, Caldwell University
• Kole Corcoran — Wrestling, McDaniel College
• Matthew "Matt" Czerwinski — Men's Swimming, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Colin "CJ" Fogg — Baseball, Ursinus College
• Lila Hricko — Women's Soccer, Susquehanna University
• Caden Lozito — Baseball, Ramapo College
• Jake Long — Football, Muhlenberg College
• Alivia Lugo — Women's Lacrosse, Brown University
• Adelaide Minella — Field Hockey, Villanova University
• Justin Perini — Football, Tufts University
• Santino Perri — Football, St. John Fisher University
• Gabriella Sciacchitano — Women's Soccer, Marymount University
• Theodore "Teddy" Skopak — Men's Lacrosse, Rollins College
• Luca Tartara — Men's Lacrosse, University of Scranton

From championship victories and record-breaking performances to academic honors and collegiate commitments, the 2025-2026 school year was one to remember for West Essex Athletics. The accomplishments of our student-athletes, coaches, and teams reflect a tradition of excellence that continues to make the West Essex community proud.

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