St. Peter's Prep mourns B.J. Giannone's sudden death

Just before the opening tip of the St. Anthony game last Wednesday that would eventually earn Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr. his 1,000th win, the entire gym went silent in remembrance of St. Peter's Prep boys swimmer B.J. Giannone.

More than just sending shock waves across Jersey City, Giannone's collapse and subsequent death after going into cardiac arrest after finishing his race Jan. 31 elicited an incredible outpouring of emotion throughout the St. Peter's Prep and North Jersey swimming communities.

By all accounts, Giannone, 18, was graced with an uncommon gift – an ability to galvanize teammates and classmates with his infectious school spirit, sense of humor and seemingly relentless sense of optimism. The senior from Mountainside founded the Society for Comedic Appreciation, was a fervent fan of Prep's football team, worked with underprivileged children and mentored younger students.

Friends and family recalled his impact during a funeral mass that drew hundreds this past Saturday to St. Peter's Prep. According to The Jersey Journal, Kerry Russo, his godmother, eulogized Giannone thusly: "From his family who loved him, his friends who knew him and his coaches who challenged him, B.J. collected threads. He collected those threads, and he turned them into the fabric of his character."

Giannone's passing came exactly one year after he met his girlfriend, Caitlin English. Although Giannone was best known for his baseball talents, he joined the Marauders' swim team because English – who competes for Scotch Plains-Fanwood – loved the sport.

On Feb. 3, St. Peter's Prep swam against Scotch Plains-Fanwood – a date circled on the calendars of both English and Giannone. Instead of it being a day for friendly competition, it became a day for everyone at the Scotch Plains YMCA to remember the best of a departed friend.

Unanimously, the Marauders, to their credit, wanted to compete in Giannone's memory because, as teammate and co-captain Brendan Higgins said, "We had to keep swimming." The bleachers shook as more than 300 fans chanted "B.J.! B.J.!", all while English received comfort from Giannone's teammates and friends, many of whom wore maroon and gold sweatshirts – her boyfriend planned to attend Virginia Tech this fall.

For a life ended too soon, Giannone leaves behind a great legacy.

SHABAZZ'S WATSON SIDELINED … FOR NOW?
An anonymous e-mail received by Newark Public School officials last week alleged misconduct against Shabazz girls basketball coach Vanessa Watson, and it forced the school board to temporarily remove her from the sideline – even though the district's director of communications told The Star Ledger on Feb. 4 the allegations are "extremely unfounded."

Even so, due process dictates that an investigation must be completed by New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services before Watson can resume coaching the state's top girls basketball team.

In other words, Watson's return may not be imminent despite her seeming innocence. Ranked 10th in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, Shabazz is being guided by assistant coaches Simone Baskerville and Allen Watson, the coach's nephew, while the coach of six state championship teams and four Tournament of Champions titlists waits for her name to be cleared.

"It's really too bad because it's not just about me," Watson told The Star-Ledger. "There are a lot of people who are being affected. ... There's nothing that I've ever done in my life that would ever bring something like this about."

PAULSBORO, WOODS MAKE WRESTLING HISTORY
A few hours after Hurley won his 1,000th game on Feb. 2, another impressive piece of history took place 100 miles southwest when Paulsboro became the third high school wrestling program to win 1,000 dual matches with its 59-6 triumph over Haddon Township.

Fans began filling the gym hours before the Red Raiders joined Granite City (Ill.) and Vacaville (Calif.) in the millennium club, several of which bought T-shirts commemorating the occasion.

"I'm relieved it's over," Paulsboro coach Paul Morina told The Courier Post. "It's been kind of hanging over our heads all year. And now that it's here and done with, now we get a chance to concentrate on a few other things."

After knocking off perennial power Phillipsburg last Saturday, the Red Raiders will continue their quest for another state title Wednesday in the South Group 1 semifinals against Pennsville. Paulsboro won 25 consecutive Group 1 crowns through 2008.

History also occurred in the northern part of the Garden State last Saturday when Emerson defeated Nutley for the 602nd victory of Stan Woods' venerable career, surpassing Highlands Regional's Ralph Ross as the state's all-time winningest coach.

Woods now has 603 victories in 48 years of coaching, the last 46 of which have come in his current post. He can add to that total this week as his team vies for the North 1, Group 1 team championship.

JERSEY TRACK STARS RUN IN JAPAN
Two of the Garden State's most fleet-footed took their talents across the Pacific Ocean last weekend to compete in the 2011 Germany-Japan-USA Trilateral Friendly Indoor Meet in Osaka, Japan, as part of the U.S. Junior National Team.

In the process, Paramus Catholic junior Myasia Jacobs and Timber Creek senior Damiere Byrd established state records in the 60-meter dash. Jacobs earned the meet's women's MVP honor after winning in 7.44 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 7.45 set by Montclair's Aleah Williams in 1997.

MaxPreps' new track and field page

Meanwhile, Timber Creek senior Damiere Byrd – who signed to play football at South Carolina last Wednesday – placed second in the men's 60 meters in 6.76 seconds, just 0.02 off the winning time, but still better than the old record of 6.78 seconds established by Hackensack's Joe Dawkins in 1995.

More locally, the highly touted Christian Brothers Academy distance medley relay turned in its most impressive performance yet Monday at the Varsity Classic held at New York's New Balance Track and Field Center, winning in 10:11. That was not only the fastest clocking nationally this year, but also fourth in state history and 20th all-time in U.S. indoor races.

DITZE TAKES OVER PHILLIPSBURG FOOTBALL
After serving as an assistant for 12 seasons (1998-2009), Ryan Ditze was unanimously approved by the Phillipsburg school board as the Stateliners' new football coach. He will replace the program's all-time winningest coach, Bob Stem, who retired following the 2010 season.

Ditze, 36, said he plans to maintain much of the current coaching staff and also the Stateliners' trademark brand of smashmouth football that has enabled them to remain one of the state's best programs perennially.

"The support from the community, coaching staff, current players and past players has been unbelievable," Ditze said. "You always wonder if you are doing the right thing, but sometimes, like this time, you know it."

In other coaching news, Ralph Schiavo will take the reins at Haddon Heights.

TOP PERFORMERS
* Joelle Amaral, Randolph track: Established a Morris County record and recorded the state's ninth-swiftest time in the 1,000 meters at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational with a clocking of 2:52.19.

* Antoninette Blake, Marist girls basketball: During a 56-54 loss to Union City on Feb. 5, she contributed 27 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks.

* Luke Dickson, Pitman boys basketball: His 39-point performance pushed him past 2,000 points during the Panthers' 93-65 victory over Wildwood on Feb. 1.

* Max Dileo, Cinnaminson boys basketball: The senior scored 26 points, becoming the eighth player in school history to tally 1,000 points in a 67-49 victory over Burlington City on Feb. 5.

* Najee Glass, St. Peter's Prep boys track: A week after having his national-record time in the 500-meter dash nullified due to a lane violation, the junior won the event in 1:03.33 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

* Anthony Hubbard/Sean Lubreski, North Plainfield boys basketball: Hubbard's 20 points and 13 rebounds, combined with Lubreski's 26 tallies, helped spark a 67-62 upset of previously unbeaten Bound Brook in the second round of the Somerset County Tournament on Feb. 5.

* Molly McNamara, Red Bank Catholic girls track: Raced to the seventh-fastest time in state history at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational last Saturday, posting a time of 2:51.80 in the 1,000 meters.

* Isaiah Morton, St. Augustine Prep boys basketball: With 20 points against Egg Harbor Township on Feb. 4, the senior became the 35th South Jersey player to surpass 2,000 points.

* Ashley Mota, Technology girls basketball: The freshman center's triple-double of 16 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks powered a 52-39 victory over Golda Och on Tuesday.

* Micayha Owens, Willingboro girls basketball: The sophomore forward contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a 60-30 victory over Haddonfield on Monday in the South Jersey Invitational.

* Annarose Pierre, Newark Tech girls basketball: Her 28-point, 25-rebound effort set the state for a 60-47 triumph over Morris Tech on Tuesday.

* Miles Schoedler, Ocean City boys track: Won the boys mile at the Boston Indoor Games in 4:16.92.

EVENTS TO WATCH
* Sectional and State Team Wrestling Tournament – Friday and Sunday: The state sectional semifinals and finals will set the state for the final four of each group Sunday in Toms River. Of all of the potential outcomes for Sunday, keep an eye on Group 3 where three of the state's best programs will vie for supremacy: High Point (Sussex), South Plainfield and Timber Creek Regional (Erial). Group 4 could also be terrific, where the potential Jackson-Howell victor in Central Jersey could grapple against Southern Regional, Phillipsburg and whomever survives the North 2 group between Franklin and Hunterdon Central.

Prior to Sunday, though, Haddonfield will try to beat Paulsboro a second time on its home mat in Friday's South Group 1 final – providing both teams meet their semifinal challenges. Haddonfield handed the Red Raiders their first home loss in 41 years, a 33-31 defeat on Jan. 22.

* Primetime Shootout, Friday-Sunday at Kean University: While each day offers intriguing contests featuring regional and national powers, maybe the best game of the bunch pits the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, St. Patrick (Elizabeth), against St. Thomas More on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. No. 2-ranked St. Anthony (Jersey City) will face the Hotchkiss School on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Another intriguing matchup here will occur between Linden and No. 5 Montrose Catholic on Friday at 8 p.m. Linden knows Montrose Christian's point guard well, as Tyrone Johnson starred at Plainfield before the Villanova-bound point guard transferred prior to his senior season. Credit Linden coach Phil Collicchio for testing his Tigers, who recently lost to St. Patrick and will turn around and host St. Anthony this coming Monday.

Other New Jersey teams participating include East Side (Newark), Lakewood, Life Center Academy (Burlington), Middle Township (Cape May Court House), Middletown South, Neptune, Pennington, Plainfield, Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly), Roselle Catholic, St. Joseph (Metuchen), Shabazz (Newark), St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City), Trenton Catholic Academy and Union.

* Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) at St. John-Vianney (Holmdel) girls basketball, Friday: A rematch between two of the top parochial programs in the tri-state area, which St. John Vianney won by a 52-49 count last winter.

RECRUITING NEWS
Despite suffering through a subpar season under first-year head coach Roshown McLeod, St. Benedict's Prep has three budding Division I prospects. McLeod said that 6-8 sophomore forward Mike Young has received attention from Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Seton Hall, while 6-10 junior center/forward Philip Nolan has attracted notice from Florida and Texas. Also, 6-2 sophomore point guard Tyler Ennis is on the radar of Oregon, Wake Forest and Syracuse. … Saddle River Day girls soccer star Amanda Jones signed her national letter of intent to play at UNC Charlotte. … University's Brittney Sykes played before several prospective SEC and ACC suitors during Tuesday's win over Mount St. Dominic.

BRIEFLY
Joe Bodnar became Shawnee's 15th 1,000-point scorer during Monday's win over Paulsboro.