Secaucus' Lama named as Hudson County's top male athlete

Growing up, Jamling Lama didn’t have to look far for inspiration to participate in sports. Lama had his two older brothers, namely Sonam and Pema, who both played basketball competitively. “It wasn’t just sports,” Lama said. “It was everything. I had to do things the right way, to be a good person. I went about it every day. Nothing was guaranteed. I was blessed to have another day.” And Lama followed in his brothers’ footsteps in every fashion imaginable, like keeping a strong, upbeat and alive personality. “Nothing positive can come from having a negative mindset,” Lama said. So when the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic played havoc with his junior year at Secaucus High School, totally wiping out the baseball season, Lama kept a stiff upper lip and managed to maintain his positive ways. “I knew that I had another year of high school,” Lama said. “I knew it was going to be my time to shine.”

Jamling Lama (center) receives the Jim Hague Sports Male Athlete of the Year outside Secaucus High School, becoming just the second Patriot male to ever receive the award. From left are Secaucus High School Principal Steven Viggiani, athletic director Charlie Voorhees, assistant soccer coach Chris Innis, Hague, Lama, head baseball coach Neal Czochanski and head basketball coach Tom Curry. Even with the pandemic raging throughout the area, Lama made sure he had a senior year to remember, which he most certainly did. Lama excelled in three sports, namely soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring, like he had done for the previous years. Lama didn’t play soccer until his junior year, but scored a team-high 16 goals. He had a team best six goals in just seven games that the Patriots played through the pandemic. During the basketball season, Lama really shined. He averaged 21.5 points in the 10 games that the Patriots played and led the team in rebounds, steals and assists. He ended his career with 1,300 points on the head, becoming the school’s all-time leading male scorer in the process. And in baseball, Lama was a standout centerfielder and pitcher, who batted .444 in another limited schedule. For his efforts, Lama has been selected as the Jim Hague Sports Male Athlete of the Year. Lama received his award at the school last month with coaches and administrators present. Lama is the first recipient of the year-end award since Alex Rodriguez claimed it back in 1992-93. Rodriguez was the second athlete to receive the award for his football and wrestling exploits. The Athlete of the Year is given to the top athlete who excels in more than one varsity sport. Lama definitely fits that description to a tee. “I always liked having a fully loaded schedule,” Lama said. “I always wanted to be a part of the other sports. I grew up going to my brothers’ games. I couldn’t wait to play.” Baseball was the first sport Jamling played as a youngster, joining the Secaucus Little League at age five to play T-ball. Basketball soon followed, while soccer was an afterthought until his junior year of high school. His parents, father Pasang and mother Nuku, are natives of Nepal who immigrated to the United States in 1989 before their children were born. They understood how important sports were to their sons, with Jamling being the last of the Lama clan. “They respected what we did and supported us,” Lama said. Even after missing a year due to COVID, Lama’s baseball career stood out. He ran down practically every fly ball in centerfield and was a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher when he got the ball. “In my mind, he was always the best athlete on the field,” Secaucus head baseball coach Neal Czochanski said. “He had the kind of attitude you want out of a player. He always had the mindset that he was going to succeed. Who knows what he could have done with the extra year? He was always positive and always had a smile on his face. I’ve always said that Jam made everyone around him happy.” Secaucus head boys’ basketball coach Tom Curry also sang Lama’s praises. “I believe Jamling was a positive quality role model and solidified the foundation of our program,” said Curry, whose team posted an 8-2 record in the shortened season. “I really think Jam was the foundation to all our successes. He had a role that was more important than just basketball.” Curry, who is also the head football coach at Park Ridge, believes Lama is among the top two athletes he had the pleasure of coaching in his career. “If you ask me who my top two athletes were, I’d say Vince Pinto, who was an outstanding quarterback at Park Ridge, and Jam,” Curry said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, but a better kid. Jam has the quality you want in a player and a leader. I have a son and I want him to be like Jamling Lama.” Lama said that he just joined the soccer team as a junior to stay in shape for the other two sports. He had no idea he would turn into the team’s leading scorer in both seasons. “I was just kicking the ball around with my friends and they said that I should think about playing soccer,” Lama said. “I just happened to be the leading scorer. I give credit to my teammates and my coaches for getting me the chances to score. It was a lot of fun. I totally did it for conditioning, but after I started playing, I wanted to win with my teammates.” It’s in basketball where Lama really shined. He knew that he needed a big season to become the school’s all-time leading scorer, especially with a truncated schedule. “When I first started playing, I was taught to be defensive minded,” Lama said. “But then I was asked to be more of a scorer, which I did. I always worked hard with my brothers and that hard work paid off. I did what I was told and I’m thankful for that.” Lama was part of the Secaucus varsity baseball team since he was a freshman and became the team’s leader as a senior after missing out on a junior year. He was an All-County outfielder as a sophomore in 2019. “I always loved running down fly balls,” Lama said. “It’s really where I could show my speed.” Lama, who was also an excellent student, posting a 3.9 grade point average over his career, heads to Felician University to play basketball in the fall. He hasn’t ruled out the possibility of playing baseball as well, but for now, he’ll concentrate on basketball. “The time has come for Jam to dedicate his passion to just one sport,” Czochanski said. “I just want to see him happy. He’s awesome when he’s happy.” “I think I always held myself to a high standard,” Lama said. “I always wanted to be a good kid first. I wanted to treat others the way I wanted to be treated. I learned that from my parents. I was told to never put anyone down. So I always tried to make my teammates feel like they were the greatest. I did that in my daily life.” Lama was excited to receive the award. “It’s definitely a prestigious honor,” Lama said. “Being only the second Secaucus athlete to receive the award is something really special to me. I’m very thankful for it.” So Lama moves on, leaving a legacy of greatness, but also for being such a well-rounded, joyful and respectful young man. And now he leaves with the title of being the best athlete in Hudson County. “I can never replace these four years,” Lama said. “I believe my high school career was well used. Every sport, I believe I performed my best and the outcome showed each season. I’m so happy and grateful to have played for Secaucus.”

Sportswriter Jim Hague (left) presents Secaucus' Jamling Lama with the award of being the Jim Hague Sports Male Athlete of the Year. HUDSON COUNTY-JIM HAGUE SPORTS MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 1991-1992-Jason Casessa, Hoboken 1992-1993-Alex Rodriguez, Secaucus 1993-1994-Eduardo Gomez, Hoboken 1995-1996-Rashard Casey, Hoboken 1996-1997-Czar Wiley, North Bergen 1997-1998-Koz Perez, North Bergen 1998-1999-Mike Forcum, Hoboken 1999-2000-Jonathan Robinson, Memorial 2001-2002-Bryan Durango, Memorial 2002-2003-Jason Blanks, Hoboken 2003-2004-Danny Lopez, Weehawken 2004-2005-Mike Brown, St. Peter’s Prep 2005-2006-Garrett Askew, Hudson Catholic 2006-2007-Evan Rodriguez, North Bergen 2007-2008-Chris Jones, Lincoln 2008-2009-Michael Kuzirian, Memorial 2009-2010-Kevin Innis, St. Peter’s Prep 2010-2011-Jose Veras, Dickinson 2011-2012-Jason Pineda, Weehawken 2012-2013-Damian Corredor, Weehawken 2013-2014-Tyrik Darby, Lincoln 2014-2015-Corey Caddle, St. Peter’s Prep 2015-2016-Royaal Jones, Hudson Catholic 2016-2017-Jorge Portorreal, St. Peter’s Prep 2017-2018-Shayne Simon, St. Peter’s Prep 2018-2019-Ayir Asante, St. Peter’s Prep 2019-2020-Nyjon Freeman, Hoboken 2020-2021-Jamling Lama, Secaucus

Hudson County's top male scholar/athletes

Here are the profiles of the top scholar-athletes in Hudson County, awarded by the NJSIAA Ruben Gonzalo, Union City Cross country, indoor track, baseball From a very early age, Ruben Gonzalo recognized the importance of getting good grades in school. “Ever since I was just a little thing, I knew that one of the most important things in my life was my schoolwork,” Gonzalo said. “My grades always came first before sports. If I didn’t have good grades, then I would have no sports. My parents made sure of that.” So his mom Vielka and dad Ruben instilled those philosophies in their young son. “It was always that way,” said Gonzalo, one of the busiest student/athletes at Union City High School, competing in three sports. Gonzalo said that he played baseball since he was five years old, but his love for cross country and track and field came later. “I was in eighth grade and I had to take the BEEP test in gym class,” Gonzalo said. “And you had to run from one end of the gym to the other.”

One of the teachers watching Gonzalo run was the school’s Fitness Club coach Manny Hernandez. “He became one of my mentors,” Gonzalo said of Hernandez. “He said that I had potential. He would get on me and tell me to run. Before I knew it, I was in my first cross country race. I didn’t even know that cross country was a sport.” In his first-ever race, Gonzalo wore dress shoes to the meet. “I ran in shoes that I would go out with my friends in,” Gonzalo said. “As we were lining up, I looked side-to-side and saw what they were all wearing. They were all wearing shoes different than mine. Next thing I know, the gun goes off and I just started running. I knew I would never do that again.” After that first race, Gonzalo gained a little confidence. The self assurance then exploded in just his second race. “It was at Darlington (in Bergen County) and I won a gold medal in that race,” Gonzalo said. “I then later won the North Hudson championship as well. I knew that I was enjoying it and I was doing pretty well. I figured that I was probably not going to play baseball anymore.” But that wasn’t the case. As a senior, Gonzalo came back to the diamond and played the outfield for the baseball team. Next month, Gonzalo is headed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he plans to study law and legal studies. He achieved a grade point average of a 4.3 in a 5.0 scale. He either wants to become a lawyer or perhaps join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Either way, Gonzalo had a brilliant career at Union City, both as an athlete and in the classroom, just like his parents always wanted. Being the top student/athlete in a school the size of Union City is no small achievement. “I like the way that sounds,” Gonzalo said. “I feel that the top student/athletes don’t get much attention.” They certainly do here. Sofian Rahhali, Weehawken Soccer, track and field, tennis Like Gonzalo, Rahhali had a positive influence at home that served as inspiration. “Grades were always important to me, because my parents emphasized that,” said Rahhali, who was born in Boston, but moved to Weehawken with his family at age two. “My parents (father Jay, mother Mamika) put it in my brain at an early age.” By the time Rahhali enrolled at Weehawken High School, he was established as one of the top students in the district. But Rahhali wanted more. So he joined the soccer team, where he instantly became a member of the Indians’ varsity team. He was a striker on the team for four years and helped to lead the Indians to the North Jersey Interscholastic League-Division 2 championship, scoring a team-high 14 goals and adding four assists. The 14-goal total was exactly what Rahhali scored over his previous two seasons combined. Rahhali participated in track and field before this past spring, when he decided to join the tennis team. “I played tennis before when I was younger and I liked the sport,” Rahhali said. “I just thought it would be a great experience for me. I always wanted to give it a shot. I’m glad I stayed with it.”

Rahhali had no idea he was under consideration to become Weehawken’s top scholar/athlete. “Mr. (Nick) DeStefano (the Weehawken athletic director) said that he wanted to talk to me,” Rahhali said. “I thought I was in some sort of trouble. I wondered why did he want to talk to me. When he told me, my mouth was wide open and I was gasping for breath. It was really unexpected.” Rahhali’s fine athletic career has come to an end. That’s because he’s headed to Northwestern University next month, taking his insane 4.655 grade point average and an ungodly score of 1520 on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests. In fact, Rahhali took the SATs on the day before the world shut down due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. “I got a good score, so there was no need to take it again,” Rahhali said. Rahhali plans on majoring in computer science at the Big 10 power from Evanston, Illinois. “I’m honestly not too sure about what I want to do after school,” Rahhali said. “I have an interest in technology and data, so computer science is a good major for me.” Rahhali has yet to visit the campus, which is located right on the outskirts of Chicago. “I’m excited to go there,” Rahhali said. “It’s not out in the middle of nowhere. It’s right near a big city.” Make that the third largest city in the country. Rahhali said that he had an immense amount of pride in being selected as Weehawken’s top scholar/athlete. “Honestly, it’s a huge accomplishment for me,” Rahhali said. “To be recognized for what I’m working hard to do is a nice feeling.” Jason Blanks, Hoboken Football, basketball, baseball Blanks, one of the most versatile performers on this list, having lettered in football, basketball and baseball during his brilliant career, took a lot of pride in being named Hoboken’s top scholar-athlete. “It means a lot to me,” Blanks said. “To get recognized for what I do on the field is one thing, but to get recognized for what I’ve done in the classroom is another. I put a lot of effort in the classroom from my freshman year on. I was able to get mostly As in my classes. I was always a pretty good athlete. I could always find a place on the field, but it was harder without the grades. I think by fifth or sixth grade, I realized what I had to do. I started to like school.”

Blanks’ intelligence enabled him to become the starting quarterback for the Red Wings for the final three years of his career, provided he remained healthy. Blanks had to overcome a series of nagging injuries through his career. But Blanks realized that being the quarterback in an integral Delaware Wing-T offense meant that he had to be a cerebral leader. “I think it definitely helped me,” Blanks said. “I felt like I was always one step ahead of everyone. I had the speed to run well and had the arm to throw. I felt like I needed to outsmart everyone to be one step ahe Blanks carried a 3.3 grade point average in the classroom. He will head to Rowan University next month to begin his football career with the Profs as a defensive back and kick returner Blanks followed in the footsteps of his father, also named Jason, who was a fine quarterback, pitcher in baseball and guard in basketball, earning Hudson Reporter Male Athlete of the Year honors in 2003. Blanks said that he felt blessed to be the recipient of the top student/athlete in Hoboken. “I really stay on the humble side,” Blanks said. “I don’t like to talk about myself a lot. I’m just grateful to receive the recognition for my hard work.” Jordan Hart, Snyder Cross country, track and field When Jordan Hart was a little kid, he had one goal in life. He wanted to become a construction worker. But things changed when Hart started high school. “I really took a liking to science,” Hart said. “Biology became a passion of mine. Much like track and field snuck up on Hart and became another passion. Hart, who attended County Prep, said that track always fascinated him. “I tried football and baseball,” Hart said. “I just didn’t keep interest. I was always trying to find things that intrigued me and I learned that I had the passion to run. Although I was always the slow kid running with my bunch of friends. My passion for running wasn’t awakened until high school. Freshman year, after my first race, I realized that I could be pretty good.” And Hart learned a fast lesson in that first race, which was the 400-meter dash. “I went out like a mad man,” Hart said “And I obviously made a mistake. I died at the end.”

But there was a good thing that took place in that first race. “I was hooked,” Hart said. “It really was a lot of fun. I looked forward to going to practice the next day. I loved being out there with my friends.” Hart was obviously pretty good, qualifying for the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group I meet as a freshman, finishing fourth in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line in an impressive 22.46 seconds. Incredibly, Hart either tied or broke his personal record 49 times in his career. That’s persistence, perseverance and awesome dedication to a sport that he never thought he would be a participant. “I just wanted to keep getting better,” Hart said. “I took a lot of pride in myself. My confidence went through the roof. I don’t get to say that a lot, but I really felt good about the way I was playing. I put in a lot of work and I was seeing the work pay off. My parents (mom Aisha Harper and dad Tashawn Hart) really made sure that I put everything I had into it.” Hart compiled a 3.75 grade point average. His love of science will send him to DeSales University and major in biology with the hope of attending medical school upon graduation from DeSales, which is the former Allentown College. It is a Roman Catholic institution. Hart credits the mentorship of Dr. Jason Elliston, a pediatrician and family friend, who has watched over Hart during his adolescence. “He was definitely a big influence on me,” Hart said of Dr. Elliston. And Hart’s goal? To become a neurosurgeon one day. “Biology has become a passion, much like track,” Hart said. And how did Hart end his high school passion? He competed in the United States NIKE Nationals at the NIKE complex in Eugene, Oregon. Only fitting. William DeIasi, Secaucus Baseball When it came to athletics and academics, DeIasi always had the right approach. “I wanted to keep my GPA (grade point average) high and my ERA low,” DeIasi said. “I always found the time to do my best in both.” That’s an understatement. DeIasi graduated as the salutatorian of the Secaucus Class of 2021, posting a grade point average of an ungodly 4.67 on the 4.0 scale. “I was able to take a lot of AP (advanced placement) classes and a lot of honors classes,” DeIasi said. “That helped me. I think I’ve always been a great student. School has always been my priority. I think my parents (dad William and mom Christine) always wanted me to do well in school, so if something ever happened to me in sports in terms of an injury, I had the education to back it up. My parents have always been a huge influence on me.”

DeIasi developed into a fine pitcher for the Patriots, especially after missing all of his junior year due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. He spent a lot of his free time training and developing his pitching skills with Wladyka Baseball, under the watchful eyes of fellow standout pitcher Jim Wladyka, an All-State hurler out of Rutherford High School during his heyday. DeIasi also took hitting lessons from Mike Mobbs, not ready to give up on being a threat both on the mound and at the plate. “But I learned that you could never have enough pitchers,” DeIasi said. “That’s what I basically focused on coming into this year. I started out with the JV (junior varsity) team and worked my way up to being one of the top pitchers on our staff.” DeIasi’s best performance came against New Milford early in the season, when he fired a two-hitter, striking out 11 in a 10-1 win. DeIasi will now head to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where he will major in mechanical engineering. He plans on trying to make the Scarlet Knights’ roster as a walk-on. “I’ve sent e-mails to the coaches to see if I can give it a try,” DeIasi said. “I do take pride in my development as a pitcher. I’m very excited to be going to Rutgers. I’ve had a lot of fun playing baseball and I want to continue playing. I wouldn’t change a thing about my career. I’m happy with the way things turned out for me.” Julian Lim, McNair Academic Soccer Before he entered high school, Lim was always a goaltender on the soccer field. But that quickly changed when Lim enrolled at McNair Academic. “I made the transition to center midfield,” Lim said. “I then moved up to striker this year because everyone thought I would be able to score more goals.” As it turned out, Lim was the Cougars’ leading scorer this past season. “I played soccer my whole life,” Lim said. “It’s always been a lot of fun.” However, fate wasn’t too kind in 2016, when Julian’s father, Jourdan, passed away. “My motivation was always internal,” Lim said. “But I pushed myself to the max. I have two younger brothers that I look after. I’ve always bonded well with my brothers, but being the eldest, I had to worry about them. It wasn’t easy. I think it made me mature a lot quicker. At times, it was stressful and I always kept my priorities in check in order to help my brothers. I became a more compassionate person. I think it was almost a miracle that I was able to persevere. I knew that I was not going to become a victim of the streets. I wasn’t going to become completely overwhelmed by the situation.”

Lim said that soccer kept him sane. “Every practice, I wanted to go as hard as I possibly could,” Lim said. “I never worried about burning out. I knew I wanted to go to a good school.” Lim, who carried an average of 101 out of 100 in his classes, is headed to Princeton University in a few weeks, where he will be reunited with Fahd Nasser, who was a member of the same relay team for the indoor track team when Lim was a freshman. Lim will major in economics at Princeton. “It’s like a huge burden has been lifted off of me,” Lim said. “The four-year grind has turned into something good. I’m extremely grateful for the chance.” Lim doesn’t know what the future holds. “I’m still trying to figure that out,” Lim said. “Maybe I can run a start-up company. That would be awesome.” Gabriel Arias, Harrison Soccer Although Gabriel Arias concentrated on one sport, namely soccer, he made sure that he made the most of that sport, as well as his academic standing. “I tended to focus on my soccer,” said Arias, who is headed to Rutgers-Newark in the fall to continue his soccer career. “I was always focused on my education as well, but my parents (mother Isabel Valencia and father Victor Arias) made sure I did my school work. They were always supportive of me, considering how much I loved playing soccer.” Arias was born in the United States, but both of his parents were born in Peru. “I was very happy and excited to tell my parents about this award,” Arias said. Arias believes that his love of soccer helped him become a better student in the classroom. Arias maintained a 3.8 grade point average throughout his days at Harrison. “I think soccer gave me more confidence with my academics,” Arias said. “I had to work harder to keep those grades up when I needed to.” Arias was a standout defender for the famed Harrison Blue Tide soccer program. “I think I was a defender because of my speed,” Arias said. “It helped me get up and down the wing.” Getting the top scholar/athlete award meant a lot to Arias. “I was able to achieve something I always wanted to have,” Arias said. “I always wanted to keep a good balance between soccer and my grades. This let me know I did a good job at both.” Jamiel Lawrence, Lincoln Football One might think that Lawrence got the catchy and loveable nickname of “Oatmeal” because of the natural rhyme that goes with his name. But that would be wrong. “I’ve been called ‘Oatmeal’ ever since I was a little boy, around six or so,” said Lawrence, the highly talented quarterback for the Lincoln football team. “My father was called ‘Oatmeal’ so it just kind of stuck to me.” Yeah, much like lumpy overcooked oatmeal that just sticks to everything, you know, the bowl, the spoon, the stomach. “I just started to get called ‘Oatmeal’ and it was almost like I didn’t even know my own name,” Lawrence said. The other name Lawrence acquired this year? Being the top scholar-athlete in a big school like Lincoln. “I didn’t even know I would be considered for the award, considering a lot of the classes were virtual,” Lawrence said. “It really took a toll on me. I actually was kind of surprised when I heard I got the award. I wanted to get an ‘A’ average in my classes.” He had to settle for A-minus instead.

Lawrence didn’t have to worry about his quarterbacking skills. “I actually loved playing quarterback,” Lawrence said. “I loved being the leader of the team. A lot of the younger kids on the team looked up to me. I liked that everyone was listening to me. I took a lot of pride in it. If I was going to be a leader on the field, then I had to have good grades. I tell the younger guys that they had to work on getting good grades because that’s the only way they could keep playing.” Lawrence is headed to Caldwell University to play sprint football (formerly known as lightweight football) with all the players on the field having to weigh 180 pounds or less. Lawrence will play for legendary coaches Jim Kelly (the head coach and formerly of Nutley and Queen of Peace) and Ken Trimmer, the long-time head coach at Caldwell High School. Lawrence had to work hard on getting down to the 180-pound weight restriction. “By the end of the season, I was up to 240 (pounds),” Lawrence said. “I knew what I was getting into and I knew I had to lose the weight.” Lawrence likes to model himself like Devon Jackson, the successful QB of the Baltimore Ravens, who is a solid runner and passer. He will major in sports management at Caldwell with the hope of working for a professional sports franchise down the road. “I’m really motivated to do well in college,” Lawrence said. “I’m fortunate enough to have friends as teammates there (at least seven players on the Cougars’ roster are Lincoln High graduates) and my family and friends can come to see me play.” As for being the top student-athlete at Lincoln? “It feels great,” Lawrence said. “I don’t even know what to say. It’s just amazing.” Just like having a catchy nickname. Lincoln head coach Robert Hampton calls Lawrence, “the OAT,” in a take-off of the line used a lot these days to immortals like Tom Brady, who is called the GOAT, as in Greatest Of All Time. Lawrence is just the OAT, but it’s a name that fits just fine. Just pass the milk and sugar please.

The top Hudson County female scholar-athletes

About 10 years ago or so, the NJSIAA devised a great program to honor the top student-athletes in the state, to make people aware that there are high school students who excel in the classroom as well as their respective fields of play. So here are the female profiles of some of the top student-athletes in Hudson County, a proud group that deserves to be recognized. Later this week, the boys take center stage. For now, it’s the girls. Michelle Carvajal, Memorial, soccer, volleyball, softball Carvajal was extremely surprised when she was informed that she was the Memorial recipient of the top scholar-athlete. “It was never a goal of mine, but I know I worked very hard in school,” Carvajal said. “I’m glad my hard work paid off. I love school. I love learning.” Although Carvajal was a solid soccer and volleyball player, her heart was always on the softball diamond. “Softball is definitely my favorite,” Carvajal said. “I like being challenged and I like to give the wisdom I’ve learned to the younger players. I think it’s some of the things about me that people don’t know about.” Carvajal carried a 3.8 grade point average in high school. She has recently given a verbal commitment to New Jersey City University to play softball. Carvajal will major in education, but she’s unsure of what grade level she wishes to pursue.

Carvajal always had the dream of being a teacher. “Ever since I was about five years old, I used to play school with my dolls,” Carvajal said. “I used to set up the dolls like it was a classroom and read books to them. But back then, I think I wanted to be a psychologist. But then I went to teaching. I know it’s something I’ll be really happy with.” As for receiving the top scholar-athlete at Memorial? “I’m very appreciative and thankful,” Carvajal said. “I’m also very humble. I don’t walk around with my head too high.” But without question, there’s a sense of pride. “It’s a great honor,” Carvajal said. Alejandra Bartutis, North Bergen, Volleyball, Track and Field Bartutis, headed to Rider University in the fall on a scholarship package, said that she always prioritized her schoolwork, almost more than she focused on the jumps for the powerful Bruin program. “School and grades always came first in my life,” Bartutis said. “It’s what my Mom (Mily Yero) taught me. She said that I had to keep my grades up if I wanted to run track. I think that if you are great in the classroom that it transfers in what you do in life.” Bartutis, who is one of the all-time best athletes in the history of North Bergen, standing out in volleyball and track and field. She was a powerful outside hitter on the volleyball team, but was a county champion in the long jump and triple jump and a four-time qualifier for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. She will compete in track at Rider. Born in Cuba and arrived in North Bergen at age seven, Bartutis learned at an early age the importance of good grades. She carried a 4.0 grade point average through high school “There were times that I wanted to quit, but my mother wouldn’t let me,” Bartutis said. “She sacrificed a lot for me.” Her father Castulo was a volleyball player during his day.

“But my grandfather was a big track person,” Bartutis said. “That helped. I think the jumping came because I first played basketball. It was just volleyball and basketball. I didn’t know the other jumping was a sport. When I found out jumping was a competition, I was going to make the most of it. When I first started, I thought that I wasn’t going to like it. But I stuck with it and when I first cleared 4-10, I was so happy. It was the greatest feeling ever.” And as for being North Bergen’s top scholar-athlete? “I know it’s something that makes my parents proud,” Bartutis said. “I also like to prove people wrong. There were some people who said I could never do this. When someone wants to talk to me about how high I jumped, I say, ‘Ask me about my GPA.’ When I tell them what it is, they all seem surprised. It’s really a great feeling.” Tashu Gupta, Bayonne, Tennis Tashu Gupta carried a 101.66 average on a scale of 100 being perfect. She said she started playing tennis with her father, Rohtash, in Bayonne’s Gregg County Park when she was in third grade. It was the beginning of a natural progression in the sport. “It was nothing really serious until high school,” Gupta said. “My father would tell me that even if I lost, I was still learning. Honestly, losing is a lot more fun. You get a chance to reflect on the action, getting pushed to the limits by another person.” In her high school career, Gupta climbed the ladder of success.

“I started off playing first doubles, then I moved up to third singles and this year first singles,” Gupta said. “Overall, it was an amazing time.” Gupta is headed to Georgia Tech in the fall to study computer science. Unfortunately, her competitive tennis days are over. “But I’ve already reached out through e-mail with other students who play tennis,” Gupta said. A multi-faceted young woman, Gupta is also a first degree black belt in karate, was the captain of the Bayonne Math Team and the Robotics team. She said she is into coding, which fascinates her. “I think getting this award puts everything in perspective,” Gupta said. “I never thought this could happen. I had no idea that there was such an honor and I was shocked that I could get it. Overall, it’s really a blessing and I’m very happy.” Zanai Jones, Hudson Catholic, Basketball Hudson County’s premier girls’ basketball player is also her school’s top student-athlete. Jones, the two-time Hudson County Player of the Year, is headed to Villanova in the fall. Nope, scratch that, she’s already on campus and has been since June 1, getting a head start on her education, much like she did while attending Hudson Catholic. Jones will bring as many as 66 credits with her to Villanova, credits she earned while attending Hudson Catholic’s advanced placement and honors classes. “My grades were always important and always ahead of basketball,” Jones said. “My parents made that perfectly clear. I never struggled in the classroom, but it was implied that if I did, then there would be no more basketball. “

Jones, who averaged close to 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals per contest, said that she actually enjoyed studying. “It makes you feel good when you accomplish something,” Jones said. “Whether it was in practice or studying for a test, my hard work paid off. It was pretty hard, taking my basic classes as well as philosophy, theology and intro to business. But then I had music. When it came to history, I brought it all to modern music. I thought that would be good.” Like Hudson Catholic teaching what Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote with his smash Broadway hit, “Hamilton.” Jones said that she really isn’t into personal awards. “Usually, things like personal accolades don’t get to me,” Jones said. “I wasn’t playing basketball in high school to get awards. But being recognized this way is incredible and I’m grateful and happy that I was selected. It’s nice for people to know that I’m not just a basketball player. I want to do some great things off the court as well.” One of those was studying micro and macro economics at Villanova this summer. Sounds like light fare. “I’m pretty good with numbers, but this is more about money and such,” Jones said. Well, it does make the world go around, right Liza Minnelli? Jones is undecided about her major at Villanova, but she’ll be a success whatever she chooses to do. Kassandra Jovellanos, Kearny Cross country and track and field Jovellanos had already conquered the first mountain to climb. That’s because she is also the Kearny High School Class of 2021valedictorian. She will graduate this week with a 5.14 grade point average out of a 5.0 scale. “My parents (mother Velinda and father Jerome) pushed me a lot,” said Jovellanos, who ran cross country and track for four years. “I have to give some credit to them. If I got an 89 on a test, they would tell me I could do better. They would say, ‘What’s this?’ I had bombed a few tests before.” But obviously, not a lot of those times. Not to be No. 1 in the entire class. And as for being the top student/athlete in a school the size of Kearny? “I guess I’m really proud of it,” said Jovellanos, who was a fine sprinter for the Kardinals. “The fact that I was good enough to be considered is good enough for me. But it’s a really big honor. I had no idea there was such a thing (the NJSIAA Scholar/Athlete). Then, when I found out, I didn’t think I’d get chosen. In track, there was always someone who was faster and better. I guess I was expecting the worst. This way, you’re either right or pleasantly surprised.” Jovellanos was then pleasantly surprised when she received word that she was getting the NJSIAA award. “It’s kind of insane to know that I beat out so many people,” Jovellanos said. “We have more than 400 students in our senior class.”

Jovellanos has only one regret – and it’s one that is shared by many athletes. “We didn’t have an outdoor season last year and we had a chance to be very good,” Jovellanos said. “That really sucked.” Jovellanos is headed to SUNY-Albany to study criminal justice. She hopes to work for the FBI in some capacity someday. “I used to be into watching all those shows,” Jovellanos said. “I guess that’s what got me into it. She was asked for a hint about her valedictory address. “The future is never certain,” she said. “You have to live your life.” Looks as if Jovellanos has already lived her life so far – with a lot more life left to go. Kayla Sullivan, St. Dominic Academy, Cross Country and Track and Field The county’s best female cross country performer is hanging up her running shoes – at least competitively. Sullivan, who won the Hudson County Track Coaches Association cross country championship last October after three second place finishes, is headed to Rutgers University in New Brunswick with her 4.29 grade point average. She plans on majoring in early childhood education to hopefully someday become a kindergarten or first grade teacher. She will be part of Rutgers’ Fast Track program, fitting for someone like Sullivan, where she will achieve her Master’s degree and early childhood certification in a span of five years. “My Mom is a Pre-K (pre-kindergarten) teacher,” Sullivan said. “I’ve wanted to become a teacher since I was six years old.”

Sullivan attained the school’s top scholar-athlete award because of her rigid class schedule, taking a host of advanced placement (AP) and honors classes during her stint at SDA. “I think all my hard work over the four years really paid off,” Sullivan said. “It definitely got me ready for college. Getting an award like this is really a confidence booster. I think a lot of what I’ve learned in running is applicable in academics. I take a lot of pride in getting this award.” Sullivan thought that she could have a senior year to remember, which is what it turned out to be. The Blue Devils, led by Sullivan, went undefeated in meets in the fall and Sullivan won all seven of her races in New Jersey. “I tried to set realistic goals,” Sullivan said. “I really grew up a lot since my freshman year. I’m proud of what I accomplished. They can never take those away from me.” Monday, we’ll feature the Hudson County boys who got their school’s honor.

Hoboken pays tribute to dedicated son White

Gary White was a dedicated soul to the Hoboken community, especially youngsters. A highly respected custodian in the Hoboken school system, White went on to become the first African-American president of the Hoboken School Employee Association. But Gary was also a highly dedicated official, refereeing in three different sports, namely baseball, basketball and volleyball. Gary served as an official for more than 30 years. During his time, Gary also spent countless hours, working with the youngsters of Hoboken, in particular those who regularly played basketball at the Fourth Street Park courts, including Derrick Alston, the current head coach of the Westchester Knicks of the NBA's G-League. Alston also spent a handful of years as a player in the NBA and had a lenghthy career as a professional overseas. But Gary White was a constant at the Fourth Street Park basketball courts. It was his home away from home. So it was only fitting that the powers-that-be in Hoboken would take the time to rename the courts as the Gary White Courts, in honor of the man who passed away last year. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla presented White's widow, Christine, with a proclamation honoring the day.

"It's a historic event, a celebration to make sure that Gary's legacy lives on," Bhalla said. "It's also a way to inform the people of Hoboken who he was and his incredible generosity to the community. He set an example for me as mayor. We're not here just because it's a nice thing to do. We're here in the spirit of Gary White. This is a day for all of us. It's proof that everyone in America is equal." After Christine White was presented with the proclamation, the group moved over to the courts for the unveiling of the two plaques placed at the courts so that everyone can remember White.

"It's just amazing," Christine White said. "It's a wonderful day. It's heartwarming, just heartwarming. I'm overwhelmed with the love here today. I can't find the words. I'm just so ecstatic about it, knowing Gary's name will live on here and will be remembered for years and years to come. It's definitely well deserved. It's just marvelous. He's here and will never be forgotten."

Chubby James, one of the event's organizers, was moved to tears. "I've known Gary all these years and you really couldn't ask for a better person," James said. "I'm just honored to be a part of all of this. Gary never really wanted any of the accolades or credit. He was happy being in the background. But this was nicely done by everyone in the community. On a scale of 1 to 100, I'd say it's 100."