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.