Give a round of applause for our winter sports teams at Becton Regional – breaking a plethora of records, making history and not once getting cold feet!

Swim Team

Our Swim Team, headed by Coach Lauren Bayersdorfer and Coach Kevin Hoagland, took on their second year with phenomenal success! Many students broke school and personal records. Senior Charles Groh took home a gold medal at this year’s NJIC Conference Championship in both the 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle. Additionally, the 4×400 freestyle relay with sophomore Orlando Pardo, senior Adam Pamula, junior Evan Fonseca and Groh broke the school record at the NJIC Championship meet with a time of 3:52.45! Pamula also reached his personal record with a 26 second 50m freestyle.

Coach Bayersdorfer cites their match against Secaucus as one of their most memorable, as it was their first race scoring over 100 points, “We were all astonished to see how much we won the meet by!”

Swim Senior Night took place on Jan. 7 against Leonia at the Meadowlands YMCA. Senior Baback Ghalamsiah shared his excitement about the event, saying, “After being the away team since we started this team last year, it was an exciting feeling to compete at the pool we train at and host the first Becton home meet!”

Reflecting on his journey from starting as a freshman in the club to now being a senior on the team, Ghalamsiah added, “It was rewarding to look back on the hard work everyone has put into the team to bring it this far.”

Much of that progress, however, can be traced back to the team’s original trailblazers– such as Ghalamsiah and Groh. Coach Bayersdorfer credits Charles Groh for being the driving force behind the team’s foundation and growth. “This team would essentially not exist without Charles’ leadership,” she says. “He put on the pressure to start the team, and has immensely helped carry the team to success over the past couple of years.”

Coach Bayersdorfer has also enjoyed hearing about the seniors’ achievements outside of school, from Ghalamsiah’s debate team success to Charles’ accomplishments in club swimming and their college application journeys. One of her favorite memories is traveling to the State Meet of Champions with Charles last year, where they had the opportunity to see the best swimmers in the state compete. “In general, with coaching, it is very nice and rewarding to get to know students outside of the classroom,” Coach Bayersdorfer adds.

“I am beyond sad to see the seniors go. They will be a huge loss to our team ability wise, but also personality wise. The seniors are very hardworking, dedicated, determined young men. They are very much team players- swimming in events that they may not be comfortable with, but doing it for the best of the team. They are very versatile swimmers, and it will be difficult to lose them.” Coach Bayersdorfer expresses, with the team saying goodbye to four seniors after this year’s graduation.

For his coaches, Senior Pamula encourages, “It was a great time – the team will do even better next year!” Ghalamsiah takes inspiration from Coach Hoagland in a word to his coaches, “Don’t give up and have a blast!”

Ghalamsiah, who’s been swimming since he was in kindergarten, also relays a piece of advice for his fellow underclassmen: “A loss or poor performance doesn’t have to be a bad thing, by looking at where you could have improved and done differently, you’ll be stronger and faster for it next time.” He feels that a few underclassmen to look out for are Emmitt Janosz and Kamila Pachucki, while Pamula shares that Elijah Gueye is a great swimmer on the rise!

Girls’ and Boys’ Track & Field

Our Girls’ Track & Field team had a phenomenal winter season. Coach David Dorsey praised his team for their dedication, camaraderie, and passion — all of which were evident in their outstanding achievements. Several school records were shattered this year by the remarkable athletes.

• Shot Put (Zuri Thorn)
• Triple Jump (Gracie Taylor)
• 4x400m Relay (Meghan Fraser, Gracie Taylor, Kiara Ariza, Mackenzie Muniz)
• 400m Dash (Meghan Fraser)
• 200m (Meghan Fraser)
• 600m (Meghan Fraser)
• 1,000m (Mika Tampadong)
• Distance Medley Relay (Angel Wei, Kiara Ariza, Claudia Da Mata, Mika Tampadong)

And the accomplishments did not stop there! Senior Mika Tampadong earned a spot on the 3rd Team All-County for Indoor Track, and the team also made an appearance at the NJIC Conference Championship, where the enthusiastic Coach Dorsey proudly said they “repped the B among the same schools in our conference.”

Junior Zuri Thorn, who holds the Becton Shot Put record, explored a few different events before finding her stride in the shot put circle. “I joined freshman year as a sprinter, and I also wanted to try jumping and throwing. I didn’t end up throwing shot, long jumping and pole vaulting until my sophomore year. Then my junior year I decided to just throw shot-put full time.” Thorn also competed individually in the Bob Chiswell Classic, to which she received a personal invitation.

Liliana Bravo, a senior who runs distance, gives some advice for underclassmen, “I would definitely tell the underclassmen to not put a ton of pressure on themselves during the season. I know it’s hard when coaches are counting on you and have high expectations, but it’s good to take it easy and have fun too.” Thorn takes a similar standpoint, “Just keep showing up and trying new things. The sport has so many different events that you will eventually find the one that works for you.”

Addressing the coaches and her team after the season’s completion, Thorn expresses, “Thank you for all the work you put in for our team, and to my teammates, thanks for making the team so much fun.” Similarly, Bravo earnestly shares with her underclassmen teammates, “Have fun but always work hard for yourself and your own goals!”

“I’m absolutely devastated to see our seniors graduate. Not only do we have a ton of school record holders moving on, but they’re really great kids to boot!”

While bittersweet, Coach Dorsey recalls, “Track meets generally last 5-6 hours. Seeing athletes cheer each other on well into the night is a very rewarding experience.”

As for Boys’ Track & Field, headed by Coach Quinn Geraghty, school records were broken all around:

• Shot Put – 47-9 (Jayiem Gilkes)
• Pole Vault – 12-0 (Daniel Chung)
• 400m – 50.82 (Steven Longo)
• 200m – 23.43 (Gustavo Costa)
• 1000m 2:56.55 (Fernando Ramos Garcia)
• 4×400 Relay
• 4×800 Relay
• Distance Medley Relay

Coach Geraghty feels as though the NJIC Conference Championship held the team’s best performance, where the boys took 3rd place (only missing by 2 points!):

• New school record and team NJIC Conference record – 4×400 (Gustavo Costa, Nathan Bello, Yannick Fall and Steven Longo)
• Top 6 in respective events – Daniel Chung (Pole Vault), Jakub Slezak (Pole Vault), Yannick Fall (400m) and Jayiem Gilkes (Shot Put)

Senior Antoine Rowe, who has been running with Boys’ Track & Field for three years and has been crowned a captain, gives compelling advice for younger Track & Field athletes, “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. After your first season, you will improve from that point on. Don’t doubt yourself constantly. Stressing and doubting will do nothing but make your time running miserable. Have fun and keep running. Don’t quit.”

Rowe feels that two underclassmen to look out for are Gabriel Cespedes and Kalel Zenteno-Prado.

Coach Geraghty reflects on the senior class as they move up, “This is going to be a tough class to see graduate. They are such a talented group of athletes with outstanding character and leadership. But at the same time, I can’t wait to see what they accomplish as they continue to branch out.”

“Thank you for always being there for me when I was down. You made my running career amazing and memorable. I will never forget the late night bus rides coming home from track meets, and the laughs we shared at practices,” Rowe speaks to his teammates and coaches sincerely.

Coach Geraghty reminisces on past times he’s shared with the team as well, “Some of my favorite memories are simply just talking with the athletes during our warmups, telling jokes and enjoying our time together. We have some awesome characters on this team, and it is a joy getting to work with them day by day.”

Bowling Team 

The bowlers this year demonstrated significant dedication and effort– taking home the trophy at the State Quarter Final Match against Lodi High School, alongside junior, and Captain, Alexander Pilovsky bowling a high series of 798 in three games, Coach Rachel Lennon and Coach Joseph Malyack are ecstatic, but sad to see the seniors graduate.

“My bowlers are some of the hardest working students in the school with great personalities as well,” Coach Malyack explains, “I am always sad to see the seniors go, but this year is harder than most. We had a bunch of seniors really step up to a varsity role and have an immense improvement over previous years.” Mirroring this, Coach Lennon echoes, “They’ve been important to the team’s positive culture and success. Their leadership, both on and off the lanes, will be greatly missed.”

Pilovsky hit a lot of personal records this season:

• Bowled a 798 series in one game
• Recognized for NJIC Bowler of the Week
• Bowled a 208 and ranked #80 in the state at the State Individual Tournament

“This team showed great sportsmanship by consistently demonstrating respect for their opponents, and each other. They were quick to offer encouragement, even during tough matches, and always maintained a positive attitude,” Coach Lennon inputs.

Coach Lennon also recognizes the team’s their endless school spirit, “The constant fist bumps, handshakes, and cheers created a supportive and fun environment.” She notes their consistent mindset for growth, “Even when facing challenges, the players displayed a willingness to learn and improve. They were receptive to feedback, practiced diligently, and celebrated each other’s progress. They never gave up.”

On the team’s senior night on Feb. 6, 2025, the bowlers felt a mix of nerves and excitement but were ultimately eager to get out there and compete. “I was nervous because all eyes were on us,” senior Anitza Caraballo shared, “but the night ended up going really well!”

Fellow senior Jonathan Matias was joined by his loved ones—with his aunts, cousins, and friends present, he felt supported. “Emotionally, I wasn’t nervous,” he explains, adding that one should try not to overthink the game, “You just gotta bowl!”

Caraballo spoke on the mindset that underclassmen should develop on the team, “Have fun and don’t beat yourself up too much if you’re not doing well. Try your hardest and I think that’s the only thing that matters.” Caraballo advises new players to apply themselves to the sport because once it is treated as a competition, it becomes a much more rewarding experience.

Junior Braden Rhode also provides encouraging advice to younger bowlers, “Just keep trying new things. Not every one style will be for you– just find your own!”

The team nearly unanimously agrees that their game against Lodi High School was their best. “They started beating us, but we came back,” Matias proudly relays, with Rhode agreeing, “We barely won that one!” Pilovsky, on the other hand, felt that their game against Hasbrouck Heights High School was a commendable match, “They were a great team this year. It was a very close game; the first game we lost by 20, but we came back the next.”

The upperclassmen had a few up-and-coming bowlers on the team they wanted to shout out! Caraballo and Pilovsky felt that freshman Madison Lepore stood out as an admirable bowler. “This was Maddy’s first year bowling and I thought she did really good,” Caraballo vouched, with Pilovsky similarly stating, “She’s improving and she will get even better during the off-season!” Rhode listed freshman Jay Creighton as a bowler to look out for, “He’s shown a lot of improvement and I am confident he will do great next year.”

The bowlers are quick to acknowledge the invaluable support they have received from their coaches throughout the season. Matias shares, “Thank you for supporting me and giving me advice on how to become a better bowler.” Rhode expresses, “I’m grateful for their constant support and positive attitude, no matter the situation. Both coaches are incredibly kind, and I truly appreciate them.”

Bowling is a sport that often goes underestimated, but the bowlers truly understand the skill and commitment it fosters. Caraballo offers advice to the underclassmen, “Branch out and explore new sports or clubs to see what you enjoy! Bowling is underrated, and it can teach you a lot more than you think.” Pilovsky also speaks to the supportive environment of Becton Bowling, “The players are incredibly supportive and kind. No matter whether we win or lose, we’re always there for each other.”

Boys’ Basketball

The Boys’ Basketball Team had a fantastic season, achieving several notable victories! Coached by Coach Robert Zimmermann and Coach Dan Balaban, this group of players was exemplary in their skill:

• 1,000 Points (Adrian Rozon)
• 1st Team All-League (Daniel Wallner & Adrian Rozon)
• 2nd Team All-League (Jonathan Palsi)
• All-League Honorable Mention (Nicholas Mosca)

Players agreed that their game against Waldwick High School at their Christmas Tournament was their most significant win. Junior Selim El Hetawy narrates, “We went down in the first quarter by about 20, then we fought hard the rest of the game and Adrian Rozon made the winning shot. It had the whole gym shaking!” Junior Daniel Wallner cites their home-game against Woodridge High School as one of their best, “It was just a very intense and close game.”

On their Senior Night, which took place on Feb. 12, 2025 against Pompton Lakes High School, they may not have come out victorious, but their spirit, determination and hope was present the whole night. Captain Adrian Rozon described how he felt, “Playing on my senior night was a mix of pride and nostalgia, knowing it was one of my last home games with teammates who had become like family. We didn’t end up winning, but I had a good time playing with my teammates.”

Fellow teammate, senior Nicholas Mosca recounted the game as “electric, yet sad and heart-wrenching.” Playing such an important game with the people who have been by his side since freshman year was an emotional experience for Mosca, but the energy in the room was undeniable.

“My advice to the underclassmen would be to embrace every moment, work hard and cherish the friendships you build because these years will fly by faster than you realize,” Rozon offered to his younger peers, furthering, “If I could go back to my first year on the basketball team, I’d tell myself to trust the process, stay patient and focus on improvement rather than perfection because growth takes time and consistency.” A general piece of advice that many players gave was to stay active in the off-season – joining a summer league and keeping fit is vital!

Our players look up to each other, demonstrating a strong sense of respect and sportsmanship. Senior Dylan Bethea lists his classmate Ashton Reyes as a major motivator for him to join Becton Basketball, “When I came here, I had a big gap between my seasons, but I was friends with him first and we went to the YMCA together to play basketball.”

Bethea also became a role model for younger players this season, lending advice when he could and helping out as much as possible. He believes that a player who is on the up-and-coming is Joseph Caramagna, “Joey is an underdog. He was injured for the first half of the season, but when he came back he outperformed his teammates. He scored a lot, hustled a lot, and had a chance to play at the varsity level.”

“For my coaches, I just want to thank them for all the effort and time they put into our program. Coach Zimmerman gave us motivation. When we were all feeling down, he made sure we focused on the game and played to the best of our ability,” El Hetawy praised on behalf of his coaches.

For his teammates, Bethea expresses, “I want to thank all my teammates. During times when I had bad games or performances, they kept encouraging me–  reminding me of what I was capable of.”

Girls’ Basketball Team

Following suit with setting school records, our Girls’ Basketball Team certainly had their fair share of wins! Coached by Coach Michael Ryan, these three seniors on the team broke school records:

• 1,970 Career Points (Katie Reiner)
• 1,000 Rebounds (Analiz Feliz)
• 400 Career Assists (Francesca Buda)

Reiner went on to have many individual successes:

• Surpassed 300 career 3-pointers
• 1st Team All-League
• 2nd Team All-County
• Bergen County’s Female Athlete of the Week

Coach Ryan lists three characteristics of the team: grit, dedication and resilience. “My favorite memories are watching my players enjoy the accomplishments they achieved, and knowing that all the hard work they put in paid off at the end,” he attests warmly, also nodding towards the seniors, “It’s always tough to let go of the seniors, this year is especially so because there are so many that have been with me for four years and have accomplished so much. They have put Becton Girls’ Basketball on the map.”

Ryan also reminisces on the team’s best performance, which was at the Bergen Invitational Final where they went up against Northern Highlands High School and won by 19 points, winning the tournament.

The team’s Senior Night, which took place on Jan. 24, 2025, held a lot of mixed but overall positive emotions. Reiner shares, “Reality hit that it was my last year here at Becton, and playing with the girls I have been playing with for so long. I was very proud of our team but obviously upset that it was coming to an end. Senior night was very heartwarming with all the decorations and the speech that Coach gave.”

Alyson Alcantara was full of gratitude on senior night, “I was happy to play with my teammates knowing that it’s the last ride together. My overall emotions that night were excited and happy. I appreciate everything the parents did- the posters, balloons, the cake and the gifts. My teammates and I were so grateful.”

Junior Shania Healy gives a piece of advice for the underclassmen, “Don’t take the time with the seniors for granted. They helped me when I felt intimidated as a freshman, always being so easy to talk to. During drills, I would often go up to Analiz Feliz and ask her for advice, especially during press breaks.”

Fellow seniors also provided some seasoned advice. Reiner guides, “One piece of advice is to always put your mind to it and never give up. The hard work will pay off as long as you are giving 100% at all times. If you truly want to do something, you have to put your all in for it to happen.”

Alcantara takes another approach, providing a necessary point of view, “I would tell the underclassmen to have fun and continue to work hard in this sport. Hard work is a big one, but Coach has always told us to also enjoy ourselves when we play. It is something I think would help the underclassmen as they take on the next basketball season.”

For the coaches, nothing but kind and heartfelt words are spoken. Reiner sincerely shares, “There are no words that fully do them justice. They have been the biggest supporters since day one and nothing could have been done without them. They always gave us 100% even if they had a bad day, and that’s why we were able to succeed. Coach Ryan has helped me get to where I am with basketball and without him, who knows if our team would have succeeded the way we did.”

Alcantara shares a similar view of Coach Ryan, “Coach Ryan is not like any other coach – he taught me a lot of life lessons. I would enjoy it when he would ask me about my internship and ask me about my college plans. He always had advice for me no matter what the situation was.”

Reiner and Alcantara also have amazing words for their teammates alike. Alcantara speaks to her peers and her friends, “For my teammates, I want to thank them for always being so supportive since my first year of basketball. They were always my biggest cheerleaders whether I was playing JV or Varsity. If I had questions about anything, they would help me and teach me until I understood. A big shout out to my good friend Shania for always being there for me during the basketball season. Her kind words always inspired me to keep working hard.”

Reiner additionally opens up with some encouraging words, “For the seniors, I am deeply going to miss them and I wish them so much luck in the future. I know they are going to do great things. For the underclassmen, keep working towards your dream and you will get there.  Shania and Jade, stay dedicated and thank you for all the good memories. You guys were a huge part of our team!”

Wrestling Team

The Becton-Wood-Ridge Wrestling Team had an outstanding winter season, headed by Coaches Daniel Farina and Fiona Watson.

Individual successes were rampant, with 8 20-match winners including captains Alex VanHerk, Matthew Rosas and Javier Pelaez. Astonishingly, Becton surpassed their previous record of a 20-win season and fought their way to a 22-win season!

“The last time Becton had a 20-win season was 2011. Prior to this time, it was very rare to wrestle more than 15-20 dual meets in a season. Twenty-two wins is a record, partially because of the amount of times that we wrestled and partially because of the fact that this team did not accept losing. We also had a lot of depth from 150lbs to heavyweight, which made it very hard for teams to beat us,” Coach Farina divulges.

Wrestler Kailey Mount faced many individual wins this season, both in and outside of Becton:

• 2nd Team All-North Jersey at Post-Season Honors
• 2nd Team BCWCA All-County
• 6th in the region
• 2nd at the BCWCA County Tournament
• 2nd at the Garfield Holiday Tournament
• 2nd at Rumble in the Pines
• 5-6th at Queen of the East
• 3rd at the Cutters Classic

Coach Fiona says that she has seen “teamwork, leadership and mental toughness” from the wrestlers. “The team’s best performances would be beating some league match opponents who we struggled with in past years. I would also say the match against Secaucus was a big win,” she shares.

As for senior departures, Coach Fiona is going to especially miss Kailey Mount, Javier Pelaez and Alex Vanherk “because I personally worked with them in the offseasons and they all grew as athletes through wrestling.”

“What stood out to me was the reaction of the team after a loss against Lyndhurst,” Coach Farina recalls, citing a transformational moment with his team, “I challenged the team to start taking things more seriously and to expect more of themselves. We proceeded to win 11 straight matches and put ourselves in a position to make the states.” Coach Fiona talks about an uplifting instance with her girls, “I enjoyed seeing the girls’ team build bonds and help coach each other at tournaments.”

On the team’s Senior Night, which took place on Feb. 11, 2025, Mount recounted a bittersweet feeling, “I’ve really grown with the team and we really became a family this year. I’m definitely going to miss it, but my wrestling journey doesn’t stop at Becton – there’s bigger things to come.”

Mount advises the underclassmen to stay resilient and be supportive teammates, encouraging them to lift each other up after tough matches. “Wrestling is 90% mental – physically you can do anything, your body can push to amazing lengths, but at the end of the day you have to be mentally tough.”

Freshman Reehan Shaikh views the wrestling team as a legacy and a program “built to endure.” With respect for his coaches and teammates, Shaikh writes a heartfelt anecdote, “To the seniors: You set the standard. You carried this team and its responsibilities through the years, led by example, and left behind a legacy that will not be forgotten. To my teammates: Our time is now. This program isn’t built on individuals—it’s built on unity, on sacrifice, on an unbreakable bond. Next season, we will rise. To my coaches: You didn’t just teach us how to wrestle—you taught us how to fight, how to endure and how to believe. Your dedication to this program, to each of us, is what makes this team more than just a group of athletes. It makes it a family.”

Wood-Ridge wrestler Jack Cannizzaro gives his insight as a player who achieved 20+ wins this season. “Don’t get too high on your wins, and too low on your losses,” he advises, also mentioning, “Get a lot of wrestling in during the offseason, it’s the best way to get ahead of the competition!”

Mount leaves a lasting message for those who have supported her throughout her journey, “Thank you to everyone who’s helped me become not only the wrestler that I am but the person that I am.” Mount will be committing to Felician University and continuing her wrestling career.

As this winter season has come to a close and the spring season is underway, Becton’s athletes leave behind more than just records and medals—they leave behind a standard of hard work, discipline, and commitment that sets the tone for the seasons ahead.