As the season comes to a close, the Becton Baseball team reflects on a year of hard work, growth, and unforgettable moments both on and off the field.
This spring season was filled with standout performances, unforgettable plays, and record-breaking achievements across the board.
Becton Boys’ Volleyball
With a great end to their second year, the Boys’ Volleyball Team cemented their place in Becton Athletics. Freshman Tyde Tallakson made 2nd Team All-League while being #1 in the state for Freshman Setters and in the Top 5 Setters in the NJIC, Sophomore Kunsang Khamba was deemed Player of the Week and made 2nd Team All-League, Junior Pablo Gelabert made 1st Team All-League with an All-County Honorable Mention and Junior Thiago Manrique made 3rd in the NJIC for Blocks!
“Some of my favorite memories are watching the boys put the little things we work on in practice together and meshing as a team to play the volleyball we know we can in a high-stress situation, whether it is running plays, getting a killer block, or digging a solid hit from a college-recruited volleyball player,” Head Boys Coach Eduardo Perdomo shares earnestly, describing the team as energetic, driven and ambitious.
Reflecting on the season’s end and the legacy of his first group of athletes, Coach Perdomo shares, “It is bittersweet to see my seniors leave because they are my original squad that helped us create the team, but it brings me joy to see how they grew and developed as athletes, and knowing how they will continue to play beyond high school, whether it is in club or college.”
On their Senior Night on May 7, 2025, the seniors played against Leonia High School at a home game. “Senior night was fun because we got to play a whole match with just seniors. Normally we don’t include all seniors at the same time, but we were able to play the whole senior match, and that was really cool,” Senior Tenzin Gungpa shares about the night. Khumba expresses the bittersweet feeling as a sophomore, “I’m not a senior but I felt emotional for all the seniors that are leaving and that I won’t see next year.”
Players provide the best advice they can for incoming athletes. Junior Gabriel Santana advises to always keep learning and practicing, “Don’t stop no matter what.” Khamba echoes, “Don’t get into your own head and always think positively and remember to have fun.” Gungpa relays to underclassmen, “Keep pushing and don’t settle for less because you can always strive to be even better.”
Team members feel that there are a few standout players to look out for in the coming years: Tyde Tallakson, Kunsang Komba, Simon Colorado, Pablo Gelabert, Thiago Manrique, Gabriel Santana and Tristan Ramirez, all who have shown immense commitment and improvement.
“The team jumped into this learning enthusiastically, and the team saw about four times as many wins as we did last year. In addition, many players grew mentally in how they approach challenges in the sport and in how they respond to playing in difficult situations,” Assistant Coach Edward Donovan praises, “This year, players were quicker to help each other or offer advice when needed for newer players, and the team as a whole was unified more than last year. Everyone is hyping each other up and encouraging more effort, leading to more growth.”
Santana shows his appreciation towards his coaches and teammates, “Thank you for an amazing season and being able to spend it with an amazing team.” Gungpa wants to thank his coaches for their support throughout the season, “We had some rough moments but we just came back better, we became more bonded. I want to thank my coaches for helping not just me but the whole team improve over the seasons. Even though we had an harder season last year, they stayed with us and pushed us more.”
Becton Baseball
Sophomore Austin Reiner achieved his 100th Career Strikeout, which Coach Lind explains is “something that doesn’t happen often for underclassmen.” Junior Lucas Siedlarczyk batted 300 while making 1st Team All-League.
“Over the course of my 4 years with the program, our biggest ideology was to set a culture. The best culture that we set was being a family. There are plenty of baseball programs out there but I doubt how close knit they are compared to ours,” Coach Lind uplifts, “Our players also never quit. When games got ugly or time got slim, the athletes never wavered. They continued to push each other every single day and every single pitch. Our players were resilient.”
Baseball’s Senior Night took place on May 29, 2025 against Cliffside Park. Siedlarczyk describes the night as “less competitive,” explaining that it was more of a fun, laid back game than anything– as it was not your typical game.
Coach Lind expresses recalling the memory, “One of the best games from this year was our Senior Night. Instead of a traditional Senior Night vs. another team, we decided to hold an intersquad scrimmage where the seniors would draft their teammates and play for bragging rights. The intensity and love in that game was unimaginable.”
Many players on the team have been in the game their entire lives. Reiner, who’s been playing for 13 years, says that underclassmen should “work hard, make your presence known, and earn your spot,” reflecting the team’s driven, yet supportive spirit.
“My teammates and coaches feel more like a family, and this team is closer than anything I have ever been a part of before. They welcomed me as a transfer student and made me feel at home,” Siedlarczyk shares sincerely.
Reiner thanks his coaches for “pushing us to our limits because that made us better, and it showed.” Sophomore Lucas Compres addresses his coaches and fellow players, “Teammates, continue to grow and put work in this winter. Thank you for being like family. Coach Lind, thank you for everything. I hope you love your new team too. Coach Cap, thank you for pushing to my fullest potential, and Coach Hoagie, thank you for being a great guy.”
Lind leaves the team with their mantra, “Hum now!”
Becton Girls’ Track & Field
For Girls’ Track & Field, Coach David Dorsey shares his sadness over losing the team’s seniors but also praises their dedication. “We have four school record holders graduating, and their loss will be deeply felt,” he explains. Still, he adds, “It’s always rewarding to see an athlete improve on their previous performance and celebrate their success.”
These seniors have achieved a few notable feats:
- Javelin – 110-1 (Analise Feliz)
- Mile – 5:12.56 (Mika Tampadong)
- Discus – 109-8 (Marisa Sclafani)
Coach Dorsey describes the team as determined, positive and full of courage, we certainly have seen these attributes throughout the year. He feels that their best performance was winning 2nd Place at the NJIC Conference Meet.
Reflecting on the achievement, Sclafani comments, “It felt good to break the school record. I have been working toward this goal for four years now, so when I broke it I truly was overjoyed.” Her dedication to the sport runs deep – spending hours analyzing technique, perfecting her form at practice and committing to strength training at the gym.
More than just a personal victory, Sclafani takes pride in setting a new standard for future athletes, saying, “It felt nice to make history for my team and set new records for the younger classmen to break in the following years.”
Becton Boys’ Track & Field
On the Boys’ side of Track & Field, the Wildcats capped off a historic season filled with championship titles, school records, and standout performances.
- NJIC National Division Champions
- Coach Quinn Geraghty named NJIC National Division Coach of the Year
- 4×100 – 44.60 (Gustavo Costa, Sean Palsi, Yannick Fall, Nathan Bello)
- 4×200 – 1:33.17 (Yannick Fall, Sean Palsi, Steven Longo, Gustavo Costa)
- 4×400 – 3:31.89 (Yannick Fall, Mike Lio, Nathan Bello, Steven Longo)
- 4×800 – 8:17.03 (Max Thorn, Fernando Ramos Garcia, Antoine Rowe, Steven Longo)
- Sprint Medley – 3:39.70 (Steven Longo, Yannick Fall, Gustavo Costa, Max Thorn)
- Distance Medley 11:25.18 (Antoine Rowe, Mike Lio, Fernando Ramos Garcia, Max Thorn)
- 4×1600 19:58.54 (Antoine Rowe, Kalel Zenteno Prado, Brennan Villegas, Gabe Cespedes)
After tying with Rutherford last spring for a share of the division crown, the team returned this season determined to finish what they started. Their mission was clear: to win the NJIC Division Championship. With fierce leadership from seasoned athletes like Gustavo Costa, Max Thorn, Dan Chung, Jon Palsi, and Nick Mosca, Becton surged to a jaw-dropping 210-point victory at the championship meet, outpacing second-place Rutherford by 88 points.
The team’s path to the title was built on pivotal moments. An early win at the Pawlowski Relays—where they bested powerhouse programs like Ridgewood and Old Tappan—set the tone. Later in the season, a key tri-meet victory over previously undefeated Rutherford and Lyndhurst confirmed that Becton was the team to beat.
At the NJIC National Division Championship, the Wildcats delivered across all areas. Deshawn Witter won the long jump, Jon Palsi took gold in the javelin, and Dan Chung claimed first in pole vault. Max Thorn won both the 800m and 1600m, while Steven Longo doubled in the 200m and 400m—breaking the school record in the 400 with a time of 50.20. Yannick Fall swept the 110m and 400m hurdles, and Costa tied the school record in the 100m at 11.29.
Coach Quinn Geraghty, who was named NJIC National Division Coach of the Year for a second time, credits the win to the team’s shared commitment. “When you can find consistency in the worst of conditions—weather, soreness, ailments—your team has a great chance at being champions,” he reflects. “This award really reflects the hard work of our athletes and the support of our coaching staff. The future is bright—we have a strong underclass coming up, and I’m excited to continue pushing the program forward.”
Some athletes wanted to relay their advice to younger and incoming students. Sophomore Julian Perry says “not to be scared to ask coaches for help.” Senior Max Thorn tells underclassmen to be consistent in their training, “If you stack up days, then weeks, then months, you can get really fast. Don’t rush it, just trust the process.” Nathan Bello, junior, tells younger players to “pay attention to your upperclassmen and work hard.”
Perry expresses his gratitude toward both his teammates and coaches, saying, “To my teammates—keep growing, and thank you for welcoming me onto the team. To the coaches—thank you for guiding me and helping me succeed.”
Becton Boys’ Tennis
Displaying determination, discipline and mental toughness, as attested by Head Coach Damien Daniello, the Boys’ Tennis Team had a great year! “Being able to compete and win matches at a varsity level with six out of the seven starters being freshmen was an accomplishment on its own,” Coach Daniello praises on behalf of his team.
As a senior, Akash Sathish feels happy that he was able to perfect his slice shot after three years on the team. Freshman Reehan Shaikh says that he is “proud of the growth I made this season – from learning how to serve and rally, to improving my positioning, match awareness, and ability to stay calm under pressure. I took every match as an opportunity to learn, and I’ve seen noticeable improvement in both my technical and mental game.’ Freshman Reilly Chan learned how to play tennis within a month, proud of himself for that feat!
As for some words of guidance, Shaikh says, “Stay consistent, stay coachable and never underestimate the value of hard work. Tennis requires discipline, focus and patience – qualities that build over time. Don’t get discouraged by slow progress; every practice, every match contributes to your development.”
“It’s not so much that I am sad to see the seniors go, as I am proud of them,” Coach Daniello explains on behalf of the graduating seniors, “Sathish has played for three seasons, and he has always given his all in every match. Watching him progress and enjoy the sport more every season is its own reward. Brian Martinez decided to play this season, with no prior experience. It’s good to see that he now has a grasp on what playing tennis is all about!”
Shaikh directly addresses his coaches and teammates, “To the coaches – thank you for your guidance, patience and encouragement throughout the season. To my teammates, thank you for the support and teamwork. And to Akash, thank you for leading by example and setting a tone of professionalism and sportsmanship.”
Sathish expresses his deep appreciation for both his coaches and teammates as well, “Coach Daniello is one of the best coaches I’ve had, he’s motivated me to continue to play and fight the hardships. As for my teammates, I’m proud of how they stuck with it—despite early setbacks, they kept going and picked themselves back up.”
Becton Softball
This season, Becton Softball racked up a series of achievements – they were nominated as a Team of the Week in North Jersey! As for players, Seniors Francesca and Nina Buda both recorded their 100th Career Hit! Francesca, Nina, senior Katie Reiner and senior Ava Romano made 1st Team All-NJIC Meadowlands League. F. Buda also had 192 strikeouts as a pitcher. Junior Kaylee Tuttle made 2nd Team All-League and junior Morgan Decker made Honorable Mention. N. Buda made 3rd Team All-Bergen County while being nominated as a Player of the Week in Bergen County.
“I’m very sad to see our seniors go. They have been at the varsity level since their freshman year. They have all contributed one way or another. Will be missed!” Head Coach Joseph Coffaro commends, “We have had many memories. I love to see the team chemistry. This season has been better than the past, having some of our players hit milestones and personal achievements.”
Softball Senior Night took place on May 27, 2025 against Wood-Ridge High School. After a winning game, Reiner reflects, “It felt very heartwarming to play on senior night as it was my last senior night for Becton. I was very emotional..” F. Buda felt bittersweet, “I’m sad to know that everything is coming to a close and my time with Becton and Becton sports in general will be over soon.”
“Live in the moment more and enjoy the early years while they last because senior year goes by fast,” F. Buda reminds underclassmen. Reiner adds, “Don’t take anything for granted. Focus on yourself, your team, and block all the negativity out.”
The team feels that some underclassmen to look out for are Kaylee Tuttle, Kiara Alfaro and Paige Salo.
Reiner follows up with words for her coaches and teammates, “I want to thank my teammates for a great last season and making it very memorable. To Coach, I want to thank him for the last 4 years and helping me grow not just as a player, but also as a person.” F. Buda also relays, “I wish everyone the best for the future seasons!”
Congratulations to all our athletes during the 2024-2025 Spring season! Go Wildcats!
