Montclair Kimberley Academy

MKA's Varsity Baseball team will take on Montclair High School at Montclair State University's Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday, May 22 at 3:30 p.m. for the inaugural Berra Cup. A reception for players, coaches and family members will follow.

Congratulations to Head Coach Val Azzoli and the Boys Varsity Tennis Team for capturing the Essex County Boys' Tennis Championship. MKA's 3-2 win over Newark Academy in the semi-finals was MKA's first win over Newark Academy in Boys' Tennis in 20+ years. MKA then defeated Livingston High School 3-2 in the Finals to capture their first Essex County title since 1984!

The Montclair Kimberley Academy is pleased to announce that Jordan Raper has been appointed as Head Boys' Varsity Soccer Coach for the 2008 season.  Coach Raper will replace Huey Ferguson who has resigned in order to change careers with a position on Wall Street.
Coach Raper is currently the Director of Staff and Player Development at Ashley's Soccer in Montclair and The Soccer Domain. He currently has 60 full time staff and over 5,000 youth players under his guidance. Before moving into this position he directed the Academy program at The Soccer Domain in Montclair, having started working for the company in 1999.
Coach Raper brings a wealth of experience as a former player and coach and will be a tremendous asset to the MKA Department of Athletics and specifically, to the Boys' Soccer Team. His level of enthusiasm and clear vision for our program now and into the future bodes well for the MKA Boys' Soccer Team as we look to build upon what has been a very successful soccer tradition over the years (5 straight 'Prep B' State Championships).
Coach Raper is very familiar with the NJ youth soccer leagues and travel teams having coached numerous teams throughout his coaching career. His extensive experience and his knowledge of the game made him the perfect candidate to take over the Boys' Varsity Soccer program at MKA.

*During the recently completed 2008 Winter Athletics season, the following MKA teams, coaches and athletes achieved honors:

Boys’ Basketball
Head Coach: Tony Jones (8th Year) Record: 15-11; 2008 NJISAA Prep B State Champions Frankie Mayer ’09 Honorable Mention All-CHC; 2nd Team All-Prep B
Michael Ruzich ’09 Capt.; Honorable Mention All-CHC
Kyrie Irving ’10 CHC Player of the Year; 1st Team All-Prep B; 3rd Team All-Essex County, Star Ledger

Girls’ Basketball
Head Coach: Tony Lambert (5th Year) Record: 5-18
Kelly Bryne ’08 Capt.; Honorable Mention Hills Div., CHC
Renada Vuono ’08 Capt.; Honorable Mention Hills Div., CHC

Boys’ Fencing
Head Coach: Kerry Verrone (4th Year) Record: 4-5
(no honors)

Girls’ Fencing
Head Coach: Kerry Verrone (4th Year) Record: 9-2
Brigid Frey ’08 Capt; 2nd Team All-State Sabre, Star Ledger; 2nd Team All-State Sabre, NJIFA

Ice Hockey
Head Coach: Michael Good (3rd Year) Record: 13-8-6
John Ciardi ’08 3rd Team All-Essex County, Star Ledger
Dwight Jackson ’08 2nd Team All-Essex County, Star Ledger
John Phillips ’09 1st Team All-Essex County, Star Ledger
Brian Purcell ’09 Asst. Capt.; 1st Team All Central Red Div., NJIHL; 1st Team All-Essex County, Star Ledger
Brian Saling ’09 Honorable Mention All Central Red Div., NJIHL

Boys’ Indoor Track
Head Coach: Tom Fleming (8th Year) (no honors)

Girls’ Indoor Track
Head Coach: Tom Fleming (8th Year)
Emily Naranjo ’09 Capt.; 1st Team All-Essex County 3200m, Star Ledger
Laura Placentra ’10 2nd Team All Non-Public Pole Vault, Star Ledger

Boys’ Swimming
Head Coach: David Flocco (8th Year) Record: 2-5
Michael Regan ’08 Capt.; 2nd Team All-Essex County 100-free, Star Ledger
Jeffrey Zak ’09 2nd Team All-Essex County 200 I.M., Star Ledger

Girls’ Swimming
Head Coach: David Flocco (8th Year) Record: 3-5
Alexa Burzinski ’11 3rd Team All-Essex County 500-free, Star Ledger

Wrestling
Head Coaches: Neal Picillo (12th Year), Nate Burroughs (3rd Year) Record: 5-19
Joe Christovao ’08 Capt.; 1st Team All-Essex County, Career Record: 106-38, Star Ledger; 1st Team All-CHC
Jabari Sinclair ’08 Capt.; 2nd Team All-CHC
James Connell ’10 Honorable Mention All-CHC
Jay Leshinsky ’10 Honorable Mention All-CHC
Kenneth Tortoriello ’10 Honorable Mention All-CHC

The Montclair Kimberley Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Lance Ramer as Head Varsity Football Coach for the 2008 season.
Coach Ramer, the former MKA Assistant Football Coach/Defensive Coordinator and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach will succeed Tony Lambert, who has been appointed as the Athletic Liaison/College Counselor in MKA’s College Counseling Office.
A graduate of Rochester University, Coach Ramer was a former two-time Captain and Division III All-American Linebacker and has played professional football with the Rochester Brigade and the NJ Revolution teams.

Prior to joining the MKA faculty as a full-time math teacher and advisor in September 2004, Coach Ramer was a teacher and Assistant Varsity Football Coach at Blair Academy. Notes MKA Athletic Director Todd Smith, "Throughout his coaching career, Coach Ramer has done an outstanding job of working with young athletes to help them reach their potential both on and off the field. His enthusiastic approach and knowledge of the sport of football and his rapport with our current student athletes made him an ideal candidate for the Head Varsity Football position. We are excited that he has agreed to take on this new responsibility and know that the team is looking forward to working with him this summer. With his first-hand experience of what it takes to compete and succeed at both the high school and college level, we are confident that Coach Ramer will have an immediate impact on our squad and look forward to an exciting season ahead.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Tony Lambert for everything he has done for MKA and the football program during the past five years.  Coach Lambert’s dedication to and enthusiasm for our program and players helped lead the resurgence of Cougar Football.  Coach Lambert is not only a teacher of the game but also has a clear understanding of the role sports plays in our students’ lives.  That understanding of the balance required to be successful in both the classroom and on the field at MKA makes him the ideal candidate for the role of Athletic Liaison in College Counseling and we are excited that he will be lending his expertise to all of our MKA athletes as they venture towards playing at the collegiate level.  Coach Lambert will also continue to lead the Cougar Girls’ Basketball Team and teach Spanish at MKA."

Lance Ramer Bio:

THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY, Montclair, NJ (2004-Present)
•    Math Teacher: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II Honors, and Pre-Calculus.
•    Asst. Head Football Coach-Defensive Coordinator
•    Strength and Conditioning Coach
•    Head Middle School Basketball Coach
•    Peer Leader Program Co-Director

BLAIR ACADEMY, Blairstown, NJ (2002-2004)
•    Math Teacher
•    Coach: Assistant Varsity Football, Head JV football, and Assistant Varsity Baseball
•    Assistant Athletic Director
•    Assistant Housemaster

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER; VARSITY FOOTBALL (1997-2001)
•    2-Time Captain
•    Led Team to Conference (UCAA) Championship in 2000
•    NCAA Division III All-American (1st-2nd-3rd Team)
•    Single-Season Records in 2000: 156 Tackles, 19 Sacks, and 26 Tackles for Loss
•    School Record: 35 Sacks and 42 Tackles for Loss
•    Top Ten in the Country in Tackles – Sacks – Tackles for Loss in 2000
•    Named All ECAC First Team
•    Named Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year at UR (’00-’01)

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE
•    Rochester Brigade – AFL2 (2002)
•    NJ Revolution – C IFL (2008-Present)

Congratulations to junior foil fencer Lily Shepard, who recently took first place at Nationals (div. III), held in Illinois. In her last bout, she was down 9-14, but was able to pull off a 15-14 win to earn this national title.
Kerry Verrone, Varsity Fencing Coach

Congratulations to Danille Rode '08, Captain of the Girls' Swim Team and this winter's recipient of the MKA Captain's Award. The MKA Captain's Award is given out each season to that male or female captain who has exhibited the qualities that we look for in our team captains... leadership, dedication, respect, work ethic, and being a role model both on and off the field to his or her teammates and peers.
This winter’s award recipient is the consummate team leader. She understands that being a captain is not a popularity contest, but a responsibility to be taken very seriously; a responsibility to be a model of hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and sportsmanship. Coach Flocco states “She was one of the reasons I agreed to come back and coach swimming again. She has the innate ability to serve as the link between the coaching staff and the team - a voice of reason and calm, with a seriousness of purpose that commands and deserves our respect.”
Todd Smith, Director of Athletics

Sophomore 112-pounder Jim Connell (24-11) and senior 135-pounder Joe “Buddy” Christovao (29-6) represented The Montclair Kimberley Academy Tuesday, and both advanced to Friday’s Region 4 Quarterfinals.  Connell earned an escape point early in the third period for a 3-2 lead before registering two more on a takedown at the five-minute mark of the bout against Hasbrouck Heights/Wood-Ridge’s Ryan Spangler. The gutsy 10th-grader wrestled on top for most of the remaining minute to hang on for a 5-4 win. “This is really only Jimmy’s third year wrestling, and for him to make it to this point with some of the matches he’s won is incredible,” MKA coach Neal Picillo said. “It wasn’t the prettiest match tonight, but I’ve said it before: We are only looking to advance to the next step. Jimmy did that tonight.”
Christovao, county champ and District 14 runner-up had a 12-5 win over Rutherford’s Jesse Kolich.  Said Picillo. “Buddy has a ton of confidence and we both feel he can wrestle with the best kids in his weight class.” Picillo and Christovao only need to look as far as last weekend’s District final for proof. Christovao took Queen of Peace’s Glen Cannici, a fourth-place finisher in Atlantic City last year, to the wire before falling, 3-2.

Three MKA athletes joined Laura Placentra (Pole Vault winner at 9') at the Meet of Champions (MOC) on February 23 - juniors Emily Naranjo and Michael D'Andrea and sophomore Erin Spain.
All three athletes had top six finishes in the Non-Public B Group Championships on Feb. 16, 2008 at the Jersey City Armory. In finishing 3rd place in the girls Group Non-Public B division, Emily Naranjo set a new MKA school record in the 3200m (11:40:46) and is making her sixth trip back to the MOC competition. Michael D'Andrea also finished 3rd place overall in the boys shot put with a throw of 40' 8 3/4" for his first trip to the MOC. Erin Spain rounded out the MKA team scoring in finishing 4th place in the girls 400m with a time of 61.76 PB (personal best) and another MKA indoor track record!
Congratulations to all four athletes; they showed dedication, focus and hard work all season to reach the Meet of Champions competition.  On the day of the MOC competition, Erin Spain performed very well, placing 24th in the entire state and getting another PB in her 400m event (and another MKA school record of 61.03!)  Michael D'Andrea, Emily Naranjo and Laura Placentra  competed but fell below their normal performance level after enjoying remarkable seasons.
Tom Fleming, Varsity Track Coach

Congratulations to Coach Tony Jones and the Varsity Boys' Basketball Team who captured the first NJ Prep State Basketball Championship in school history defeating Passaic Collegiate 82-59. The Cougars were led by Kyrie Irving 32 points (13 of 14 from the free throw line), Eamon Almeida (20 points...including 6 three pointers) and Kevin Clark (12 points). Frankie Mayer and Mike Ruzich rounded out the starting five and helped the Cougars secure a win for the ages.

Todd Smith, Athletic Director

Kyrie Irving (So.) registered 47 points and 17 rebounds and Eamon Almeida (Sr.) had 14 points to lead the MKA Boys' Varsity Basketball Team to an upset win yesterday over University High (Ranked #4 in Essex County). Kyrie's 47 points is the most ever in MKA's Fairleigh S. Dickinson Gymnasium.  Kyrie's 47 points yesterday and 48 points against Cedar Grove two weeks ago are the two highest individual scoring games in New Jersey this season.
Todd Smith, Athletic Director

Sophomore Laura Placentra took her first step in securing a place at the Track & Field Meet Of Champions later this month back at the Bennett Center in Toms River. NJ. Laura became a Non-Public B State Track & Field Champion in the pole vault event on Friday evening. An incredible story, only 8 weeks ago she took up this very technical event! Laura cleared 9 feet easily to win her first State Group Championship. She is far from her potential, and learning/training weekly with one of America's great high school pole vault coaches, Tim St. Lawrence from The Flying Circus in Warwick, NY; she has already cleared even higher heights in practice ... "her ceiling" is still unknown!
On Saturday, February 16th, Laura will compete in more events -- 55m dash, 200m and high jump at the remaining Non-Public State meet. Laura joins an elite list from Head T&F Coach Tom Fleming's State Group Champions since he arrived in 2000 at MKA .... "That's MKA's 15th Group State T&F Champion," notes Fleming, "Laura has such tremendous potential in various events and her desire to compete/win makes my job the most rewarding in the world. I'm thrilled for her and feel very lucky to have her on our T&F team."
Tom Fleming, Varsity Track & Field Coach

February 6th was a great day in Cougarville! 
The Boys' Varsity Ice Hockey Team defeated Montclair High 4-2 to retain the Montclair Cup.
Senior Joe "Buddy" Christovao  captured his 100th career win and helped lead the Varsity Wrestling Team to a win over Pingry.
And
The Boys' Varsity Basketball Team defeated Wardlaw Hartridge 73-50 in the 1st Round of the NJ Prep Basketball Championship.
Todd Smith, Athletic Director

Junior Emily Naranjo (3200m) and sophomore Erin Spain (400m) both won bronze medals at the NJ Prep Indoor Track & Field Championships yesterday at The Lawrenceville School. Both girls were in highly competitive races and both were near  personal best times for their event.
Also scoring for the MKA girls' team (7th place team overall) and getting her PB (twice) was multi-event athlete sophomore Laura Placentra in the 55m dash, finishing 5th place in the Final.
All three of these young athletes will be competing at the NJSIAA State Group Championships on Feb.16th at the Jersey City Armory, and Laura Placentra will also be competing this Friday (Feb. 8th) at the Bennett Center, in Toms River, NJ for the Pole Vault state qualifier for the MOC.
Tom Fleming, Varsity Track and Field Coach

Congratulations to MKA's newest Essex County Wrestling Champion, senior Joe "Buddy" Christovao .
Buddy became the 6th Essex Wrestling Champion in MKA school history. Come out and support Buddy and the Varsity Wrestling Team on Wednesday, Feb. 6, as they wrestle Pingry at home (Middle School) at 5:00 p.m.  Buddy currently has 99 career wins and if he wins his bout, will become the 3rd wrestler in MKA history to achieve 100 career wins (Jon Bruno '02 and Brian Picillo '03).
Todd Smith, Athletic Director

Yesterday, Sunday February 3, at the District Tournament held at Wayne Hills, the girls' foil squad finished 4th and the sabre squad finished in 3rd place - that means both squads qualify for the State Squad Tournament.  In addition, senior Brigid Frey (sabre), junior Lily Shepard (foil), and sophomore Laura Polding (epee) all qualified for the State Individual Tournament.  And even bester news, perhaps, is that the entire girls' team finished 3rd overall in our District - which qualifies them for the State Fencing Sweet 16 Tournament. We have not had such success in years, and the girls are so excited.
Kerry Verrone, Varsity Fencing Coach

The boys of the MKA Middle School Basketball team were not thrown off by the late start time of last night's game against Solomon Schlechter.  They managed to bob and weave their way to another victory, 54-52, led by the amazing play of Big Tom Stevenson (8th grade). He had by far his best game of the season with two key blocked shots, powerful rebounds, and he even chipped in a few points. His performance from the foul line was a bit inconsistent...as he took five shots-making the first and not drawing rim on the next four....but it gives Big Tom something to work on in practice. Of special note: the boys have really enjoyed taking the "smaller bus" to our last few away games...it has brought them closer as a team...as their coach always says to them as they get on the bus.."pick your favorite teammate and sit on his lap."
Submitted by Kyle Chapman, Middle School Basketball Coach

Junior Emily Naranjo completed a spectacular "double" this past Saturday at the Essex County Championships, winning the gold medal (as the favorite) in the 3200m and the bronze in the 1600m event. She was the only MKA Boy or Girl Athlete to score at this Championship Track and Field Meet.
Sophomore Erin Spain also performed very well, placing 10th in the 200m and 7th in the 400m. Fellow sophomore Laura Placentra placed 15th in the 200m, and in her first ever season competing in the Girls' Pole Vault event, cleared 9 feet, setting a new MKA record -  and she has already cleared 10' 6" in practice.
On the boy's side, junior Andrew Stern (in the 400m) and freshman Lance Barnard (in the 1600m) set personal bests.
Submitted by Tom Fleming, MKA Varsity Track and Field Coach.

Junior Jim Connell set a new, unofficial school record on January 12 for the time of pinning an opponent [in 7 seconds] and the previous week, five of MKA's varsity wrestlers [half the team] got to the quarter finals [or better] at the Newark Academy Invitational.
Submitted by Bob Tortoriello, MKA parent.

We are extremely proud of our current alums who are playing at the college level and we welcome this newest group of MKA senior athletes who have been accepted early decision and have committed to play college athletics.   

Lacrosse – Rutgers University)
Joe Correia ’08 (Baseball – Brandeis University)
Rob Fortunato ’08 (Lacrosse – University of Virginia)
Charlie Gephart ’08 (Lacrosse – Williams College)
Stuart Hinds ’08 (Football – Amherst College)
John MacGregor ’08 (Baseball – Vassar College)
Brian McFeeley ’08 (Lacrosse – Amherst College)
Lindsey Moran ’08 (Lacrosse – Amherst College)
Renada Vuono ’08 (Soccer – Meredith College)
Greg Zorbas ’08 (Soccer – Carnegie Mellon University)