ALJ 2024 Senior Athletic Awards
Clark Public Schools
The Arthur L. Johnson Athletic Department held their 2024 Senior Athletic Awards on June 05, 2024. The evening, sponsored by the Crusader Athletic Booster Club, was held at the Gran Centurions in Clark.
All the Senior Student Athletes, their Athletic Teams, and their seasons were highlighted by their coaches while handing out plaques and awards to the student athletes. Over 95 senior athletes were handed out a “Booster Club Achievement Plaque,” which signifies all of the sports programs that the senior athlete participated in throughout his or her high school career.
The program continued with the acknowledgements of all of the student athletes that will be continuing their academic and athletic careers playing the sports they love in College. The following ALJ High School Seniors will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level:
- Zoey Brown – Field Hockey – TCNJ – Lions – D3
- Patrick Cook – Lacrosse – Montclair State University – Red Hawks – D3
- Cassandra Gloster – Volleyball – Delaware Valley University – Rams – D3
- Brooke Hilton – Softball – Rutgers Newark – Scarlet Raiders – D3
- Krista LaBianca – Softball – Montclair State University – Red Hawks – D3
- Emilio Menicucci – Football – University of New Haven – Chargers – D2
- Joey Ortega – Wrestling – Kutztown University – Golden Bears – D2
- C. J. Pina – Football – Kean University – Cougars – D3
- Valeria Sourimto – Fencing – Boston College – Eagles – D1
- Robert Tyra – Lacrosse – Merrimack College – Warriors – D1
- Ava Wood – Field Hockey – Ursinus – Grizzly Bears – D3
The evening culminated with the announcement of multiple awards and scholarships.
The 3rd Annual Timothy Poskay Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship was presented to Patrick Cook.
In its third year, the Timothy Poskay Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship was presented to a senior student athlete that participated in the sport of boys’ lacrosse.
“Timmy” was an avid fan of Crusader Athletics. While attending ALJ High School, he participated in Football, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse. He continued as a fan of Johnson Athletics (specifically lacrosse) while his younger brother played, and he even went on to be the junior varsity coach for a couple of seasons with Coach Anthony Calandra and Coach Lou VanBergen. Tim was a strong athlete, but his athletic ability paled in comparison to the contributions he brought to the teams he was part of. He was one of the funniest people many of us knew and his infectious personality was nothing short of contagious. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing Tim has a story to share about him. He was truly the brightest light in every room he entered. In his memory Timmy’s family offered a $1,000 scholarship to a member of the lacrosse team who exemplifies the intangible characteristics that Timmy possessed … the ability to positively affect the demeanor of every practice and a desire to simply play for the pure love of the game.
The 8th Annual Richard Superak Scholarships were presented to Zoey Brown (Field Hockey), Ava Wood (Field Hockey), Dillon Cahill (Basketball), and Robert Tyra (Lacrosse).
The Richard Superak Field Hockey, Basketball, & Lacrosse Scholarships are presented to senior student athletes each year. Originally a field hockey scholarship, recently the Superak family expanded the scholarship to include a basketball and a lacrosse player as well. Richard Superak became a fan of Johnson Crusader Field Hockey when his granddaughter, Morgan Atanasio, began playing in the fall of 2006. After winning both a County title and a State Sectional championship while she was in high school, Morgan went on to have an illustrious career at Hobart William Smith College. Morgan attributes much of her success in college to the discipline she acquired during her time as a student-athlete at ALJ. Mr. Superaks’ love of ALJ sports continued on as four more of his grandchildren arrived at ALJ. John Atanasio played football and lacrosse. John went on to play football at Delaware Valley University. Cameron Hund played soccer, & competed in both swimming and track and field, and Brandon Hund played basketball and lacrosse. He went on to play at Towson University for 4 years, 3 years as a captain, and a fifth year at Rutgers, earning an MBA. Aidan Hund followed Brandon in playing basketball and lacrosse. All five grandchildren attribute much of their success in high school and college to the discipline they acquired as a student athlete at ALJ and the love they received from their families, especially their Pop Pop. This year, the family continues a scholarship foundation in his name that will assist in the collegiate efforts of former Crusader Field Hockey, Basketball and Lacrosse players.
Annual Jeffrey Felter – Michael Sot Memorial Scholarshipwas presented to Steven Vigliotti.
On May 9th, nine years ago, the baseball team honored our 1974 alumni with a 40th Year Anniversary of the 1974 State Sectional Championship Baseball Team. The day was highlighted by the announcement that our alumni would be donating a scholarship in honor of one of their classmates that had passed away. This same group reached out a few years ago and asked if they could expand the scholarship and honor Michael Sot along with their friend.
6th Annual Louis Peragallo Scholarships were presented to Kailiegh Netland & Joey Ortega
Louis Peragallo was a beloved figure throughout the township of Clark and was an admired athletic administrator within the entire State of NJ. Coach Peragallo was the longest tenured Athletic Director in the history of ALJ High School and has both a street leading to our turf field and our lower gymnasium named after him due to the impact he had on anyone who ever crossed paths with him. His memory continues to live on through the scholarships that bear his name.
Investor Savings U.C.I.A.C. Scholarships were awarded to Antonio Rafoe, Leah Scepkowski, Jillian Duffy, Sean Joy, Sean Asgaralli, Martin Venezio, and Julian Bencivenga.
Executive Director of the U.C.I.A.C. and Clark School District Board of Education member, Mr. Tom Lewis, assisted byU.C.I.A.C. Executive Board Member Kevin Tenpenny, annually presents multiple Investor Savings U.C.I.A.C. Scholarships to deserving senior student athletes. Throughout the year, ALJ High School collaborates with the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference to host many Union County Tournament games and Championships. This partnership allows us to showcase our wonderful facilities, but more importantly it affords us the ability to present several scholarships to deserving senior student athletes at our yearly banquet.
Booster Club President, Mr. Jimmy Minniti, next presented the ALJ Booster Club Outstanding Athlete Awards and Book Scholarships.
The recipients for the Outstanding Athlete Awards wereKrista LaBianca and Emilio Menicucci.
The recipients for the Book Scholarship were Ava DeMarco, Veronica Parzych, Lacey Vill and Joey Ortega.
The Thomas Santaguida Sportsmanship Scholarship…the Booster Club recognizes Tom Santaguida for all his efforts and professionalism while serving as the Athletic Director at ALJ for six years. Tom was a model of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity and an example for all of us to follow. In his memory, the ALJ Booster Club annually awards scholarships to students who exhibit the qualities that Tom was so well known for. The recipients always treated teammates with respect, they won and lost with dignity, they respected the judgment of officials, and accepted seriously the responsibility and privilege of representing ALJ and the communities of Clark and Garwood.
Recipients for the Thomas Santaguida Sportsmanship Scholarship: Elisabeth Brighouse, Kaitlyn DOnkersloot, Thomas Huff, and Steven Vigliotti.
The Athletic Director, Gus Kalikas, had this to say about the event: “The Senior Athletic Awards are a wonderful event that allowed the administration, teachers, coaches, parents, and student athletes a chance to reflect on four wonderful years competing as an Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusader while honoring our senior student athletes for their remarkable accomplishments. Although the contributions from this senior class were great and will be missed, we look forward to seeing what they can accomplish in college over the next four years.
