State of the Program: Waldwick/Midland Park football striving for another division title

Waldwick/Midland Park has established the blueprint for cooperative football programs in North Jersey.

Chronologically, the Warriors were the second Bergen County co-op (of the current four) when they formed in 2006. To date, they have proven to be the most successful, reaching sectional finals in 2013 and 2014 and winning four straight NJIC division titles.

Coach Greg Gruzdis was flattered upon finding out that a division-rival coach, Kevin Quinn of first-year co-op Cresskill/Emerson, has embraced a core Warrior philosophy.

In his State of the Program interview, Quinn told NorthJersey.com: “It’s ‘Warrior football’ over there; they don’t care what town you’re from. … We’ve adopted that a little bit. It’s ‘Cougar football’ right now.”

“That was pretty cool,” Gruzdis said in response, unsolicited. “It means people are paying attention to what we’re doing.”

These days, it’s tough not to do so. The Warriors are coming off consecutive seven-win seasons for the second time in their coach’s 14-year tenure. Flying solo, neither Waldwick nor Midland Park had done that since the late 1980s.

Success is now an expectation rather than the exception. The program’s No. 1 mantra, “hold the rope” – i.e., be ready to step in when it’s your turn to help pull the load – keeps the legacy going.

“We graduated a lot of starters [from] last year,” Gruzdis said, “but we’ve got guys ready to fill the void. It’s always a process.”

The tradition

Yes, Waldwick claimed the 1988 North 1, Group 1 title on its own. No, Midland Park never qualified for the NJSIAA tournament solo, though most of its top win-loss records came before the playoff era began in 1974.

In reality, the former football rivals have enjoyed their best days when working together. Both boroughs sent students to Midland Park High School from 1957-64, a period that produced the 1961 North Jersey Conference crown and a three-year mark of 20-4-3 just before Waldwick High opened.

The Warriors’ co-op is 93-73 in its first 17 seasons, and Gruzdis (82-44) needs four victories to become the winningest coach in the combined history of both schools.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM: Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The challenge

Overcoming inexperience seems to be the preseason focus. Roughly a half-dozen starters return, and few of those saw time on both sides of the ball.

Most encouraging is the presence of senior Bryce Hamilton, an All-North Jersey second-teamer who enters his fourth year as a starter. The halfback/linebacker/kicker was the No. 4 scorer in the area (136 points) and led the Warriors in rushing (1,152 yards, 12 TD), receiving (21 catches, 373 yards) and tackles (53) a year ago.

“Bryce is the cornerstone of what we’re going to do this year, that’s for sure,” Gruzdis said.

Hamilton and FB/DE Sean Murray are the team captains, with the latter having played all of 2022 on the defensive line while rotating in as the fourth Wing-T running back.

Expectations

Gruzdis preaches a positive mindset regardless of roster turnover. In the quest to extend the string of division titles, he tells players, “We’re going to win No. 5,” because he wants them to believe it.

Whether or not the Warriors return to the NJIC Tournament – and can take the next step after three third-place finishes in four years – may depend upon how well they can integrate newcomers at the three open positions on the offensive line.

“Our skill guys are very good,” the coach said. “We’re going to go as far as our line will take us.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Glen Rock

Sept. 8: vs. Secaucus

Sept. 14: at New Milford

Sept. 22: at Lyndhurst

Sept. 29: vs. Cresskill/Emerson

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (away)

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Waldwick/Midland Park NJ football striving for division title