VOTE: What was the best high school sports moment of 2023 in North Jersey?
This year didn't disappoint in North Jersey, as teams from Bergen and Passaic counties won state championships and individuals broke records.
What was the very best moment of 2023? Let us know by voting in the poll at the bottom of this page.
Voting closes when the ball drops.
Aaron Baltaytis breaks records in the pool
Tenafly's Aaron Baltaytis ended his high school career as one of the most decorated swimmers in Bergen County history by winning Meet of Champions titles in the butterfly, backstroke and medley relay. He lowered his own state record in the butterfly and broke county records in all three in 2023. Tenafly's winning medley relay team was the first boys relay from Bergen County to win a state title in nine years.
Bergen Catholic wins third straight Non-Public A football title
The Crusaders stayed atop the New Jersey world by winning a third-straight Non-Public A football title at MetLife Stadium, this time 24-14 over Delbarton. They went undefeated against Garden State opponents and have only lost two in-state games in the last four seasons combined.
Don Bosco baseball completes 'triple crown'
After tying Bergen Catholic and St. Joseph for the Big North United title, the Ironmen beat the Crusaders in county and sectional finals. Don Bosco went on to beat Red Bank Catholic for the Non-Public A state championship.
Emma Keating caps career with second pole vault title
Pompton Lakes' Emma Keating cleared 13 feet to win the state pole vault championship at the State Meet of Champions for the second straight year. She was the only competitor to clear 12-6, putting the finishing touches on a dominant high school career.
IHA girls basketball stuns St. John Vianney for state title
One year after losing to St. John Vianney by a 74-36 score in the Non-Public A state final, the Immaculate Heart girls basketball team got revenge by ending the Lancers' undefeated season with a 65-55 win. St. John Vianney was the state's dominant team all year, but the Blue Eagles made big plays down the stretch to secure the win.
Jimmy Mullen wins third heavyweight wrestling title
It took until the final buzzer, but St. Joseph heavyweight Jimmy Mullen completed a takedown to earn a 5-3 win over Paramus Catholic's Max Acciardi and become the third heavyweight in New Jersey history to win three state championships.
Ramapo wins first boys basketball state crown
Making their third Group 3 state final appearance in five years, the Raiders broke through and beat Nottingham, 55-42, at Jersey Mike's Arena to win their first state championship in program history. They came up one point short against Woodrow Wilson in 2022.
Ramsey sweeps boys and girls soccer state championships
For the first time since 2013, a Bergen County school won state titles in both boys and girls soccer in the same season. Ramsey accomplished the feat in 2023 (Northern Highlands was the last to do so), with the girls beating Wall, 3-1, on the same field that the boys beat Delran, 2-0, one day earlier.
Ridgewood wins big in the spring
Over the course of several days in June, Ridgewood won state championships in boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, baseball and girls flag football. The boys lacrosse team went on to win the inaugural Kirst Cup, a tournament created to play down to one true state champion after the NJISAA got rid of the Tournament of Champions.
Rutherford wins third straight NJIC football title
The Bulldogs became the first program to win three straight NJIC football championships, beating Park Ridge, 26-7, in the first varsity start for freshman quarterback Myles Balchan. Rutherford has now won half of the eight NJIC football tournaments, which began in 2016.
St. Joseph upsets Delbarton in Non-Public A wrestling final
Delbarton held the No. 1 team ranking in New Jersey all season long, until St. Joseph shocked the Green Wave by a 28-24 score in the Non-Public A final at Jersey Mike's Arena. In the win, Mateo Sgambellone knocked off a defending state champion and James Sloan secured a pin after trailing 10-0. The win marked the Green Knights' first team championship in 25 years.
Tenalfy doubles pair makes North Jersey tennis history
A North Jersey duo had never won an NJSIAA doubles championship in the 24-year history of the event, until Kay Considine and Zoe Han knocked off the top two seeds to win the title this past fall. The pair also won the Bergen County championship at first doubles and went 18-1 on the season.
Three North Jersey girls win wrestling state titles
After winning four total individual girls wrestling titles in the first four years of the event, three North Jersey girls won gold in 2023. Jenna Filieri became North Jersey's first two-time champ, Olivia Georgia became the first champ from a Passaic County school, and Leanna Mercado became the first girl from Lodi to win a title.
Westwood's comeback win in Group 2 football final
In what was undoubtedly the best game in the two-year history of true state football championship games in North Jersey, Westwood engineered a 99-yard touchdown drive to force overtime against Rumson-Fair Haven in the Group 2 title game. The Cardinals blocked an extra point in overtime, and scored the winning touchdown and extra-point in a memorable finish.
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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: VOTE: Best high school sports moment of 2023 in North Jersey?
