My first prediction is that 2024 will be good to you.
2023 was just fine for me. Sure, I blew out my ankle and am walking around in a boot, and I basically am totally bald, and man, these extra 15, er, 25 pounds sure came out of nowhere.
What was I saying again?
Oh right. My prediction game was on point. I went a perfect 7-for-7 on the state football finals.
And looking back on my picks this time last year, well, just check out No. 20… but don’t look at No. 2.
And 25, er, 30 pounds aside, I have never felt better. North Jersey athletes gave us plenty of thrills this past year. You can walk into a gym on any given night this winter and see some of the best young athletes in the country compete, and watch the best coaches coach. You can turn a pro or college game on your screen and see North Jersey products all over.
While we wait for the calendar to flip, here are 24 of my best predictions for the upcoming year in North Jersey athletics. Make it a good one.
1. In the much-anticipated rematch, the St. Mary boys basketball team beats Wallington 52-24. There are no hard feelings, because, you know, this is sports. It’s about improving, not always the scoreboard.
2. The NJIC changes its football format, going to two divisions of 10 teams with the remaining teams in the Union Division. It leaves the last two weeks of the regular season open to stage the conference playoffs and championship.
3. In ice hockey, Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic play an exhibition game at MetLife Stadium when the ice is put in for the Stadium Series.
4. Dylan Harper scores 32 points in the Jamboree final, leading the Ironmen to a 12-point win over Ramapo.
5. Teaneck’s Lexi Carnegie scores 28 points in the Bergen County girls basketball final, but Saddle River Day holds on for another title, 58-54.
6. In the Passaic County final, Wayne Valley coach Joe Leicht shocks the world by wearing a long-sleeve shirt with his tie, instead of short sleeves. Eastside knocks off the Knights by 10.
7. Completing a remarkable comeback from a serious injury two years ago, Pascack Hills’ Ben Mandler becomes the first Bergen County pole vaulter to clear 16 feet indoors and wins the State Meet of Champions.
8. St. Joseph is the dominant North Jersey wrestling team with 10 state medalists. The Green Knights’ Rocco Dellagatta beats Benji Shue of Bergen Catholic in the heavyweight state final. Shue commits to Texas for track & field.
9. In recognition of his dedication, Jordan Sarnoff dresses in uniform and is inserted at the end of FDU’s last regular-season home basketball game to shoot free throws on a technical foul. He makes both. Sarnoff gets a job in the Mets’ media relations department.
10. Passaic Tech wins the Passaic County swimming title (boys and girls), and ice hockey title, and bowling title. IHA wins another Bergen County swimming title. The sun comes up.
11. State Senator Paul Sarlo talks about creating a domed sports complex at the site of the old Meadowlands Arena to host events like the Bergen County baseball final and indoor track meets.
12. The Holy Angels girls golf team sets a record at the team state championships, finishing at even par.
13. Pascack Hills’ Joey Giordano rips a two-out, two-run double to lift the Broncos past Ridgewood to win the Bergen County baseball title, 4-3.
14. Jack Schultz scores four goals as Ridgewood earns the Bergen County boys lacrosse championship with a win over Don Bosco Prep. The Maroons lose in the finals of the Kirst Cup to Delbarton.
15. Layla Giordano of Old Tappan comes up short of a second-straight State Meet of Champions shot title but breaks the state record in the discus, throwing 183 feet 3 inches, to win the New Balance Outdoor Nationals for the second straight year.
16. Hackensack wins the Group 3 boys volleyball state title.
17. It’s the 50th anniversary of the Bergen County softball tournament. The final four is Ramsey, Immaculate Heart Academy, Ramapo and Ridgefield Park. The Blue Eagles blank Ramapo in the final, 2-0 and Helen Antzoulides says everyone’s name correctly on the PA. Passaic Valley beats DePaul to win the Passaic County title.
18. Girls flag football continues to be a sensation in North Jersey. The finals come down to Passaic Tech and Irvington in a match-up of the first two champs. The games goes to overtime before the Bulldogs win it.
19. Augie Hoffmann makes his triumphant return to the St. Joe’s sidelines with a season opening game against St. Augustine Prep in South Jersey. John Forster scores a late TD in a 21-14 win. The Green Knights go 9-2.
20. Bergen Catholic makes history by winning a fourth state championship in a row for the first time in program history by beating Delbarton in the final at MetLife Stadium. Dominic Campanile commits to UConn. Quincy Porter commits to Texas. There are rumblings that Vito Campanile will go to Rutgers, but he decides to stay put.
21. The best public school football team in North Jersey is Northern Highlands.
22. Luke Pash of Ridgewood wins the Nike Northeast Regional cross-country championship and helps his team become the first North Jersey public-school boys team to reach the national finals in Oregon. The girls team comes within 10 points of joining them in a heartbreaking third-place finish.
23. Late in the 2024 NFL season, the Jets decide they’re ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers and trade for Giants back-up QB Tommy DeVito. The Jets add a stripe of red to their helmets to match the Italian flags. Cutlets for everyone.
24. A North Jersey sports columnist travels the country watching some of the best games and players. He gets motivational texts from Pascack Valley girls basketball Jeff Jasper, compares wine and cheese notes with Wood-Ridge boys soccer coach Alberico De Pierro, and understands that the final score isn’t always the best story.

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