West Essex High School

West Essex High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in North Caldwell. The high school is part of the West Essex Regional School District, which is comprised of the constituent municipalities of Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland, four municipalities in western Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[4][5] The constituent municipalities are largely filled with single-family homes and populated by individuals with high socioeconomic characteristics.[6]

West Essex High School
Address
Map
65 West Greenbrook Road

, ,
07006

United States
Coordinates40°52′10″N 74°16′03″W / 40.869371°N 74.267459°W / 40.869371; -74.267459
Information
TypePublic high school
Motto"Dedicated to Academic Excellence and Social Responsibility."
Established1960
NCES School ID341746002462[1]
PrincipalKimberly Westervelt
Faculty99.0 FTEs[1]
Enrollment1,043 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio10.5:1[1]
Campus100 acres (0.40 km2)
Color(s)  Red
  white and
  black[2]
Athletics conferenceSuper Essex Conference (general)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Team nameKnights[2]
PublicationRoundtable[3]
NewspaperWessex Wire[3]
YearbookMilestone[3]
Websitehs.westex.org

The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1964.[7] Block scheduling was implemented for the 2014-15 school year.

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,043 students and 99.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.5:1. There were 23 students (2.2% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 6 (0.6% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Awards, recognition and rankings

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The school was the 25th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[8] The school had been ranked 16th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 36th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[9] The magazine ranked the school 48th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[10] The school was ranked 34th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[11] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 106th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 23 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (86.8%) and language arts literacy (95.9%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[12]

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 944th in the nation among participating public high schools and 70th among schools in New Jersey.[13]

School history

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As of the fall of 1951, students from the municipalities that were to become part the West Essex Regional School District – Caldwell Township (present day Fairfield), Essex Fells, North Caldwell, Roseland – attended James Caldwell High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship. A survey commissioned by the school boards of the four districts and the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools from the Rutgers University Extension Service estimated that the commiu would have 1,200 junior-senior high school students by 1961.

A 1956 study had recommended the formation of a consolidated K-12 district for all of the five districts. When that recommendation was not accepted, the Rutgers group suggested the creation of a regional 7–12 school district that would include Caldwell Township, Essex Fells, North Caldwell and Roseland. A committee formed the following year that included individuals from each of the four communities and the Essex County Superintendent of Schools recommended that the four municipalities should form a regional school district, to be approved by voters in a referendum. The New Jersey Department of Education approved the move, and in December 1957 the referendum was passed by the voters.[14]

Shortly thereafter, the first Regional District school board was established, with two members each from Caldwell Township, Essex Fells and North Caldwell and three from Roseland. In February 1958, the Regional Board of Education was elected by the voters, with Wallace S. Jones of Essex Fells as its first president. A Citizens School Curriculum Advisory Committee was formed which recommended that College Preparatory, General Academic, and Commercial programs should be offered to students based on the approach of offering "education for all, excellence of performance though self-discipline, independent thinking, and a sense of 'true values'", with a staff of high quality, adequate guidance, the grouping of students, availability of electives, insistence on effective English, and a broad extracurricular program.

In July 1958 voters authorized $290,000 for the purchase of a 73-acre (300,000 m2) site, of which 60 acres (240,000 m2) lay in North Caldwell and 13 in Caldwell Township. The site is located between Grandview and Passaic Avenues, directly north of Greenbrook Road, about 25 miles (40 km) outside of New York City.[15]

A December 1958 referendum decided upon by voters in each of the four communities proposed a $4.5 million bond (equivalent to $47.5 million in 2023) that would be used to pay for construction of the new school facility to be available for use in September 1960, as the Caldwell-West Caldwell District had indicated that it was unwilling to accommodate any students at Grover Cleveland High School from outside the district after that date due to overcrowding.[16] The West Essex district opened in September 1960 for students in grades 9–11 in facilities rented from the Caldwell-West Caldwell district, and the district's new building opened for use in September 1961, at which time grades 7–12 and 1,200 students were served.[17][18]

Extracurricular activities

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West Essex Regional High School provides many opportunities for students, from theater productions to sports teams to service clubs.[3]

  • Wessex Wire school newspaper has won multiple awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Garden State Scholastic Press Association, and other student journalism organizations.
  • Roundtable literary magazine has won multiple awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association and other literary organizations.
  • Milestone yearbook

There are many academic-based clubs (i.e. Italian Club, Robotics Team) and service-oriented clubs such as WE CARE (environment), WE HELP (community service), and WE STOP (peer leadership). WE also has a variety of arts-based groups, such as the art club, the Masquers theater group, the jazz choir, the girls a cappella choir (Ladies Knight), and a dance team.

Athletics

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The West Essex High School Knights[2] compete in the Super Essex Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Essex County and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[19] Prior to the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed as part of the Iron Hills Conference, which included public and private high schools in Essex County, Morris County and Union County.[20] With 849 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range.[21] The West Essex football team competes in Patriot Division B of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which was formed following the merger of several conferences in 2016.[22] The football team competes in the Patriot White division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.[23][24] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 700 to 884 students.[25]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency in a joint ice hockey team with James Caldwell High School. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[26]

Interscholastic athletic teams at West Essex include baseball (men), basketball (men and women), cross country (men and women), fencing (men and women), field hockey (women), football (men), golf (men and women), ice hockey (men), lacrosse (men and women), soccer (men and women), softball (women), swimming (men and women), tennis (men and women), track and field spring (men and women), track and field winter (men and women), volleyball (men and women) and wrestling (men).[2]

The ice hockey team was Gordon Cup winner in 1963 and 1971, was the overall state champion in 1978, won the McInnis Cup in 1995 and 2010, won the NJSIAA public school state champions in 2004 and won the Public B title in 2010.[27] The 1963 team won the Gordon Cup by a score of 4-1 against a Chatham Borough High School team that came into the finals undefeated.[28] The 1978 team won the third NJSIAA state championship with a 6-3 win against Livingston High School, which had upset two-time defending champion Brick Township High School in the semifinal round.[29] The team was the 2010 league champs and McInnis Cup champions, with an 8-0 win against Nutley High School in the championship game.[30]

The boys' soccer team was Group II co-champions in 1964 with Chatham High School, in 1965 vs. Irvington Tech High School, and were 2000 co-champions with Moorestown High School, and won the Group III state championship in 1970 vs. Howell High School, in 1971 vs. Governor Livingston High School and in 1973 vs. Howell.[31] The 1973 team won the Group III title and finished with a record of 15-1-2 after a finals defeat of a Howell team that was the defending champion and had entered the championships with a 38-game unbeaten streak.[32]

The field hockey team was the NJSIAA North champion from 1971 to 1974, and won the North II Group III titles in 1975 (state runner-up), 1976, 1978, 1981 (runner-up), 1987 (state champion), 1989 (state champion), 1990, 1991 (state champion), 1992 (state champion), 1993 (North I/II combined, state champion), 1994 (runner-up), 1995 (runner-up), in North I Group IV in 1983 (runner-up), 1984 (state champion), in North II Group II in 1996 (state champion), 1997 (co-champion), 1998, in North I Group II in 2000, 2002 (state champion), 2004 (runner-up), 2005 (state champion), 2015, 2016 (state champion), 2017, 2018 (state champion), 2019 (state champion), in North II Group II in 2006 (state champion), in North I Group II in 2007 (state champion), 2008 (state champion), 2010 (runner-up), 2011 (state champion), 2012 (runner-up) and 2013 (state champion). The 2016 team defeated Eastern Regional High School to win the Tournament of Champions. The team has won 19 state titles through 2019, the second-most in the state behind Eastern Regional High School.[33] The 1992 team finished the season with a record of 21-0 and marked the team's 36th consecutive victory after winning the Group III title by defeating Rancocas Valley Regional High School by a score of 6-1 in the championship game.[34] The field hockey team lost the 2006 Tournament of Champions, falling to Eastern High School by a 2–1 score.[35] In 2007, the team won the North I, Group II state sectional championship with a 4–1 win over Newton High School in the tournament final.[36] The team moved on to win the Group II state championship with a 4–0 win over Madison High School in the semis and a 3–1 win against Camden Catholic High School in the finals.[37]

The football team won the North II Group III state championships in 1974 (awarded by NJSIAA) and 2017, were North II Group IV champions in 1980, were North II Group II state champions in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, and won the North I Group II title in 2011.[38] A crowd of more than 7,000 at Giants Stadium watch the 1980 team finish the season with a 10-1 record after winning the North II Group IV state sectional championship game by a score of 22-7 against Belleville High School.[39] Down 6-0 in the first quarter, the 2001 team came back to win the North II Group II sectional title with a 16-6 victory against Orange High School in the playoff finals to finish the season with an 11-1 mark.[40] The 2007 football team won the North II, Group II title with a 27–6 win over Morris Hills High School.[41][42] The 2011 football team won the North I, Group II title with a 32–14 win over River Dell High School at MetLife Stadium.[43][44] In 2017, the football team won the North II Group III state sectional championship with a 28-14 win against third-seeded Voorhees High School in the final game of the tournament playoff.[45][46]

The boys' tennis team has won four state championships, including Group III title in 1974 vs. Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, in Group IV in 1985 vs. Ridgewood High School and back-to-back Group II state champions in 2000 and 2001 vs. Holmdel High School in both years.[47]

The wrestling team won the North II Group IV state sectional title in 1981, 1982 and 1984, won the North I Group II championship in 2010 and 2011, and won the North II Group III title in 2019 and 2020; The team won the Group III state championship in 2019.[48]

The girls' tennis team won the Group III state championship in 1993, defeating Ocean Township High School in the tournament final.[49]

The fencing team was the 1995 state champions in foil, finishing third place overall.[50]

The girls' lacrosse team won the Group II state championship in 2009, defeating Hopewell Valley Central High School in the tournament final. The team was the state runner-up twice in the state championship game, losing to Moorestown High School both times, in 2000 by a score of 15-4[51] and in 2003, losing 15-1 in the finals to finish the season with a 19-2 record.[52] The 2009 team was the Group II state champion, with a 12–10 win against Hopewell Valley Central High School.[53][54]

The boys' lacrosse team made a 2004 appearance in state championship, 2004 Waterman Division Champions, 2004 Essex County Tournament finalists, Ranked number 4 in New Jersey in 2004. Four consecutive New Jersey state tournament appearances, 2005 state championship appearance, (2nd straight), 2009 Essex County Tournament champions.[citation needed]

The girls' soccer team won the 2005 North I Group II state sectional championships, Essex County champion and ranked 20th overall in New Jersey.[citation needed]

The softball team was the 2006 Iron Hills Conference Champions, North II Group II state champions, 2007 Essex County Champions (upset No. 1 Star-Ledger and No. 1 seeded Bloomfield in the semi-final game and beat the No. 2 seed Mount St. Dominic Academy by a score of 2–0 in the championship game), 2009 Iron Hills Conference Champions, 2010 North II Group II sectional champion (winning all four playoff games by shutout, including an 8-0 win over Rutherford High School in the tournament final),[55] Ranked No. 1 in the County, First time in school history ranked in The Star-Ledger top 20, Ranked No. 9 in the state.

The boys' track team had been undefeated in dual meets since 2009 and its record was 51-0 in the Super Essex Conference. The team won the North II Group II state sectional champions in 2015, their first state title since 1979.[56] and repeated as sectional champion in 2016.[citation needed] The team was the 2016 Group II state relay champions.[57][58]

In 2010, the baseball team defeated Audubon High School in the tournament final to win the Group II state championship.[59] In 2006, the team was seeded # 15 in the 74th Greater Newark Tournament, the West Essex Knights defeated No. 2 Nutley High School, No. 10 Montclair Kimberley Academy, No. 3, East Side High School, and No. 1 Seton Hall Preparatory School (by a score of 5-2 in the championship game), en route to the school's first ever GNT championship.[60] In 2009 the Knights won the North II Group II sectional championship, defeating Hackettstown High School. In the most successful season in school history, the 2010 team won the 77th Greater Newark Tournament, Super Essex Conference champions, North II Group II and Group II state champions en route to becoming the No. 1 ranked team in New Jersey as well as 7th on the East Coast according to USA Today.

The golf team compiled an 88–0 dual match record from 1980 through 1983. 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2007 Iron Hills Conference Champions, 2007 Group II State Sectional 2nd Place, 1983 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions 6th Place Overall, 2007 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions 8th Place overall.[citation needed]

The girls track team won the Group II indoor relay championship in 2016.[58]

The girls track team won the winter / indoor Group II state title in 2017.[61]

Since 2003, the West Essex Marching Knights have been ranked by TOB as one of the top 25 Bands on the East Coast. In 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012, they were also the TOB chapter X champions. The 2007 Marching Band placed 9th place in the Atlantic Coast Championships, having never placed before in the top 10 in ACCs. In 2008 the Marching Knights finished 8th at ACC's as well as a 4th place color guard and an award for the best overall woodwind section. The Marching Knights' 2009 show "Into the Unknown" earned the title of Chapter 10 Champions and finished a school high of 5th with a score of 92.90 at the Atlantic Coast Championships. This was the 1st time the Knights had ever finished in the top 5 at ACCs. They continued to rank highly from 2012 to 2015. In 2016, the West Essex Marching Knights ranked 1st place for the first time in school history with a score of 94.405 along with best percussion, outranking 15 others.[62] The Knights were promoted from group 2-A, to 2-Open, a more elite class.[citation needed]

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West Essex is mentioned in the HBO hit series The Sopranos. North Caldwell, the town where Tony Soprano and his family reside in the show is where West Essex is located, and the show was filmed on location all over North Caldwell and the surrounding communities. In the first episode of the show, a character mentions he attended the high school shortly before being murdered by Christopher Moltisanti over a garbage disposal dispute. The town and school are mentioned numerous times in the show.

Administration

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The school's principal is Kimberly Westervelt. Her core administrative team includes two assistant principals.[63]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e School data for West Essex High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d West Essex High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d School Publications, West Essex High School. Accessed May 2, 2022.
  4. ^ West Essex Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 4, 2017. "The West Essex Regional School District is a comprehensive high school serving the communities of Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland in northern New Jersey."
  5. ^ School History, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed June 4, 2016.
  6. ^ Profile 2018-2019, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed January 12, 2020. "Population is comprised of business leaders, entrepreneurs and other professionals, with an above average socio-economic level. Primarily comprised of single family homes"
  7. ^ West Essex Senior High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 30, 2012. Accessed March 30, 2015.
  8. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  9. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 24, 2012.
  10. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 2, 2011.
  11. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  12. ^ School Overview; Click on "Rankings" for 2010-11 HSPA results, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 12, 2012.
  13. ^ Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2013.
  14. ^ Staff. "Jerseyans To Vote On School District", The New York Times, December 8, 1957. Accessed September 24, 2012.
  15. ^ School History, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed July 24, 2011.
  16. ^ Honig, Milton. "New School Put To Jersey Vote; 4 West Essex Towns to Act Tuesday on a $4,495,600 Bond Plan – Taxes Argued", The New York Times, December 7, 1958. Accessed July 24, 2011. "Residents of four West Essex communities – Caldwell Township, Essex Fells, North Caldwell and Roseland – will vote Tuesday on a referendum proposing a $4,495,600 bond issue to finance a regional junior-senior high school."
  17. ^ Staff. "Essex", The New York Times, September 5, 1960. Accessed July 24, 2011.
  18. ^ Honig, Milton. "Essex", The New York Times, September 4, 1961. Accessed July 24, 2011.
  19. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  20. ^ Home Page, Iron Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2011. Accessed December 3, 2014.
  21. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  22. ^ Stanmyre, Matthew. "Schedules released for 115-team North Jersey Super Football Conference", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 30, 2015. Accessed April 3, 2017.
  23. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
  24. ^ Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
  25. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  26. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  27. ^ NJSIAA High School Ice Hockey State Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  28. ^ "Eskies Lose Titles; Hockey Team Loses Cup Game, 4-1", The Madison Eagle, March 21, 1963. Accessed February 27, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Chatham High School ice hockey team lost its first game in almost two years Friday night and with it went the championship of the North Jersey Scholastic Hockey League. The Eskies were defeated by West Essex, regular season second place finishers, by a score of 4-1 on the great performance of its goalie, John Amport. The victory by the Essex team snapped a 24-game win streak by the fabulous Eskies who had gone through the season with all 18 games on the winning side, including two victories over the West Essex team."
  29. ^ "Sports Notes: Asbury Park's Cage Title Is School's 4th", Asbury Park Press, March 23, 1978. Accessed January 11, 2021. "West Essex High School won the NJSIAA ice hockey championship with a 6-3 victory over Livingston. Brick Township won the first two NJSIAA hockey titles but were upset in the semifinals by Livingston this year."
  30. ^ Staff. "Raiders fall in Cup finals, prep for Public B tourney", Nutley Sun, March 3, 2010. Accessed March 4, 2012. "The Nutley boys ice hockey team settled for runner-up in the 2010 McInnis Cup playoffs, as they lost 8-0 in the championship game to West Essex on Saturday at Codey Arena in West Orange."
  31. ^ NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "Howell Drops Soccer Final to W. Essex", Asbury Park Press, November 25, 1973. Accessed December 28, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "The loss in the N.J. State Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament was the first for Howell in 38 games and thwarted the Rebels' aim of a second straight title.... West Essex (15-1-2) won the game on the Mercer County Park field with 10:35 left in the fourth quarter on a crashing 10-yard head ball by Mark Schneider."
  33. ^ History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  34. ^ Williams, Tom. "Rancocas Valley falls to West Essex", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 23, 1992. Accessed December 27, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "That, as it turned out, was the high point for Rancocas Valley in the NJSIAA Group 3 state championship game. West Essex responded with six straight goals three by all-time scoring leader Diane DeMiro to beat the Devils, 6-1, and win its second straight Group 3 title.... The Knights (22-0), who stretched their winning streak to 36 games and their unbeaten streak to 43, tied the game with 13 minutes, 1 second left in the first half when DeMiro scored an unassisted goal."
  35. ^ 2006 Field Hockey Tournament – Tournament of Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 26, 2006
  36. ^ 2007 Field Hockey – North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 12, 2007.
  37. ^ 2007 Field Hockey – Group Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 13, 2007.
  38. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Baumann, Greg. "West Essex rules the roost", Herald News, December 8, 1980. Accessed March 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Jim Sullivan was savoring the immediate aftermath of West Essex's North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 state football championship.... Sullivan, who was awesome from beginning to end in gaining 173 yards on 24 carries, had played the last and probably most important game of his high school career and he knew he had been successful Now it was all over and the Knights (10-1) were state champions for the first time via their impressive 22-7 win over Belleville (9-2) in front of 7,844 fans at Giants Stadium Sunday evening."
  40. ^ "Phillipsburg stuns favored Montclair", Courier News, December 3, 2001. Accessed March 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "West Essex 16 Orange 6: West Essex won the North Jersey 2 Group II tide by rallying from a 6-0 deficit. Orange took a 6-0 lead on Daryl Sims 34-yard pass to Marquis Bond in the first quarter. But West Essex rebounded with Mike Hayek's 12-yard run and field goals of 25 and 24 yards by Tim Hughes 25 and Anthony D'Urso. West Essex finished 11-1, Orange 8-4."
  41. ^ Reilly, Sean. "Hayek, Agrifolio power West Essex's repeat", The Star-Ledger, December 3, 2007. Accessed December 3, 2007. "And last night, he completed his career in supreme fashion, by rushing for two touchdowns in the first quarter as his team, ranked 15th in The Star-Ledger Top 20, defeated No. 18 Morris Hills, 27–6, for the NJSIAA/Gatorade North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 championship at Giants Stadium."
  42. ^ 2007 Football – North II, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 3, 2007.
  43. ^ Guthrie, Charles. "River Dell (14) at West Essex (32), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 - Football", The Star-Ledger, December 3, 2011. Accessed March 14, 2012. "The unforgiving approach took hold in the second half and the defense finished with four sacks and five turnovers as West Essex claimed its eighth sectional title with a 34-12 victory over River Dell in the NJSIAA/Sports Concussion Center of New Jersey North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 final Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford."
  44. ^ Mattura, Greg. "Football: River Dell not quite Golden, fall to West Essex", The Record, December 4, 2011. Accessed March 14, 2012. "The Golden Hawks were at far less than their best in losing to top-seeded West Essex, 32-14, in the North 1, Group 2 final on Saturday afternoon at MetLife Stadium."
  45. ^ Schneider, Jeremy. "Zach Lemanski returns from injury, leads West Essex to N2G3 title", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 2, 2017. Accessed December 4, 2017. "Lemanski didn't just heal like a super hero, he played like one against Voorhees. The junior threw four touchdown passes to carry West Essex in a 28-14 victory over Voorhees in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 final for the program's first title since 2012 [sic]."
  46. ^ "Football - 2017 NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 Playoffs", NJ.com. Accessed December 4, 2017.
  47. ^ History of Boys Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  48. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  49. ^ Girls Tennis Championship History: 1971–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  50. ^ NJSIAA History of Boys Fencing Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 1, 2020.
  51. ^ Scott, Allyson. "Moorestown completes perfect season; The 22-0 Quakers Rout West Essex to take lacrosse Tournament of Champions.", Courier-Post, June 11, 2000. Accessed April 20, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Moorestown High School girls' lacrosse team completed its perfect season with a 15-4 victory over West Essex in Saturday's Tournament of Champions.... They end the season 22-0."
  52. ^ Sprang, Charlie. "Moorestown wins lacrosse title; Quakers overwhelm West Essex, 15-1", Courier-Post, June 8, 2003. Accessed April 20, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "They picked the perfect time to play their best game. In a contest played in a steady rain, the Moorestown High School girls' lacrosse team put on a clinic. Rare was the scoring opportunity the Quakers' offense failed to convert. Rarer still was any scoring opportunity whatsoever for West Essex. The Quakers (21-1) dominated from start to finish, overwhelming the Knights, 15-1, to capture the NJSIAA state championship Saturday at Rutgers University."
  53. ^ Staff. "West Essex 12, Hopewell Valley 10 (High school Girls Lacrosse scores and results)", The Star-Ledger, May 29, 2009. Accessed January 16, 2012. "Cassera took matters into her own stick yesterday with a hand in 10 goals, scoring seven and assisting on three, as West Essex, No. 6 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, edged No. 9 Hopewell Valley, 12–10, for the NJSIAA/New Balance Group 2 championship in Robbinsville."
  54. ^ NJSIAA Girls Lacrosse Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  55. ^ 2010 Softball Tournament - North II, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed March 4, 2012.
  56. ^ Freeman, Allison. "Knights Track and Field: Boys Win North 2, Group 2 State Sectional Championship", Tap Into West Essex, May 27, 2015. Accessed June 30, 2016. "The West Essex High School boys’ track and field team won the North 2, Group 2 State Sectional Championship by tying the host team, Bernards High School, and finishing one point ahead of Parsippany High School. This was the second championship in school history, with the last one coming 39 years ago in 1976 with coach Larry Yarish at the helm."
  57. ^ Kellert, Robert. "Top Finishers | Group 2 Relay Championships", MileSplit NJ, January 16, 2016. Accessed June 30, 2016.
  58. ^ a b History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  59. ^ Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  60. ^ Kratch, James. "Baseball: The history of the Greater Newark Tournament, with throwback photos", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 14, 2015. Accessed March 17, 2017.
  61. ^ Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1981-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  62. ^ Fredo, Louise. "West Essex Marching Knights Crowned Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Champions", TapInto.net, November 1, 2016. Accessed November 19, 2016. "After an undefeated season, Lisa Swanick, Supervisor of Fine, Practical and Performing Arts at West Essex High School, announced that the West Essex Marching Knights were crowned this year's Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Group 2A Champions for taking first place with a score of 94.405 on Saturday."
  63. ^ About Us, West Essex High School. Accessed October 21, 2024.
  64. ^ Ed Baker Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed July 20, 2019. "High School: West Essex (NJ)"
  65. ^ An interview with Denise Borino Quinn, who plays the character of Ginny Sack on The Sopranos, Soprano Sue's Sightings. Accessed November 30, 2015. "[Q] Tell us a little about your educational background. [A] I went to West Essex Senior and Junior High School in North Caldwell (same school that David Chase went to)."
  66. ^ Lewis, Michael. "Just one of the guys: to MetroStars coach Bob Bradley, success comes from creating a positive, friendly environment—something his new club sorely needs", Soccer Digest, March 2003, accessed April 28, 2007. "Born in Montclair, NJ., Bradley's interest in the game began when an assistant soccer coach asked him to try out for the varsity team at West Essex High School."
  67. ^ Strauss, Robert. "On Television; It's Not a Back Lot, It's Northvale", The New York Times, October 1, 2000. Accessed January 16, 2012. "Ed provides for a sort of homecoming for Mr. Burnett, who grew up in North Caldwell and attended West Essex High School."
  68. ^ "Local Artist Profile: Maria Dontas of North Caldwell", TAP into West Essex, December 30, 2014. Accessed July 19, 2019. "She has performed at several shows with Roseland natives and fellow WEHS graduates Cash Cash, whose hit song “Take Me Home” peaked at 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year."
  69. ^ Oxfeld, Jesse. "Family Man: Crime boss Tony Soprano is the conflicted suburban dad at the center of HBO's influential hit series The Sopranos. Now meet the real father of the show." Archived February 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Stanford Magazine, September/October 2002. Accessed July 24, 2011. "Chase grew up in the Essex County suburbs of New Jersey, the same area haunted by Tony Soprano and his family. And, like Tony, he is Italian-American—before the family name became Chase, it was DeCesare. He lived in North Caldwell, as do Tony and his wife, Carmela, and he graduated from West Essex High School, which the Soprano kids, Meadow and Anthony Jr., would attend if they went to public schools."
  70. ^ Lab, Laura. "West Essex BOE Celebrates Graduates Who've Gone on to Career Success", TAP into Wset Essex, March 21, 2021. Accessed December 19, 2022. "Noah Eagle graduated West Essex High School in 2015 and Syracuse University in 2019."
  71. ^ Mead, Rebecca. "Our Man in Pyongyang Bobby Egan’s barbecue diplomacy.", The New Yorker, October 1, 2007. Accessed July 20, 2019. "Egan was raised in Fairfield, New Jersey, which is a twenty-minute drive west of Hackensack.... He graduated from West Essex Senior High School in 1976, even though he barely attended class."
  72. ^ Palmer, Joanne. "'And then the phone rang…'; Wyckoff man's adventures in politics and public service", The Times of Israel, February 14, 2014. Accessed January 13, 2016. "'Bill Clinton was my Jack Kennedy,' he said. Back in West Essex High School, he had played his idol in a mock debate."
  73. ^ David Greczek, Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's soccer. Accessed April 24, 2017.
  74. ^ Pizarro, Max. "Sources: If The Race for AG was Down to Three, Grewal has the Edge to be State's Top Cop", Insider NJ, December 11, 2017. Accessed December 20, 2017. "Having grown up in Fairfield, Grewal is a lifelong friend of Hoboken Mayor-elect Ravi Bhalla, and a graduate of West Essex High School, where U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) also attended school."
  75. ^ John LoCascio, Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse. Accessed May 27, 2016. "Hometown: Fairfield, N.J.; High School: West Essex Regional... Born November 25th, 1991 in Paterson, N.J.
  76. ^ Strauss, Robert. "So Jersey, He Deserves His Own Rest Area", The New York Times, August 7, 2005. Accessed March 14, 2011. "Mr. Piscopo's father, also named Joe, was a lawyer and the family mostly lived in Essex County, the younger Joe graduating from West Essex High School in North Caldwell. With his Saturday Night Live fame, he moved to one of the richest corners of New Jersey, Alpine, persuading Mr. Murphy to join him there in that wealthy enclave by the Palisades."
  77. ^ Representative Barbara Rachelson, Vermont General Assembly. Accessed December 27, 2020. "Barbara Rachelson of Burlington (since 1991), Democrat, was born in Glen Ridge, NJ, and grew up in North Caldwell, NJ. She attended West Essex High School, Brandeis University (BA, sociology) and University of Michigan (MSW in policy and planning)."
  78. ^ "2004 ACS National Award Winners", Chemical and Engineering News, February 9, 2004. Accessed June 15, 2023. “Ronald T. Raines's love of chemistry blossomed during the many long afternoons he spent after school as a teenager, honing his chemistry skills with his teammates on the chemistry team at West Essex (N.J.) High School.”
  79. ^ T. J. Rooney, Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Accessed July 20, 2019. "graduated, West Essex Senior High School, NJ, 1983"
  80. ^ Club Owners, Maccabi Haifa B.C. Accessed May 25, 2021. "Jeffrey H. Rosen, owner and Chairman of Triangle Financial Services, LLC., bought the Maccabi Haifa Israeli professional basketball team in July 2007.... He graduated from West Essex High School in New Jersey and Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in political science."
  81. ^ Frelinhuysen, Rodney P. "Honoring The 2017 Academy Nominees Of The 11th Congressional District Of New Jersey", Congressional Record, Volume 162, Number 179, December 12, 2016. Accessed December 20, 2020. "Naval Academy... Jake Siciliano, Fairfield, West Essex HS."
  82. ^ Pace, Eric. "Michelle Thomas, 30, Actress On TV Soap Opera and Sitcoms", The New York Times, December 28, 1998. Accessed January 16, 2012. "She was born in Boston, Mass., grew up in Montclair, N.J., and graduated from West Essex High School in North Caldwell, N.J."
  83. ^ Van Taylor, Lander Bearcats. Accessed July 20, 2019. "As a prep at West Essex High School in North Caldwell, N.J., Taylor was a Parade Magazine All-American and was inducted into the West Essex Hall of Fame in 1991."
  84. ^ The Century's Best – Field Hockey, The Star-Ledger, October 3, 1999. "In 1991, Vizzuso became only the fifth freshman at West Essex to start on varsity in Alimi's 32 years of coaching."
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