Caldwell Area Teens Named Among ‘Best And Brightest’ Athletes In Essex County

CALDWELL, NJ — Multiple students from the Caldwells were named among 35 of Essex County's “best and brightest athletes and athlete-scholars” as part of the 59th Essex Awards held on May 17 at the Cedar Hill Golf and Country Club in Livingston.

According to a news release, Oliver Ortman of West Essex Regional High School was named as a notable “scholar-athlete."

In addition, these students garnered recognition as "Athletes of the Year":

• Julia Russo (West Essex Regional High School) - Field Hockey (Girls)
• Lia Sinisi (West Essex Regional High School) - Field Hockey (Girls)
• Kelsey Oh (Mount St. Dominic Academy) - Softball
• Natalie Dalla Riva (Caldwell High School) - Swimming (Girls)

The annual awards aim to “bestow distinction upon the leading scholar-athletes, and athletes, representing Essex County high schools, public, private and parochial.”

This year’s awards also honored Cory Poole of East Orange Campus High School STEM Academy, who became only the third male in Meet of Champions history to win both the 400-meter hurdles (52.50), and the 110 hurdles in an Essex County record 13.71, which is No. 9 in state history.

The 2017 keynote speaker was Hillside native Mark Wilf, president and CEO of the Minnesota Vikings.

The 2017 Essex Awards were presented by the Men of Essex and co-sponsored by Comcast and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center RWJ | Barnabas Health.

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