Sports Wrap: Aviators Hope Win Over Cavos Bodes for 2012

Hasbrouck Heights hopes that the team they will face next fall in the proposed season opener will be where they are at this time next December.

Heights is hoping that they will be where Glen Rock is this season, a the Group 1 North 1 final.

The Aviators are slated to open up the 2012 fall season at home against Glen Rock, tentatively set for Sept. 8. One noticeable team missing from the 2012 schedule is Wood-Ridge. Heights will be part of the same league, the New Jersey Interscholastic Conference and also the Meadowlands division. Instead of a five team division, the Aviators will be part of a division that includes Becton, Saddle Brook, North Arlington, Hasbrouck Heights, Waldwick/Midland Park, Palisades Park/Leonia and Queen of Peace.

This year the team’s seniors wanted to go out with a win on Nov. 11 against Emerson. This season's version of Heights finished just outside of the state playoffs as the ninth seed with the top eight grabbing a bid.

But at , the Aviators did not sob over not making the state playoffs, but took it out on Emerson. The Aviators defeated Emerson, 40-13, to end the 2011 season and finish with a 6-4 record.

For running back Mike Pikowski, one of the 11 seniors on the team, it didn’t feel like his last football game for the school. "It hasn't sunk in yet," said Pikowski after the game. He had caught a key 43-yard pass and ran for 15 yards. "It really will tomorrow."

Pikowski was a dangerous offensive weapon for Heights the last couple of years as a runner, passer and also a receiver. For his last game in the black and orange, Pikowski did not score, but that was okay. "Even though I didn't score, it didn't matter," said Pikowski who can say that Heights won in his final game. “I’ll always remember this team and everybody battled hard in every game.”

Against Emerson, one of the main cogs that will be looked at for 2012 will be running back Anthony Seidel who will be a senior next season and comes off a three-touchdown performance against Emerson. For the night Seidel ran the ball 23 times for 211 yards.

In addition to Seidel's three touchdowns, another player back next season, sophomore quarterback Darren Iurato threw for two touchdowns, one to senior back David Im and James Fitzsimmons, a junior tight end who will be back to bolster the 2012 offense. In addition quarterback Joe Crabbe scored on a five-yard run to finish off the Aviators scoring.

2012 tentative Hasbrouck Heights football schedule

Sept. 8             Glen Rock

Sept. 15           at Queen of Peace

Sept. 22           at North Arlington

Sept. 29           Becton

Oct. 6              at Emerson

Oct. 13            Saddle Brook

Oct. 20            at Waldwick/Midland Park

Oct. 27            Palisades Park/Leonia

Nov. 3             Pompton Lakes

Cross Country

Five Hasbrouck Heights runners competed in the Group 1 cross country championships with senior Rolando Mendoza grabbing the best finish at Holmdel Park on Nov. 12.

Mendoza took home sixth place with a time of 18:43. On the girls side senior Rebecca Fortoul was the first Lady Aviator to cross the finish line in 10th place with a time of 20:50.

After Fortoul it was a trio of juniors in Ali Robotaille, Kelly Moran and Jess Guerra in 44th (22:56), 57th (23:35) and 58th (23:37), respectively. The rest of the Lady Aviators runners included: Jesse Coffey, 74th (24:13), Daniella Macera, 97th (25:22), Amanda Guerra, 127th (29.16).