West Orange Holds Tribute For HS Student Athletes After Superb Season

WEST ORANGE, NJ — It was a season to remember in West Orange.

Last weekend, student athletes and proud community members stood side by side at a Hometown Champions Celebration at Town Hall, held to recognize an exceptional fall sports season at West Orange High School.

The event was organized by WOHS Sports Media, the West Orange Public School District and West Orange Township.

According to a statement from the school district, here’s why people were cheering:

• Football: North Jersey Section 2, Group Five champions (first time in school history)
• West Orange Girls Soccer: Finished 16-4-1 and won the Essex County Championship for the second straight year. They also reached the final of the North 1, Group 4 state championship and finished the season No. 16 in the state.
• West Orange Boys Soccer: Second in Group 4 State Final, NJSIAA North 1, Group 4 Sectional Title champions
• West Orange Cross Country Track: Boys take SEC Liberty Division championship, 12-0; Senior Sana’a Smith claimed the SEC Liberty Championship XC Crown
• WO Cheer Team: First Place at Randolph Rampage
• WOHS Marching Mountaineers: The Marching Mountaineers competed on Oct. 29 in the Bands of America (BOA) New Jersey Regional Championship at Rutgers University and qualified for the finals competition for only the second time in school history, finishing in sixth place; the highest placement in a BOA Regional in school history. The BOA NJ Regional featured bands from NJ, NY, PA, VA, and MA. The Mountaineers took second place at the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association's NJ State Championship at The College of New Jersey and won the award for Best Music.

Following a special dinner provided by Nicholas Anthony restaurant, the teams were bused to town hall with a police escort. Assistant Superintendent Hayden Moore, WOHS Principal Oscar Guerrero, Acting Athletic Director Steve Zichella, outgoing Mayor Robert Parisi, incoming Mayor Susan McCartney, board members Jennifer Tunnicliffe and Gary Rothstein, town councilpersons Michelle Casalino and Tammy Williams, coaches, friends, and family joined to recognize the athletes. Kevin Connelly, announcer for the NFHS Network, served as emcee.

Head Football Coach Darnell Grant presented special recognitions to Parisi, Moore and Guerrero for their support of football and the sports programs at the high school.

Parisi said the night was “one of those moments that you remember forever.”

“As a proud alumni and former athlete at West Orange High School, being part of the Champions' Celebration at Town Hall last night was what every student, athlete, coach, and yes, even mayor, wish for their community – and last night, we did it!” he enthused in a social media post.

“These young adults are our future, and based on what we saw last night, we're in very good hands,” the mayor added.

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