Ridgewood High School has an impressive track record when it comes to athletics as sports are deeply ingrained in RHS student life. As RHS boasts the biggest student population in Bergen County with almost 1,800 students in the 2018-2019 school year, establishing relationships with people outside of one’s own friend group can prove to be difficult. As a result, sports are a great way to not only develop deeper relationships with existing friends but to also meet and connect with new people during the predetermined time spent together each day.
Fall sports are a large factor in setting the tone for the school-wide social culture for the rest of the year, all while setting a potential standard for the remaining seasons: if RHS does well in the fall athletics program, it can serve as a sign of athletic accomplishments to come in the winter and spring athletics seasons. In addition, accomplishments in fall sports can renew and increase school pride for the months to come. This is especially important with Friday night home football games, a school wide social event that not only involves the players themselves but also the marching band, the cheer squad, the student government members that sell concessions, and all types of students wishing to have a good time. A solid student turnout where individuals from all different social circles and grades are welcomed heightens unity across the diverse student body for the rest of the year to come.
To put such concepts in a current frame of reference, it is especially important to consider the active presence of RHS athletics in the past few months. Over the past decades, The Ridgewood High School Maroons have established a widespread tradition of excellence, and this fall was no exception:
The Boys Varsity Soccer team was a team in the spotlight, winning the Big North Freedom Division and taking home the first title in 17 years while the Girls Varsity Soccer team became Co-Division Champions.
Girls Varsity Volleyball has proven to be successful by winning their division and moving onto the Group IV semifinals.
The Football team has been crowned the NJSFC Liberty Red Division Champions and are advancing to the playoff round with a chance to play in the finals at MetLife stadium.
Both the Girls and Boys Cross Country teams were crowned the Division and County champions in the 2018 season. Boys Cross Country won their 9th consecutive Sectional Title and 25th overall in program history while Girls Cross Country captured the 2018 North IA Sectional Title in impressive fashion by placing all 7 runners in the top 15 finishers.
Girls Tennis members have also become the Sectional Champions making it the fourth sectional victory in the past five years.
The Girls Gymnastics team had a junior place third overall, qualifying her for the State Meet of Champions.
Ridgewood Crew has had a successful fall season, winning multiple medals among various boats thus setting the spirit for more victories to come.
The Ridgewood Maroons set the stride for the entire school – inside and outside of an academic environment – upholding the legendary student life and pride. With the winter season upon us, a hope for similar success in the coming events, meets, competitions, and games are among the entire RHS community, athletes and non-athletes alike.
Aaron Friedman
staff writer
Graphic: Sofia Lee