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In a year where we've seen two traditionally bad teams turn things around, the baseball team have one of their best seasons in years, Gene Chyzowych and the boys soccer team turn nothing into something, and the boys tennis team win the county consolation bracket, it might be easier to pick the top 25 moments of the year rather than just the top 10.
However, we've gone through the past 12 months and have come up with the very best 10 sports moments of the year for the Columbia athletic teams.
1. Girls 4x400 spring track team wins Meet of Champions
Brittany Jackson, TyVonna Johnson, Kelsey Jackson and Kayaan Richards combined for the fastest 4x400 time in the state last year in South Plainfield, and one of the fastest times in the nation. They also won Group 4, North II Group 4, the conference and the county championships last season. All four of the girls are back next year, so look for even more records to fall.
2. Girls basketball team wins North II Group 4
The Lady Cougars made it all the way to the Group 4 finals last winter before losing to Colts Neck, 58-52. En route to the sectional championship, Columbia picked up wins over Bridgewater-Raritan and North Hunterdon, before knocking off top seeded Piscataway in the sectional final, where Abigail Martin picked up her 1,000th career point. Columbia finished last season 21-5.
3. Columbia football beats Nutley 28-7
In a season right out of a Hollywood movie, Columbia picked up its signature win of the year, crushing Nutley at The Hill. After being picked to finish in last place in the new SEC Liberty Division by The Star Ledger, the Cougars went 8-2 this year (the program's best record since 1951), and qualified for playoffs for first time since 1982.
4. Girls soccer defeats Union 1-0 in first playoff game in 12 years
The Cougar girls' success was overshadowed by what the football team was doing at the same time, but make no mistakes about it, the turnaround of the girls soccer team was just as dramatic. Before last season, they had won four games in four years combined. Under first year head coach Stephen Jones, they turned it around and got a playoff win at Meadowland Park.
5. Baseball beats Linden 4-1 in road playoff game
Playing in Linden against a team with a higher seeding, it took a great performance from Marcus McGriff at the plate (one hr, one dbl, three RBI), and a big time late game performance from Jonny Rio, who pitched the Cougars out of a bases loaded, no out sixth inning jam. The win propelled them to the North II Group 4 semis.
6. Underdog boys basketball team takes down Elizabeth in quarterfinals
Elizabeth was ranked No. 10 in the state and Columbia had to go on the road to get a win. But behind a balanced offensive attack which saw three Cougars in double figures, the Red and Black pulled off the upset, 68-60.
7. Girls track dominates at the county championship
When the second place team could double its points and still not have enough points to win, you know this was beyond a blowout. Columbia annihilated the competition with 128 points. The next best team scored just 52 points. Brittany Jackson, Melissa David and TyVonna Johnson all had big days.
8. Girls fencing reaches state semis
In fencing there aren't sectional or group playoffs, there are only state playoffs, which means even qualifying can be difficult, never mind advancing. They defeated Holy Angels 15-12 on Feb. 18. Then junior, Faizah Muhammad, went on to win the individual state title in the Sabre.
9. Boys soccer defeats Hillsborough 3-0 in playoffs
When a program has been as successful as Columbia's has been, a trip to the state semis may not be something to go crazy about, but there are a lot of other teams in the state that would've loved to do the same thing. A home playoff win is always something to e happy about.
10. Girls lacrosse reaches state semis for second straight year
Columbia put together a great season during the spring, earning the No. 2 seed in the North IV sectional championship. After a first round bye, they defeated Vernon Township 9-3, but lost to Hillsborough in the semis, 14-11.
William Grafton
10:31 am on Thursday, January 7, 2010
Great article, I agree with the list. Being a local sports nut, I was preparing to disagree with your list, but found you are right on. The Girls track team buzz at the Penn Relays put Columbia on the map. Moreover, football has NCAA scouts looking at all Columbia sports. I would have put Soccer as number 3. The plan was 2009 to be a rebuilding year, but Columbia became a feared powerhouse in the playoffs. The soccer team was kinda over shadowed by a great football team in the news. Last, both LAX teams are being picked to be strong state payoff team this year. Moreover, the swim team is a heavy favorite. So, I guess the success of the 2009-2010 season isn’t over yet!
So, you baseball guys out there. How is Columbia baseball suppose to be this year? Please note, being an ex-scout, I got an email from Thiel College. They are going to start a Girls and Men’s LAX team this year. Still looking for a coach to start the program. Thiel is always competitive in division III sports, so if you play LAX, take the school seriously.