The undefeated Clearview Regional High School girls’ cross-country team was honored for its perfect season by the Harrison Township Committee during a Feb. 6 work session.
Its coaches – head coach Tom Hengel and assistant coach Daniel VanGemert – and team members each received a certificate with their names on it handed to them by Committeeman Lawrence Moore and Deputy Mayor Julie DeLaurentis.
“This is a sport where you don’t get a lot of recognition,” Hengel acknowledged. “Participation levels are low to begin with, and it’s just not a high-spectator sport. So we definitely appreciate being invited here tonight and being recognized for what was truly a historic season for them.
“The things that they have accomplished have never been accomplished at Clearview for the most part, individually or as a team.”
The team’s undefeated season came after it won only one meet last year in the season finale. They had managed to draw enough girls to the team to compete in that competition.
“This year, all they did was win,” Hengel noted. “This is the only team (in the history of Clearview) that’s ever been undefeated all the way through to the state meet and won the state (championship) at the same time.”
On top of the latter, the girls also won the tri-county conference championship, the Gloucester County meet and the Group 3 state championship meet, to name just a few of their accomplishments.
On top of the team’s families being present at the committee meeting, Clearview Superintendent John Horchak III was also on hand and posed for pictures with the girls. After Hengel’s speech, the players had photos taken with Township Mayor Louis Manzo and other committee members.
“We want to recognize the girls’ cross-country team for winning the South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals and the Group 3 New Jersey State Championship,” said Manzo. “When we get to these honors, ladies and coaches, we’d like to tell you, ‘Oh, this is something you’ll never forget.’ But when we do something like this and we invite you to an official meeting to receive a certificate and commemoration, it is also in the permanent record of the township.
“So, when you’re old and turning gray like I am,” he added, “you’ll be able to come here or go online to the meeting minutes of Feb. 6, 2023, and see that the team was officially recognized. So even if someone forgets, the town will never forget. And we want to say thank you.”
