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Pascack Hills High School
Address
Map
225 West Grand Avenue

Montvale
,
Bergen County
,
New Jersey
07645

United States
Coordinates41°02′58″N 74°02′59″W / 41.049372°N 74.049799°W / 41.049372; -74.049799
Information
TypePublic high school
EstablishedSeptember 1964
School districtPascack Valley Regional High School District
NCES School ID341251000718[1]
PrincipalTimothy Wieland
Faculty71.6 FTEs[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment827 (as of 2021–22)[1]
Student to teacher ratio11.6:1[1]
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)  Brown
  white and
  orange[3]
Athletics conferenceNorth Jersey Interscholastic Conference (general)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Team nameBroncos (known as the Cowboys from 1964-2021)[2]
NewspaperThe Trailblazer[4]
YearbookWrangler[4]
Websitehills.pascack.org

Pascack Hills High School (PHHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school, one of two secondary schools serving students in ninth through twelfth grade as part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[5] PHHS serves the residents of both Montvale, where the campus is located, and the neighboring community of Woodcliff Lake. The other high school in the district is Pascack Valley High School, which serves the communities of Hillsdale and River Vale.[6][7]

As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 827 students and 71.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. There were 3 students (0.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 3 (0.4% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

History

The school opened in September 1964, having been built to alleviate crowding at the district's original facility, Pascack Valley High School, which had been opened in 1955.[8] Constructed at a cost of $2.9 million (equivalent to $27.4 million in 2022), the facility was designed with a system of folding walls that could be adjusted to handle student groups of varying sizes. The district received a $12,000 grant from a unit of the Ford Foundation that would allow the school to use IT&T computer systems run by a senior program analyst from that firm that would allow students to select classes on their own.[9] The school spent its first five decades relatively unchanged in terms of architecture. In 2006, an extra gym was added. Most recently, the new science wing was opened as well as a new entrance building. This school is one of the first locally to provide every student with a laptop, which can be taken home, and be used in school every day.[10] Every classroom is fitted with a wireless access point (IEEE 802.11 a/g/n), which provides the students with internet. For the 2007–08 school year, the school upgraded all of its laptop computers to Apple MacBooks.

Awards, recognition and rankings

Pascack Hills High School was the 7th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[11] The school had been ranked 18th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 7th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[12] The magazine ranked the school 12th in 2008 and was ranked 8th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[13] The school's peak rating by New Jersey Monthly was in 2001 at 2nd. Schooldigger.com ranked the school 46th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 29 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (93.0%) and language arts literacy (97.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[14]

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 345th in the nation among participating public high schools and 27th among schools in New Jersey.[15]

In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 62nd in New Jersey and 1,782nd nationwide.[16] In Newsweek's May 22, 2007 issue, ranking the country's top high schools, Pascack Hills High School was listed in 1194th place, the 40th-highest ranked school in New Jersey.[17]

Campus

Pascack Hills High School's athletic facilities include a regulation size track, a turf football field named for long-time principal Bart DiPaola, four tennis courts, a combination softball and baseball field that can be utilized for soccer, and two gymnasiums, which house basketball and volleyball.

Academics

Students at Pascack Hills High School are required to take four years of English, three years of mathematics, two years of world language, three years of science, and three years of social studies in order to graduate. In addition, the class of 2014 and beyond must successfully complete a half year of the state-mandated Financial Literacy course. The school offers Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, and ESL courses for their world language program. The AP courses offered to students for the 2015 to 2016 academic year are AP English III, AP English IV, AP US History (divided into the students' sophomore and junior years), AP World History, AP Calculus, AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Spanish Language, AP French Language, AP Studio Art, and AP Art History. The school also offers an array of Virtual High School courses via an online option.[18] "Virtual schooldays" are part of the plan.[19]

Athletics

The Pascack Hills Broncos[2][3] compete in Colonial Division A of the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC), which is comprised of public and private high schools located in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[20] Before the 2010 realignment, the school was one of the 12 high schools participating in the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League (NBIL/NBIAL).[21] With 607 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.[22] The football team competes in the American Red division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.[23][24] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 478 to 672 students.[25]

Formerly known as the "Cowboys", while Pascack Valley was the "Indians", the old team names were eliminated by the district at a July 2020 board meeting.[26][27][28] In March 2021, the Board of Education ratified new team names that had been selected by a vote of students and staff at each school, with Pascack Hills being renamed the Broncos and Pascack Valley adopting the Panthers as its new team name.[2]

In 2004, the football team joined the Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (BPSL), to play against other schools of similar enrollment size. Citing lower enrollment, and the loss of Hillsdale and portions of River Vale to Pascack Valley as a result of redistricting, Pascack Hills left the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League (NBIAL) for football only and played an independent schedule for two seasons, as PHHS was classified by the NJSIAA as a Group I school (the smallest of the four classifications) and all of the other schools in the league were Group II or Group III schools. Prior to the NJSIAA's realignment that took effect in the fall of 2010, Pascack Hills was a member of the NBIAL for most sports.[29] Pascack Hills is the only former NBIAL school in the NJIC, joining Queen of Peace High School and Rutherford High School as the only two schools moved to the NJIC that had not come directly from the Bergen County Scholastic League National / Olympic divisions or from the BPSL.[30]

School colors are brown and white with orange. Sports offered include cheerleading, dance, cross-country, football, boys' and girls' soccer, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, bowling, ice hockey, swimming, wrestling, Winter Track, baseball, softball, and lacrosse.[3]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency in a joint cooperative gymnastics team with Pascack Valley High School, while Pascack Valley is the host school for ice hockey and boys / girls swimming teams. These co-op programs operate under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[31][32]

Football

In 1979, the football team completed an 11–0 undefeated season and won the North I Group III state sectional championship, the program's first title, with a 24–14 victory over previously unbeaten Hoboken High School in the championship game, played in front of a crowd of 4,000 at Giants Stadium. That Hoboken team was coached by Ed Stinson, who would eventually become the Cowboys head coach during the 1980s.[33][34][35][36]

In 2005, under the leadership of Head Coach Brooks Alexander, the football team reached the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, losing to #3 seed Bogota High School in the first round by a score of 41–7.[37] In his six-year tenure, Alexander has become one of the most successful football coaches in school history and only the second football coach in school history to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs on two separate occasions, the first being Bill Lally in 1978 and 1979. At the end of the 2005 season Alexander was named the All-Suburban Coach of the Year.

In 2006, the football team reached the playoffs for the second year in a row, this time being beaten 9–3 in a close defensive battle against the fourth-seeded Hasbrouck Heights High School Aviators.[38] The Cowboys finished 2006 with a 7–3 record. Senior defensive leaders Dan Avento (Monmouth University) and Evan Lampert (Rutgers University) were recruited to Division I schools.[39] The Cowboys clinched their first Conference championship since 1996 by claiming the B.P.S.L. King Division title. Coach Alexander was named both the B.P.S.L. Coach of the Year and the National Football Foundation Coach of the Year.

In 2009, the football team once again reached the playoffs under Coach Alexander. With a regular season record of 7–2 (losses to Hasbrouck Heights High School and Bogota High School), the Cowboys would go and play Ramsey High School (the future 2009 state champions) and lose by a score of 35–6 in the North I, Group II tournament.[40]

In 2010, the Cowboys won the N.J.I.C. conference championship. The Cowboys again made the state playoffs, losing to Ramsey, for the second year in a row, in the first round of the North I Group II state playoffs. The Cowboys finished the season with a win over Glen Rock High School at the return of the Thanksgiving Day Game, finishing the season with a 7–3 record. Head Coach Brooks Alexander won Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time.[41]

Wrestling

Pascack Hills was the number one ranked wrestling team in the United States in 1977, and was selected by The Record as its Team of the Century.[42] Coach Bucky Rehain received numerous awards during his long successful career, including recognition by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1984 as its Coach of the Year.[43] The team is coached by David Bucco, a standout wrestler from Paramus High School.

The wrestling team won the North I Group III state sectional title in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984, and won the North I Group II title in 1999[44]

Volleyball

The girls volleyball team won the Group II state championship in 1999 (defeating runner-up James Caldwell High School in the tournament final) and won the Group I title in 2009 (vs. Science Park High School).[45]

In 1999, the Pascack Hills girls' volleyball team achieved their first state title, winning the Group II championship in three games (8–15, 15–12, 15–11) against a James Caldwell team that came unbeaten into the finals.[46] In 2009, the PHHS volleyball team won the Group I state championship in two games (25–22, 25–20) against Science Park.[47]

Basketball

In the 2001–02 season, the Pascack Hills boys' basketball team accumulated their highest win total in school history and posted a 33–5 record. Nolan Leonard became the fourth Hills player to surpass 1,500 career points in a second half comeback victory at home versus Westwood Regional High School. The Cowboys posted an undefeated home record and suffered three losses on neutral courts. The season climaxed with a Group II state sectional championship over a physically larger Manchester Regional High School squad at the Northern Highlands gym. The Cowboys' season ended with a 94–78 loss to Roselle Park High School in the opening round of the Group II state tournament.

On March 5, 2007, the boys' basketball team won the North I, Group II state championship, edging Westwood Regional High School by 66–65 in overtime, in a game played at River Dell High School.[48][49] Senior forward Evan Lampert was voted First Team All-County and finished his career with 1,000 points, the 1,000th point was scored in the Group II state championship.

Tennis

The boys' tennis team won the Group II state championship in 1986 (defeating Moorestown High School in the tournament final) and 2009 (vs. Chatham High School), and won the Group I title in 2005 (vs. Florence Township Memorial High School) and 2006 (vs. Pennsville Memorial High School).[50]

The boys team won the 2006 Group I state championship, defeating Florence Township Memorial High School 3–2 in the semifinals and Pennsville Memorial High School 4–1 in the finals.[51]

The boys team won the North I, Group II state sectional championship with a 4–1 win in the tournament final over Dwight Morrow High School.[52]

The 2011 boys team won the North I, Group II state sectional championship 3–2 with a win vs. Mountain Lakes High School.

The girls tennis team won the Group I state championship in 2004, defeating Bernards High School in the final match of the tournament.[53]

Both teams are coached by Eric Ganz, who is also the voice of Pascack Hills football.

Baseball

The baseball team won back-to-back Group III state championships in 1987 and 1988, defeating Cherry Hill High School West in the finals of the tournament in both years, and won the Group II titles in 2018 (vs. Raritan High School), 2019 (vs. Madison High School) and 2023 (vs.Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School).[54]

The 1987 team was the first to secure titles as NBIL league champions and Bergen County champions defeating Park Ridge High School 15–1, as part of a 28–5 season in which they captured the North I, Group III sectional title and won the Group III state championship over Cherry Hill High School West by a score of 6–4. The Cowboys won their league title three straight years, in 1987, 1988 and 1989.[55]

In 1990, Pascack Hills won the North I Group III state sectional title. They lost to Toms River High School South in the Group III state championship game. In 1994 and 1995, the Cowboys would win back-to-back North I Group III state sectional titles. Both years they would fall in the Group III state semifinals.[54]

In 2006, Hills won the North I, Group I state sectional title, defeating Emerson High School 3–2 in the tournament final. They would reach the Group I state final, their first since 1990, but lose to Pennsville Memorial High School.[54][56][57]

In 2017, Pascack Hills won the North I, Group II state sectional title, defeating High Point Regional High School by a score of 4–2. They finished the season 21–9, losing in the Group II state semifinals. Also, they finished in second place in their league after going 0–8 in league play in 2016, their best finish since winning it in 2007.[58] This was No. 4 seeded Hills' second straight sectional final appearance after falling to Jefferson in 2016 as the No. 12 seed. It was also their third sectional final appearance in five years, losing in 2016 to Jefferson and 2013 to Mahwah; their first sectional title since 2006, and the program's first Group II Sectional title. They were named BCCA Small School Baseball Team of the Year, Small School Team of the Year and North I Group II Team of the Year. They ended the year ranked #53 in New Jersey by MaxPreps.[59] They began the season on an 8 game-win streak and were ranked as high as #9 in North Jersey, their first time making NJ.com's Top 25. It was their first 20-win season in a decade and the first for Coach Kevin Kirkby. This team helped start the return of PHHS baseball.[60][61]

In 2018, Hills had their best season in school history, ending the season ranked 33rd in the nation by Baseball America.[62] The team finished the season with a 30–2 record, en route to the Group II state championship. They completed the triple crown, winning the league, county, and state titles, marking the second time where a public school completed a triple Crown, the other was Pascack Hills back in 1987. Hills would finish the season ranked #1 in the state by NJ.com[63] and #3 in the state by MaxPreps.[64] They were also named Team and Baseball Team of the Year by NJ.com.[65] They won their first league title since 2007. They were the No. 2 seed in the county tournament, they defeated third-seeded St. Joseph Regional High School in the semifinals and top-seeded Don Bosco Preparatory High School by a score of 3–1 in the finals, winning the program's first county title since 1987 and defeating in two games two schools that had won the county title in 14 of the previous 17 years. Hills’ Junior Villanova commit, Brandon Siegenthaler was named the tournament MVP, just like his Coach Kevin Kirkby was back in 1996. Hills’ Junior Maryland commit Ryan Ramsey won Pitcher of the Tournament. Hills defeated Raritan High School, 3–2 in the Group II State Championship, for their first State Championship in 31 years and ended the season on an 18-game win streak.[66][67][68][69] The team was named Spring Male Team of the Year by NorthJerseySports.com.[70]

In 2019, Hills went 29–3, winning a second straight Group II state championship, third straight North I Group II sectional title, and second straight league title. They were seeded No. 1 and defeated Ramsey High School by a 1–0 score in the North I, Group II sectional final on an extra-innings bases-loaded walk-off single, marking the first time that the program has won back-to-back-to-back Sectional titles. It was also their 4th straight finals appearance and fifth in seven years. They would go on and beat Point Pleasant Borough High School by a score of 2–0 in the Group II state championship game. Pascack Hills would finish ranked #3 in the state by NJ.com and #3 by MaxPreps.[71] Senior pitcher Ryan Ramsey was named First Team All-State,[72]

In the 2010s Hills went 150–88. In the decade they were: 2x Group II state champs, 3x North I Group II sectional champs, 2x Big North Patriot League champs, 1x Bergen County champs with 5 North I Group II sectional finals appearances as well as 3 Group II State Final Four appearances. Between 2016 and 2019, Pascack Hills went 96–26.[73]

Head Coach Kevin Kirkby, who took over the program in 2013, got his 100th career coaching win in April 2019.[74][75][76][77]

In 2023, under second-year Head Coach and Pascack Hills' alum Nick Evans, Pascack Hills won its third Group II state championship in six years by defeating Hanover Park High School, 4–1 in the semifinals and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, 1–0 in the final game, finishing the season with a 22–7 record.[78] The Broncos were the 3rd seed in the North I Group II state tournament and defeated defending Group II state champion Ramsey High School by a score of 3–1 in the finals, for their fourth North I Group II sectional title since 2017.[79]

Track

The girls track team won the winter track Group I state title in 2006.[80]

Softball

The softball team won the 2007 North I, Group II state sectional championship with a shutout victory over Pascack Valley High School (1–0) in the tournament final.[81] In 1985 the softball team won the North I, Group III state sectional championship with a 3–2 victory over Ramsey High School in the tournament final.[citation needed]

In 2021, the newly named Broncos won the programs first League Title since 1975. They went 14–5 on the season, falling in the first round of the North 1 Group 2 Sectional Tournament to 12th seeded Jefferson.[82] Sophomore Pitcher Alana Kimball won North Jersey's Female Athlete of the Week for her work in late April.[83][84]

Dance

The Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team consists of girls from Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley. There is a JV and Varsity team. The Varsity team has won the NDA national championship in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013. The coaches are Dena Noon and Val DeSantis. The Dance team currently holds many regional, state, and national titles.

Soccer

In 2007, the girls soccer team, seeded 11th, won the North I, Group II state sectional championship with a 2–1 overtime win (4–2 on penalty kicks) over top-seeded River Dell High School in the tournament final. The win was the team's first sectional title.[85][86]

Other extracurricular activities

Pascack Hills students can join the Pascack Valley Regional High School District robotics team, FIRST Robotics Competition team 1676. This team, commonly known as the "Pascack Pi-oneers," was founded in 2004. The team has won awards at many competitions, including the Newton/Hopper Division Engineering Inspiration Award at the FIRST World Championship in 2016 and World Champion at the FIRST St. Louis Championship in 2017. In 2015, the Pascack Pi-oneers were given Academic Varsity Status by the Pascack Valley Regional District Board of Education.[87]

Among the other activities are an award-winning theater program, highlighting the acting, singing and dancing talents of the Pascack Hills Players. The troupe has performed Rent, Chicago, and Curtains among others. In 2021, Yemie Woo won the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Best Performance by an Actress for “Fabulous Baby” from Sister Act.[88]

Administration

The school's principal is Timothy Wieland. His core administration team includes two assistant principals.[8]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Pascack Hills High School alumni

Notable alumni of Pascack Hills High School include:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e School data for Pascack Hills High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Cooper, Darren. "Board of Education approves new mascot names for Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills", The Record, March 8, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2021. "Get used to saying Pascack Valley Panthers and Pascack Hills Broncos. After a long, contentious and compelling process, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted 5-4 to approve the new mascots at both schools. Panthers and Broncos were the names that students of each school selected during a vote held last month.... Each school community (students and staff) voted last week on three finalists for its school. In both cases, the voter turnout was close to 75%, with Panthers and Broncos receiving a convincing majority."
  3. ^ a b c Pascack Hills High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Clubs, Pascack Hills High School. Accessed May 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Administration, Pascack Valley Regional High School District. Accessed January 12, 2020. "The Pascack Valley Regional High School District is comprised of two high schools, Pascack Hills High School and Pascack Valley High School, in northern Bergen County New Jersey."
  6. ^ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed April 5, 2020. "The District is comprised of two high schools. Pascack Hills High School, which is located in Montvale, receives students from the towns of Montvale and Woodcliff Lake. Pascack Valley High School, located in Hillsdale, is the receiving school for students who reside in the towns of Hillsdale and River Vale."
  7. ^ Pascack Valley Regional High School District 2015 School Report Card District Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 5, 2020. "The district is comprised of two high schools. Pascack Hills High School, which is located in Montvale, receives students from the towns of Montvale and Woodcliff Lake. Pascack Valley High School, located in Hillsdale, enrolls students from Hillsdale and River Vale."
  8. ^ a b 2022-2023 Student Handbook, Pascack Hills High School. Accessed December 27, 2022. "In September of 1964 Pascack Hills High School opened up to students living in Montvale, Woodcliff Lake, and a portion of Hillsdale."
  9. ^ Staff. "News Notes: Classroom And Campus", The New York Times, March 1, 1964. Accessed August 24, 2011.
  10. ^ Dawkins, Walter. "Free laptops put Pascack Valley High School students in special class.", The Record, May 3, 2005. Accessed April 29, 2008.
  11. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  12. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2012.
  13. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2010: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2010, posted August 7, 2010. Accessed August 19, 2010.
  14. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 26, 2012.
  15. ^ Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools" Archived July 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2013.
  16. ^ Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Pascack Hills High School", The Washington Post. Accessed August 21, 2011.
  17. ^ "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,200 top U.S. schools", Newsweek, May 22, 2007. Accessed May 24, 2007.
  18. ^ Program of Studies 2016-2017, Pascack Valley Regional High School District. Accessed May 31, 2016.
  19. ^ Albrizio, Lianna. "Pascack Valley districts plan virtual school days in February", Pascack Valley Community Life, December 31, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2016. "In February, both the Pascack Valley Regional High School and Park Ridge school districts are planning virtual days for their students and faculty, an opportunity officials say will continue to help students learn efficiently in an online environment."
  20. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  21. ^ New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed March 30, 2021.
  22. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  23. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
  24. ^ Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
  25. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  26. ^ Levine, Cecilia. "Pascack Valley, Hills High Schools Remove Racist Mascots", Pascack Valley Daily Voice, June 23, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2020. "Two Bergen County sports teams are no longer named the Cowboys and Indians. The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted unanimously to remove the nicknames and logos during Monday's virtual meeting.... Charleen Schwartzman, a PHHS math teacher who will assume the role of assistant principal position July 1, said the name 'cowboys' excludes females and people of color."
  27. ^ Miller, Zach. "Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills high schools will remove Indians and Cowboys mascots", The Record, June 23, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2020. "The sports teams at Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills high schools will no longer be named the Indians and Cowboys. During Monday night's virtual meeting, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted unanimously to remove both nicknames and logos."
  28. ^ Kim, Ellie. "District approves removal of PV and PH mascots", The Smoke Signal, June 23, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2020. "The removal of the Pascack Valley mascot as the Indians and the Pascack Hills mascot as the Cowboys was voted on and unanimously approved by the Board of Education at its virtual meeting tonight held on Zoom. The motion to remove the mascots and 'at a later date replacing them with something else or deciding to not have a mascot moving forward' was proposed by Board member Arnold Scher."
  29. ^ League Memberships - 2009-1010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2014.
  30. ^ Kensik, Edward. "Realignment all set for next September", South Bergenite, November 26, 2009. Accessed November 27, 2014. "The NJIC includes all of the schools from the Bergen Passaic Scholastic League (BPSL) and the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) National and Olympic divisions. Queen of Peace, Rutherford and Pascack Hills were the lone outsiders to be included in the NJIC."
  31. ^ NJSIAA Fall Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  32. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  33. ^ "Pascack Hills, Sparta, Mahwah, Rahway win", New York Daily News, December 2, 1979. Accessed January 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Pascack Hills jumped to a 17-point first-half lead and continued to a 24-14 victory over Hoboken before 4,100 fans in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 championship game yesterday at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Pascack Hills completed an 11-0 season in gaining its first state crown. The defeat was the first for Hoboken after 10 victories."
  34. ^ Staff. "Madison Borough Retains Title", The New York Times, December 2, 1979. Accessed August 24, 2011.
  35. ^ Waldron, Martin. "The Jokes Don't Matter in Hoboken; Hoboken Undismayed By All the One-Liners About the City Image", The New York Times, December 6, 1979. Accessed August 24, 2011.
  36. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  37. ^ 2005 Football - North I, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 21, 2011.
  38. ^ 2006 Football Tournament - North I, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 21, 2006.
  39. ^ Signing Day, The Record, February 7, 2007.
  40. ^ 2009 Football Tournament - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 21, 2011.
  41. ^ Staff. "Football all-league teams", The Record, December 31, 2010. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  42. ^ Schutta, Gregory. "Where are they now? Wrestler Tom Husted of Pascack Hills", The Record, September 21, 2010. Accessed August 21, 2011. "He was part of the great Cowboy teams of the mid-'70s, coached by the legendary Bucky Rehain. Fellow State champions Chris and Tim Catalfo also wrestled for the 1977 team that went 14-0 and was named Bergen County team of the century."
  43. ^ Keenan, Bucky. "Faces In The Crowd", Sports Illustrated, January 14, 1985. Accessed August 21, 2011. "Rehain, 41, wrestling coach at Pascack Hills High, has won 14 district team titles in 18 seasons. He has a streak of 104 dual-meet victories and was chosen as a 1984 Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association."
  44. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
  45. ^ NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  46. ^ Driscoll, Jim. "Pascack Hills: a banner year; PC, Secaucus also win titles", The Record, November 21, 1999. Accessed January 31, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Group 2 State championship trophy is nice, but who'll ever notice it a few years from now as it collects dust in some display case down the hallway from the principal's office? What Kristy Yeck and her teammates on the Pascack Hills volleyball team really wanted out of this season was a banner big, orange, and brown, and forever hanging in the gym for all to see. They'll raise one soon, thanks to a spirited comeback that produced an 8-15, 15-12, 15-11 victory Saturday night over previously undefeated Caldwell."
  47. ^ Vasquez, Andy. "Pascack Hills comes out firing", The Record, November 15, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2011. "Pascack Hills won its first State title since 1999 with a 25-22, 25-20 win over Science Park in the Group 1 final Saturday at William Paterson University."
  48. ^ Pascack Hills leap for joy, The Record, by Jeff Roberts, March 6, 2007.
  49. ^ 2007 Boys Basketball - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed March 7, 2007.
  50. ^ History of Boys' Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  51. ^ 2006 Boys Team Tennis - Public Group Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 30, 2007.
  52. ^ 2008 Boys Team Tennis - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 2, 2008.
  53. ^ History of NJSIAA Girls Team Tennis Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  54. ^ a b c NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  55. ^ Staff. "C.H. West Falls In Title Game, 6-4", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 14, 1987. Accessed August 24, 2011. "The Lions, winners of 15 of their last 17 games entering yesterday's NJSIAA Group 3 championship game at Princeton University, had scored inspired, one-run victories during the semifinals en route to claiming the South Jersey crown. But facing Pascack Hills (28-5) - a team that looked to be beatable - West was off its game in several areas. The result was a 6-4 defeat..."
  56. ^ "Feit, Sobel, Evans fuel Pascack H", The Star-Ledger, June 5, 2006. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Josh Feit, Rob Sobel and Nick Evans each drove in a run as Pascack Hills edged Emerson Boro, 3-2, in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 tournament championship yesterday in Emerson."
  57. ^ 2006 Baseball - North I, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 2, 2007.
  58. ^ "Big North - Patriot Baseball (2017) Standings - MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  59. ^ "Rankings - Pascack Hills Cowboys 2017 Baseball (Montvale, NJ)". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  60. ^ Staff. "Pascack Hills defeats High Point in N1S1 G2 final", The Star-Ledger, June 2, 2017. Accessed September 5, 2017. "Jack Brodsky allowed no earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over 6 2/3 innings for fourth-seeded Pascack Hills in its 4-2 victory over third-seeded High Point in the final round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 tournament in Wantage."
  61. ^ Tartaglia, Greg. "Baseball: Pitching carries Pascack Hills to Group 2 state semifinals", The Record, June 6, 2017. Accessed April 5, 2020. "The irony wound up being that Whippany Park used that style to defeat Pascack Hills, 3-0, at George Zanfini Municipal Field. The Montvale squad finished 21-9, equaling its highest win total since the turn of the century.... That includes all the arms that powered Pascack Hills to its first state-sectional championship since 2006."
  62. ^ "High School Baseball Top 50". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  63. ^ Greco, Richard (June 14, 2018). "aseball's Final 50: Public schools grab huge chunk of last 2018 rankings". NJ.com. NJ.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  64. ^ "Rankings - Pascack Hills Cowboys 2018 Baseball (Montvale, NJ)". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  65. ^ NJ.com, Richard Greco | NJ Advance Media for (June 20, 2018). "Pascack Hills is the NJ.com baseball team of the year". nj. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  66. ^ Mattura, Greg. "Pascack Hills baseball caps historic season with extra-inning win over Raritan", The Record, June 10, 2018. "Pascack Hills had to make an extra effort to secure a baseball season that ranks among the greatest in the history of Bergen County public schools. The Cowboys closed a remarkable campaign by winning the NJSIAA Group 2 title after outlasting Raritan, 3-2, in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at rainy DeMeo Field in Veterans Park.... Pascack Hills’ season rates among the finest by a Bergen County public school. The Cowboys went 30-2 and won league, Bergen County, sectional and state titles."
  67. ^ Tartaglia, Greg. "'Dream' victory brings Pascack Hills its first Bergen baseball title since 1987", The Record, May 28, 2018. Accessed April 5, 2020. "He just may need a day or so to comprehend exactly what his Pascack Hills baseball team accomplished. The No. 2 seed Cowboys captured their first Bergen County championship in 31 years with a 3-1 victory over No. 1 Don Bosco Monday at NV/Demarest.... Pascack Hills (26-2) topped No. 3 St. Joseph in Saturday’s semifinals before knocking off Don Bosco. Those two non-publics have combined for 18 Bergen championships, including 14 since 2001."
  68. ^ "2018 Medium Schools All-American Baseball Team - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. July 6, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  69. ^ "Barton's Best Awards: Winter 2017-18 |NJS.com". northjerseysports.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  70. ^ "Baseball: All-Bergen County teams". North Jersey. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  71. ^ "Rankings - Pascack Hills Cowboys 2019 Baseball (Montvale, NJ)". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  72. ^ staff, NJ Advance Media baseball (June 19, 2019). "NJ.com's 2019 All-State baseball, First Team". nj. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  73. ^ "Pascack Hills Baseball 2019-2020 - NJ.com". highschoolsports.nj.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  74. ^ Doviak, Cory. "Kirkby's 100th win does not come easy as Pascack Hills edges Westwood". North Jersey Sports. North Jersey Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  75. ^ Zedalis, Joe. "NJ.com's Baseball final Top 50 rankings, Part 3: Nos. 1-20", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 14, 2019, updated August 22, 2019. Accessed May 5, 2020.
  76. ^ Farrell, Sean. "Pascack Hills baseball wins title on walk-off in extra innings", The Record, May 31, 2019. Accessed April 5, 2020. "Then the senior outfielder came through with the first walkoff of his career and certainly the biggest hit in a Pascack Hills uniform. His single in the bottom of the eighth provided the only run in a 1-0 win over Ramsey in the North 1, Group 2 final. But his 18 strikeouts over 7 1/3 shutout innings was just as important to the Cowboys' third straight title."
  77. ^ Tartaglia, Greg. "Pascack Hills tops Point Pleasant Boro for second straight Group 2 baseball title", The Record, June 8, 2019. Accessed April 5, 2020. "Their Pascack Hills baseball team can file it under 'best week ever' after capturing a second consecutive Group 2 state championship, 2-0, over Point Pleasant Boro Saturday at Veterans Park.... Kirkby coached the Cowboys (29-3) to their fourth NJSIAA crown days after his wife, Erin, gave birth to a daughter, Carter."
  78. ^ Mattura, Greg. "Pascack Hills baseball shuts down Rumson-Fair Haven to win state championship", The Record, June 10, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2023. "Joey Giordano of Pascack Hills routinely played with fire - and repeatedly extinguished it. Giordano threw a three-hit shutout to carry the Broncos to a 1-0 victory over Rumson-Fair Haven in Saturday's NJSIAA Group 2 baseball championship.... This marks Pascack Hills’ fifth state title and third since 2018. The Broncos won back-to-back in 2018-19, with the 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic, and won back-to-back in 1987-88. Pascack Hills (22-7) closed this season with a nine-game winning streak."
  79. ^ Bernstein, Jason. "Pascack Hills downs Ramsey for North 1, Group 2 title - Baseball recap", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 2, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2023. "Joey Giordano pitched a four-hitter as third-seeded Pascack Hills defeated fifth-seeded Ramsey, 3-1, in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 final in Montvale. Giordano, a junior left-hander, allowed one run and two walks with eight strikeouts in a 99-pitch effort for Pascack Hills (20-7), which claimed its first sectional title since winning back-to-back Group 2 state championships in 2018 and 2019."
  80. ^ NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  81. ^ 2007 Softball - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 8, 2007.
  82. ^ "Pascack Hills high school Softball".
  83. ^ "North Jersey's Female Athlete of the Week is a young master of the pitching craft".
  84. ^ @PHillsSoftball (May 26, 2021). "🥎Could not be prouder of this group! PH picks up the first league title 🏆since 1975 with an 8-inning, 1-0 battle at…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  85. ^ 2007 Girls Soccer - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 15, 2007.
  86. ^ Martin, Kimberley A. "Pascack H. stuns No. 1 River Dell", The Record, November 9, 2007. Accessed May 31, 2016. "After playing to a 1-1 tie through overtime, Pascack Hills outscored River Dell, 4-2, in penalty kicks.... Instead, she launched the ball over River Dell goalkeeper Emily Mino's outstretched hands to help 11th-seeded Pascack Hills knock off top-seeded River Dell, 2-1, (4-2 in penalty kicks) Thursday, to win its first girls soccer North 1, Group 2 title."
  87. ^ "Pascack Pi-oneers [Team 1676]". team1676.com. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  88. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse presents Rising Star Awards", Community Bulletin, June 8, 2021. Accessed October 3, 2022. "Top honors in the categories of Outstanding Solo Performances by an Actor an Actress went to Michael Bryant Kessie from Delaware Valley Regional High School for his performance selection “Joe” from the musical Working and Yemie Woo from Pascack Hills High School for her performance selection “Fabulous Baby” from the musical Sister Act."
  89. ^ "'Media Child' Arrives", The Record, January 2, 2003. "Dana Bash grew up behind the scenes. And family members say it was just a matter of time before the Pascack Hills High School graduate and newest CNN White House correspondent was in front of them. "
  90. ^ a b Meisel, Melissa. "MTV's Tangerine-Flake, Streamline Baby, via New Jersey", The New York Times, June 26, 2005. Accessed August 2, 2007. "MTV's popular (and radical) car makeover show, which is just starting its second full season, was created by two Woodcliff Lake natives who never got over the culture of the high school parking lot. Besides, back in 1989, Bruce Beresford-Redman drove a Cadillac hearse, while his buddy Rick Hurvitz piloted a 1972 lime-green Oldsmobile Delta 88. 'As far as we know, everybody appreciated the irony,' Mr. Beresford-Redman said of his Pascack Hills classmates in a recent e-mail exchange."
  91. ^ "Geoffrey Cantor, Cathleen Donnelly", The Record, September 2, 1992. Accessed October 3, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Cathleen Elizabeth Donnelly and Geoffrey Paul Cantor were married Sunday in the Woman's Club of Ridgewood, where a reception followed.... The bridegroom is a graduate of Pascack Hills High School, Montvale, and Amherst (Mass.) College."
  92. ^ "Catalfo nears berth in Olympics", The Record, June 19, 1984. Accessed March 18, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Former Pascack Hills High School wrestler Chris Catalfo of Mont-vale is two wins away from a berth on the United States Olympic Greco-Roman team.... Catalfo was a two-time Ail-American at Syracuse University and a former New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association champion at Pascack Hills."
  93. ^ "Mills, Catalfo pace Syracuse", The Record, February 2, 1981. Accessed October 19, 2019. "Former New Jersey State wrestling champions Gene Mills of Pompton Lakes and Tim Catalfo of Montvale helped lead Syracuse to a 19-16 college wrestling victory over Navy yesterday.... Catalfo, a State champion at Pascack Hills in 1977, added to the Syracuse victory drive with a decision at 158 pounds."
  94. ^ Walkowski, Paul Joseph. "For soprano Mary Dunleavy, her stylish, virtuosic, gleaming, supple, voice has earned her a place among the opera notables of her generation." Archived March 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, OperaOnline.us. Accessed October 15, 2007. "From grade school, on through Pascack Hills High in Montvale New Jersey, to Northwestern's school of music, to the University of Texas in 1988..."
  95. ^ McCall, Tris. "The Front Bottoms emerge as a Jersey indiepop standout", Inside Jersey, January 24, 2011. Accessed June 27, 2017. "'My writing can be self-deprecating,' says Sella, who met Uychich at Pascack Valley High School in Montvale."
  96. ^ Staff. "Bergen County's the Front Bottoms kick off new album with tour", Jersey Tribune, September 17, 2015. Accessed June 27, 2017. "'It was never a do-or-die situation,' said Sella, the band's singer-guitarist, who graduated from Pascack Hills High School in 2006 (drummer Uychich graduated in 2008)."
  97. ^ Joyner, Will. "The Subtle Shade Of Kerri Green", The Record, March 28, 1986. Accessed August 2, 2007. "In the fall of 1984, though, a successful audition for Steven Spielberg's The Goonies allowed Kerri to stop speculating and to steal away from her senior year at Pascack Hills High School. One thing very quickly led to another."
  98. ^ Tartaglia, Greg. "Jeff Hafley, a Bergen County native, starts new journey as Boston College football coach", The Record, February 4, 2020. Accessed August 31, 2021. "Hafley, who grew up in Montvale, played JV football for Dunn before moving up to varsity. He spent time at quarterback, receiver and safety for a Pascack Hills team that went from 0-9 his junior year to 7-2 his senior season."
  99. ^ Hanson, Dana. "10 Things You Didn’t Know About Jefferies Financial CEO Richard Handler", MoneyInc.com, February 2019. Accessed October 19, 2019. "Rich Handler was raised in the state of New Jersey. As a teen, he attended the Pascack Hills High School located in Montvale, New Jersey. He graduated in 1979."
  100. ^ Rohan, Virginia. "North Jersey-bred and talented too", The Record, June 18, 2007. Accessed June 25, 2007. "Bill Maher: Class of 1974, Pascack Hills High School, Montvale"
  101. ^ Bill Maher Biography (1956-), The Biography Channel. Accessed March 28, 2007.
  102. ^ Ivry, Bob. "'Toon Boom Animates Their Lives", The Record, October 14, 1996. Accessed August 2, 2007. "In his sparse spare time, Moncrief, a 1989 graduate of Pascack Hills High School, created the story of Godfrey & Zeek, two buddies a giraffe and a pig who accidentally flush away their most prized possession, the TV remote control, and retrieve it at the sewage treatment plant."
  103. ^ James, Michael S. "Fine Teaching Instrument Pascack Students Use A Computer To Learn Music", The Record, October 13, 1992. Accessed November 5, 2014. "The new programs are an important element at Pascack Hills, a highly rated public school that prides itself on its Related Arts Department, according to Principal Bart DiPaola. He proudly points to a number of talented young people who have come out of the school, including Matt Mulhern, an actor on the television show Major Dad."
  104. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Liliko Ogasawara, New Jersey's first female wrestler, to be recognized at Boardwalk Hall", The Record, February 28, 2019. Accessed April 29, 2020. "NJSIAA Assistant Director Bill Bruno confirmed that former Pascack Hills wrestler Liliko Ogasawara would attend the girls state finals Saturday at Boardwalk Hall, present medals and be recognized by the crowd.... Ogasawara, a Montvale native, wrestled four matches for Pascack Hills in 1989 and has been recognized as the first girl to compete against boys in a varsity wrestling match."
  105. ^ Staff. "Tom Papa headlines for sister's benefit", Pascack Valley Community Life, May 26, 2011. Accessed September 7, 2012. "Tom Papa, a Pascack Hills graduate and the host of the TV show The Marriage Ref, which will air its second season in June, is known for his appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, on Comedy Central with his own comedy specials, and appearances on "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
  106. ^ Kieran Scott Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, TeenReads.com. Accessed March 25, 2011. "A Jersey-girl through and through, Kieran grew up in Montvale, New Jersey, and attended Pascack Hills High School where she was a cheerleader, singer, actress and occasionally a student."
  107. ^ Lally, Robin. "Rutgers’ Waksman Scholar Uses Hip Hop to Ignite the Joy of Science in Youth; 'Dancing scientist' Jeffery Vinokur says participating in university’s program for high school students changed his life", Rutgers Today, June 25, 2012. Accessed October 19, 2019. "'The Waksman Student Scholars Program had a huge impact on my life,' said Vinokur, a 2006 student scholar from Montvale’s Pascack Hills High School and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin who has toured the nation with his show."
  108. ^ Beckerman, Jim. "Archive: Montvale's Shaun Weiss on the ups and downs of being a star", The Record, August 6, 2018. Accessed October 19, 2019. "In the comedy Heavyweights, opening today, 15-year-old Shaun Weiss of Montvale plays an overweight teen in a diabolical 'fat camp' that seeks to strip him of dignity and candy bars.... A sophomore in Pascack Hills High School, Weiss began his acting career at age 6, when his parents responded to a newspaper ad that eventually landed him a part in a Bill Cosby Jell-O commercial."

External links

Public and private high schools in Bergen County, New Jersey
North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJSIAA)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (NJSIAA)
Authority control databases
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