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June 23, 2010

Wrapping up the best of the First Decade at OCHS

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


For parts of the last 10 months The Gazette has been reviewing the First Decade, the sports seasons beginning in January of 2000 and continuing through December of 2009. In all, varsity all star teams from 19 Cape-Atlantic League championship sports were selected.

To review, here are the athletes selected best in their sport at OCHS for the First Decade:

Boys Cross Country - Brett Johnson
Girls Cross Country - Brittany Sedberry
Field Hockey - Danielle McNally
Football-Offense - Chris Curran
Football-Defense - Rob Zauck
Boys Soccer - Kyle Evans
Girls Soccer - Katie Ruiz
Girls Tennis - Caitlin Reich
Boys Basketball - Phil Schaffer
Girls Basketball - Nancy White
Boys Swimming - Jason Marks
Girls Swimming - Renee Tomlin
Wrestling - Joe Galante
Baseball - Mike Dugan
Golf - Jeff Michner
Girls Lacrosse - Casey Beyel
Softball - Cory Picketts
Boys Tennis - Dan Barrus
Boys Track - John Richardson
Girls Track - Renee Tomlin

There are still a few more selections to announce. So lets wrap it up.

BOYS SPORT COACH OF THE DECADE: Mike Pellegrino won 181 games in his nine seasons during the First Decade, including three state championships, five South Jersey titles, eight championships within the Cape-Atlantic League and two titles in the Coaches Invitational Tournament. Pellegrino retired prior to last season with a career total of 228 wins and is now the athletics director at Egg Harbor Township High School.
GIRLS SPORT COACH OF THE DECADE: Trish LeFever won 206 games during the 10 seasons of the First Decade, including four state championships, six South Jersey titles and 10 straight conference championships. LeFever retired just a few months ago with 464 wins in her career.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE DECADE: John Richardson did something in 2003 that no New Jersey runner accomplished before or since - he won both the 800 meters and the 1600 meters in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. Richardson had a remarkable career, being named All-South Jersey twice in track and all-conference three times. In cross country, he won two South Jersey Group 3 championships and was named to the all-conference team three times.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE DECADE: Renee Tomlin was the only OCHS athlete named the best in two different sports during the First Decade. In track, she was the best of the decade in the 400, 800 and 1600 meters. She won four state championships in three years, two each in the 800 and 1600. In swimming, she was selected in the 50 freestyle and on all three relay teams. She also ran cross country her senior year and was named all-conference.
SPORTSPERSON OF THE DECADE: Paul Baruffi has been a major force in OCHS sports during the first decade. He started the 10-year period as the boys junior varsity coach. Since taking over as head girls basketball coach, Baruffi won 170 games in eight full seasons, including the school's first-ever appearance in a girls basketball state final, four straight South Jersey finals including two titles, five division championships and three overall CAL titles. He has also devoted his skills as an assistant coach in football and track.
Baruffi joins previous SportsPersons of the Decade - Paul LeFever (1990s), Mike Allegretto (1980s), Harry Vanderslice Sr. (1970s) and Richard B. Fox Jr. (1960s).

There you have it, a trip back over the past 10 years remembering the top OCHS performers. It was a great decade for the Raiders. And the Second Decade of the 21st Century is already off to a good start with impressive championships in boys basketball, baseball and boys tennis. It will be interesting to see how the loss of coaches Pellegrino, LeFever, Bill Nickles, Gary Degenhardt, Bill Moreland and Wendy Nickles - all the winningest coaches in their sports - will impact the program.

Lets hope we're all still around in 2019 to try to put it all into perspective.




Read more of Tom Williams' columns