End-of-season athletic summaries

Varsity

Varsity Girls Tennis

The 2025 season was defined by resilience, depth, and steady growth as 12 athletes contributed in varsity roles and several JV players proved ready for the next level. Despite injuries and illness throughout the lineup, younger players stepped up with confidence, showcasing a bright future for EC tennis.

Senior captains Schuyler Boe and Fiona Borzone led the team with poise at 1st and 2nd singles. Before a season-ending wrist injury, Schuyler posted a 4–4 record and earned Second Team All-County honors. Fiona added key wins in a demanding position, also finishing 4–4 with All-County Honorable Mention.

Major strides were made by Olivia Magarro, Ava LaPooh, and Anna Dumke, who contributed victories across all three singles spots. The doubles lineup saw strong play from Allie Helphingstine, Karis Choi, Elise Jones, and Nina Yang, while a thrilling 20–18 third-set tiebreak win by Nina Jiang and Kirsten Almroth highlighted the season.

The team closed at 8–10 (6–6 league), a testament to its competitiveness and togetherness throughout a challenging schedule.

Varsity Girls Soccer

Girls soccer embraced one of the toughest schedules in program history after being placed in the NJIC’s second-highest division. Facing 12 opponents ranked in the North Jersey Top 25, the team battled to an 8-10-1 overall record and finished above .500 in league play, ensuring its place in the same division for next fall, despite a new promotion/relegation model.

Senior captain Caroline Pringle completed a remarkable career as one of EC’s all-time greats. Goalkeeper Hannah Leegwater surpassed the 100-save mark for the second straight season, raising her career total to 543. Brielle Heerema and Paulina Velasquez provided steady leadership and consistency on both sides of the ball.

Despite the demanding slate, the team showed tremendous grit and growth, continuing EC’s tradition of toughness, pride, and competitive excellence.

Varsity Boys Soccer

The boys varsity team overcame a rocky start—dropping three of its first four games—by regrouping, refocusing, and reestablishing its identity. Key wins over Paterson Charter, Becton, and Bogota sparked momentum, helping the group earn its first winning stretch and a berth in the Passaic County Tournament as the 12-seed.

A first-round win over Passaic Valley sent EC to the quarterfinals, where the team pushed a strong Passaic High squad to the wire, a performance that proved the boys could compete with larger and higher-ranked programs. EC finished the season at .500 overall and in league play, showing meaningful improvement and earning respect across the county.

Seniors Jason Alicea, Lennox Cederholm, and Zachary Ninan led with impact—Jason recorded 10 goals and 18 assists (nearly 60% goal involvement), Lennox posted 16 goals and 3 assists, and Zach anchored the midfield with composure.

EC earned four First Team All-League selections (Alicea, Cederholm, Joe Virga, Yuha Lee), two Second Team selections (Ninan, Caleb Vanderwall), and Jason earned Second Team All-County honors.
With strong development and rising expectations, the program enters next season aiming for promotion and broader county recognition.

Varsity Volleyball

Varsity volleyball experienced a tale of two halves—opening 3–10 before rallying late to finish 9–18 with clear signs of progress in what was expected to be a rebuilding year. Despite graduating four talented seniors and adjusting to a new coaching staff, the group played with heart and showed it could compete with top programs.

A narrow loss to Hawthorne in the county quarterfinals, decided largely by service errors, showed EC was only a few points away from the semifinal bracket and firmly among the county’s top teams. In the state tournament, a short-handed roster battled No. 1 seed and eventual champion Montclair Kimberley Academy to the end.

The team also launched new traditions, including Mentoring Mondays, where varsity and JV athletes coached EC’s middle school players, as well as post-game devotionals and prayer with opponents. With a talented junior and sophomore core, EC is positioned for a strong 2026 season.

Varsity Cross Country

The boys’ team entered the season with a young roster and battled through early growing pains, starting 0–6 before rallying to finish 4–7. After a tough league meet, EC responded with an impressive showing at the County Championships, placing 10th out of 15 teams and posting many season-best times.

Sophomores Issachar Yang and Christian Macy earned All-County Honorable Mention, while Benjamin Scarnato-Bennett, Manuel Vera, and freshman Asher Steen made key contributions. With no graduating seniors, the entire varsity lineup returns—setting the stage for a promising year ahead.

The girls team featured two seniors, Avery Peters and Megan Cuellar, who showed consistent improvement and both earned Second Team All-League and All-County Honorable Mention honors. Their leadership anchored the program, and their graduation leaves opportunities for the next wave of runners to step up.

 

Junior Varsity

JV Soccer

Boys JV soccer delivered a strong and steady season, finishing 8-4-3 behind excellent leadership from captains Caleb Virga, Matthew Kameno, TJ Bednarz, and Patrick Weizba.

Patrick led the team with 11 goals, Matthew continued his strong development, and TJ anchored the defense with standout performances in goal. A signature moment came against New Milford, when Joshua Campoverde scored late to secure a 2–1 win.The group grew significantly throughout the season and set a solid foundation for future varsity contributions.

JV Volleyball

The JV volleyball team wrapped up the year with six wins and meaningful growth across the roster. Captains Charlotte Kuiken and Ashley Incardona provided strong leadership and played key roles in each victory. With three athletes completely new to the sport, the group embraced challenges, leaned into mental toughness, and maintained a positive team culture. The highlight came on Homecoming, when EC earned its first win in a thrilling three-set match against Clifton (17–25, 27–25, 25–13), sparking a four-match winning streak.

 

Middle School

MS Boys Soccer

Middle school boys soccer faced a true rebuilding year after graduating a large eighth-grade class. With a mostly new defense and reworked midfield, tryouts revealed a promising sixth-grade group ready to compete. The team also faced an early setback when one of its top players suffered a broken bone in the first game.

After a few lopsided results, the group settled into a new defensive shape and began competing with confidence—even against older, larger opponents. The team finished strong with a tie against Waldwick and two victories over Haledon.

Standout efforts came from Ethan Groen, who stepped into the full-time goalkeeper role and led the back line; Daniel Pratt, who led the team in scoring; and a seventh-grade class that adapted to new positions with maturity. Sixth graders Peter Verrengia and Thiago Gomes excelled in new center-mid roles, competing fearlessly against much older players.

The group’s determination and growth revealed an exciting future for EC soccer.

MS Girls Soccer

The middle school girls posted an impressive 7-4 record, highlighted by two strong wins over Waldwick, a narrow 2–1 battle with Glen Rock, and a tight 3–2 match against Hawthorne. Their improvement was most evident in the rematch with Glen Rock, shifting from a 6–0 loss early in the year to a 2–1 thriller at home.

A strong eighth-grade core led the way. Allie Troupos stepped courageously into the goalkeeper role and delivered a standout season. Juliana Peralta drove play through the midfield and contributed on the scoresheet every game.

Avery Mulder and Kyla Minnaar anchored a gritty defensive unit alongside seventh graders Elise Dyksen and Stella Fleming, while newcomer Stella Rainville added an offensive spark. Addie Baitzel provided key minutes as a backup goalkeeper, and Nora Mulder displayed tremendous heart by leading post-game prayer with opponents—culminating in a memorable moment when the entire Waldwick team joined EC after a hard-fought match.

The season showcased skill, leadership, and Christ-centered sportsmanship.

MS Volleyball

Middle school volleyball featured a deep roster—twelve eighth graders, five seventh graders, and one sixth grader—and grew steadily as rotations became more defined. Once settled, the team produced exciting matches and earned hard-fought wins over Midland Park and Saddle River Day.
Joint practices with the high school JV and varsity created strong program-wide unity and accelerated player development. The team also emphasized encouragement, leadership, and discipleship throughout the season, inviting opponents to join in post-game prayer and building meaningful connections.

With strong skill development and spiritual growth, this group enters the future with confidence and momentum.

MS Cross Country

ECMS Cross Country enjoyed an excellent season with 31 runners across grades 6–8. The team was competitive in all six meets, consistently placing athletes in the top 10. One standout moment came in the fourth meet, when the top five EC girls placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th. At the championship meet, the boys placed 8th of 13, while the girls secured 3rd of 14, with five athletes finishing in the top 26. The strong results reflect a thriving XC program at EC, with a deep and talented group poised for continued success.

 

County & League Honors

Tennis

County

• 2nd: Schuyler Boe
• HM: Olivia Magarro, Fiona Borzone

League (Colonial)

• HM: Schuyler Boe, Fiona Borzone

Girls Soccer

County

• 1st: Caroline Pringle
• 2nd: Brielle Heerema
• HM: Paulina Velasquez, Sophia Eftychiou

League (Meadowlands)

• 1st: Caroline Pringle, Paulina Velasquez
• 2nd: Hannah Leegwater, Brielle Heerema
• HM: Hannah Nashold

Volleyball

County

• 2nd: Brooke Dykhouse
• HM: Rachel Anokye, Amelia Pringle

League (Meadowlands)

• 2nd: Brooke Dykhouse
• HM: Amelia Pringle

Boys Soccer

County

• 2nd: Jason Alicea
• HM: Lennox Cederholm, Zach Ninan

League (American)

• 1st: Yuha Lee, Lennox Cederholm, Jason Alicea, Joe Virga
• 2nd: Caleb Vander Wall, Zachary Ninan
• HM: Sam Austin

Cross Country

County

• HM: Avery Peters, Megan Cuellar, Issachar Yang, Christian Macy

League (Meadowlands)

• 2nd: Megan Cuellar, Avery Peters
• HM: Issachar Yang