The Week in Sports: A Look Back and a Look Ahead
Nancy Sophias and Anatoliy Alkazov were the top student athletes making headlines last week.
From basketball to wrestling, indoor track to bowling, here is the latest news in Fort Lee sports:
- Let’s start with boys' basketball, where Fort Lee had three difficult opponents standing in their way last week. The Bridgemen began the week with a 72-56 loss on the road to Dwight Morris. Sophomore guard Nick Genile led Fort Lee with 21 points on the night. Fort Lee then visited Lakeland on Thursday. Sophomore guard Tandee Mushandu tied Gentile for a team-high 13 points, but the Bridgemen also lost 61-49. The week drew to a close on Saturday when Garfield rallied for a road win at Fort Lee 70-61. Freshman guard Josh Ford and Gentile combined for 38 points in the contest. After losing three games this week, the Bridgemen hope next week will be better. They host Mahwah on Tuesday, before visiting Westwood on Thursday. Both games start at 7 p.m.
- The Lady Bridgemen also had a rough week as the team lost back-to-back contests and a season-high three games in a row. Fort Lee lost to Dwight Morrow on Tuesday 55-39 despite 12 points each from seniors Brianna Mattessich and Bindi Parikh. Lakeland also beat Fort Lee on Thursday, 49-30. The Lady Bridgemen had seven players score in the game. Fort Lee now looks ahead to a trio of games this upcoming week. The Lady Bridgemen visit Mahwah on Tuesday and host Westwood on Thursday at 7 p.m. The final contest takes place on Saturday, when Fort Lee hosts Lodi beginning at 1 p.m.
- The Fort Lee bowling teams competed in two matches this week, as well as a county tournament on Saturday. Notably, the girl’s defeated Ridgefield Park 3-2, as the boys lost to both the Scarlets and the Cardinals of Westwood. In the county tournament, senior David Daniels had a high game of 236 and an average score of 192 for the day. Daniels called it a great learning experience for the younger bowlers. Next up, the co-ed team faces Dumont on Monday and Cliffside Park on Friday.
- The indoor track team started with a meet last Sunday in Toms River. The best finish for Fort Lee at the NJSIAA Group II State Relay Championship was the girl’s 3200 meter relay team that came in ninth. The team fared better Friday at the Ridgewood Winter Games with many medal winners and placements. Senior Nancy Sophias was named coach Ed Garrison’s Athlete of the Meet after winning the girl’s 600 meter relay. Fort Lee now has the Armory/Novice races on Monday and then the Bergen County Relays on Wednesday. Both will be held at New York’s 168th St. Armory.
- And finally, the wrestling team lost their only match of the week on Wednesday against Northern Valley/Demarest. The Bridgemen fell behind early 36-0 but were able to record a pin with senior Anatoliy Alkazov, who was named Fort Lee Patch's Athlete of the Week. Junior Demir Radoncic and senior Jose Granados also had pins in Fort Lee's 60-24 loss. The Bridgemen meet Leonia on the mats this Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the road.