Winter Whiz Kids Set the Bar For Success

Fort Lee’s brightest now looking to the future in movement for a brighter tomorrow.

There is no formula to being a Whiz Kid, and no blueprint for the proper way to become one. It may take the drive of Fort Lee’s Nancie Sophias, the leadership qualities shown by George Padin, the singing abilities of Arev Dinkjian or the dedication of basketball player Bindi Parikh. These four student athletes are just like everyone else but they have something that makes them unique.   Sophias, for example, is a senior and one of the top runners in Northern New Jersey. She has set numerous Fort Lee High School records including the 600 meter run and is on the track team year round. If that isn’t enough, Nancie is also the Vice President of her class, the secretary of the student council, and President of the Greek Club. She has donated a …

• Photos (4)
• Videos (2)

The Week in Sports: a Look Back and a Look Ahead

Senior day the main story from last week as both teams now look to playoffs this week

From basketball to wrestling, and indoor track to bowling, here is the latest news in Fort Lee sports:

• Photos (14)

Athlete of the Week

Athletes of the Week: Senior Basketball Players Brianna Mattessich and Bindi Parikh

Seniors step aside for others on one of the biggest days in their high school careers.

The Athlete of the Week Award typically goes to someone who scores a lot of points, finishes first in a race or leads their team to an impressive victory. But this week, the honor goes to two basketball players who made a contribution off the floor.   On Thursday, the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen held their senior day ceremonies where players in their final year compete in the last home game of their high school careers. Most coaches will play all the seniors they can as a nod of appreciation, but some teams run into a problem of they have too many seniors and too few starting slots. This was the problem that plagued head coach Stacie Zafiris and the Lady Bridgemen. With six seniors on the team and only five players allowed to start, it …

• Photos (7)

Fort Lee Basketball Teams Take Time to Honor Seniors

Decorated gyms and heart-felt speeches highlight the last home game for senior athletes.

In a fast paced world, it is sometimes difficult to stop and reflect on how you reached this point in life. Well, the Fort Lee basketball teams did just that this week, as they paused from their normal routine to honor their graduating student athletes. The festivities started on Wednesday night as the Bridgemen hosted Dwight Morrow. Prior to the game, Fort Lee head coach John Ziemba called the team managers, graduating cheerleaders and senior players on to the court with their families. Ziemba talked about everyone’s contribution to the team and went in depth about his two seniors. Forward Ryan Ford had what coach Ziemba called “a disappointing year” as the senior was academically ineligible for most of the season. Ford returned to score …

• Photos (13)
• Videos (3)

Whiz Kid: A Senior Singing Sensation Arev Dinkjian

“This is my way to contribute to the team.”

Americans tend to be afraid of speaking in public, so much so that studies have shown they are even more afraid of death than speaking in front of an audience. But those studies fail to mention how many people are even more afraid of singing in public. Some choose to sing in the shower, and others belt out the lyrics to their favorite songs in the car, but very few people would dare open up to the thought of singing in front of an actual aduience. This week’s Whiz Kid is different, however, and actually loves doing what most people would never be caught dead doing. After growing up in a musical household, Fort Lee’s Arev Dinkjian started singing at the age of six, joined her Church choir and began what became a time-honored tradition at …

• Photos (4)
• Videos (1)