New Providence High School - Athletics

Athletics

The New Providence High School Pioneers now compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Prior to the realignment that took place in 2010, the school had participated in the Mountain Valley Conference. NPHS's teams have won multiple state championships in sports such as track & field, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, swimming, and wrestling.

The Pioneers have had three state wrestling champions: John Ferrara (1969), Rich Billitz (1976), and Donnie DeFilippis (1999, who came in second twice before winning the title). On March 13, 2012 DeFilippis was inducted into the Region 3 Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in High School and on the Division 1 level in college.

Head football coach Frank Bottone finished the 2006 season with his 300th career victory, the fourth coach in New Jersey history to achieve that milestone. The only coach in New Providence's school history since the football program began in 1963, Bottone compiled a record of 334-125-7 in his 46 seasons before he retired after the 2010 season. His teams won 15 conference championships and eight state sectional championships, including an undefeated season in 1989 when the Pioneers went 11-0 with 9 shutouts, cumulatively outscoring their opponents 234-20. The two teams that scored against the Pioneers that season were Middlesex High School (43-13) and David Brearley High School of Kennilworth (35-7); none of the scores were against their first string defense. The following year, Anthony Pignio represented NPHS in the North vs. South All star game, where he won MVP honors. Other stand-outs include Ted Blackwell who set the New Jersey High School record for points in a season with 254 points. Bottone called it a career at the end of the 2010 season, his 49th season overall in New Providence. The Pioneers went 10-1 en route to the North II, Group I State Championship with a 21-8 victory against Lincoln High School of Jersey City.

Former head baseball coach Tom Beck was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2007. He won numerous Mountain Valley Conference championships along with two state sectional titles and a Group I state championship in 1998. In 1990, after winning their state section and North Jersey championships, Beck's team came up just short in the Group I State Championship, losing 1-0 despite pitcher Ernie Schmidt throwing a no-hitter, and allowing no walks in the contest. Schmidt had a perfect game until the 6th inning when a dropped 3rd strike passed ball and bizarre sequence of events let up a run without any hits.

The boys soccer team won the 2003 NJSIAA North II Group I sectional championship with a 1-0 win over David Brearley High School. In 2007 the boys soccer team won the 2007 NJSIAA Central Group I Sectional Championship with a 3-2 win in over time against Metuchen High School. Alex Pellas scored the winning goal with around 4 minutes to go in the first overtime. The 2007 boys soccer team also won the Mountain Valley Conference. They went undefeated in their conference and finished with an 18-3-1 record. They lost to Arthur P. Schalick High School in the Group I semi-finals 2-0.

The 2003 girls soccer team won the Group I state championship, when they were co-champions with Glen Rock High School. In 2004 they won the Central Jersey Group I sectional championship and MVC conference. In 2005 and 2006 they defended their MVC titles. In 2010 the girls soccer team defeated Pennsville Memorial High School for the Group I State Championship.

The 2007 girls tennis team won the Central Jersey, Group I state sectional championship with a 5-0 win over Bound Brook High School in the tournament final. The team moved on to win the Group I State Championship with a 3-2 win over County Prep High School in the semifinals and Pennsville Memorial High School in the finals by a 3-2 score. The 2008 girls tennis team won the North II, Group I state sectional championship with a 4-1 win over County Prep High School. They went on to successfully defend their Group 1 state championship crown by defeating Pennsville Memorial High School in the semifinals and Leonia High School in the finals, both by a score of 3-2. This is the first time in NPHS sports history that a team has won back-to-back state championships.

The New Providence High School Marching Band has won USSBA New Jersey State Championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009,2011 and 2012. The band has won USSBA Northern States/All States Championships in Allentown, PA, in 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012.