Athletics
The Passaic Valley Regional High School Hornets compete in the Independence Division of the Big North Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. With 949 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2011-12 school year for most sports as North I, Group III, a category that included schools with enrollment of 819 to 1,112. In the 2009-10 school year, the school competed in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference, which was established on an interim basis to facilitate the realignment. Prior to the realignment, the school had participated in the Skyline Division of the Northern Hills Conference. Passaic Valley's school colors are green and white. The school mascot, the Hornet, was derived by vote of the first class from The Green Hornet radio series popular in the 1940s.
The boys cross country team won the state group championships in 1961 (Group III) and 1962 (Group IV). The school's Jesse Mizzone was the individual champion in Group III in both 2000 and 2001.
In 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the girls varsity gymnastics team won the county championships, led by Coach Jenai Agosta along with Captains Alexis Arena, Dominique Brown, and Alison Fischbach. With the addition of freshman Jessica Burden in 2010, capturing a fourth consecutive Passaic County Championships. No other team in the 24 years of county championships has won the championship in four consecutive seasons.
Alexis (Missy) Arena continues to hold the gymnastics all time state record for All Around (AA) scoring a 37.95 in 2009. Arena's score breaks the previous mark of 37.325 by Passaic Valley's own Jackie Friscia in 2006. The meet dates to 1986. Arena also holds the 2010 New Jersey State beam Champion title with a 9.475, she placed third on vault with a 9.575 and fifth in the all-around with a 37.25.
On March 6, 2007, the boys' basketball team won the North I, Group III state championship, defeating Wayne Valley High School by 60-48, in a game played at Passaic County Technical Institute. The win was their first ever sectional championship in school history and came in Head Coach Rob Carcich's third season. The Hornets also advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association State Championship Game held at the RAC at Rutgers University The boys basketball team returned to the sectional final in 2011, this time losing to Teaneck High School on March 8, 2011. The team has a record of 108-51 in the past six seasons.
On April 28, 2007, George Abyad won the Penn Relays discus championship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
In 2006, the football team beat Wayne Valley High School once in the regular season and once in the playoffs, making it to the semi-finals before losing to defending North 1 Group 3 champions, Wayne Hills High School in the semifinal round. Under first year coach Al Capello, the Hornets made it to the Group 3 Section 2 State Championship at Giants Stadium on December 4, 2009, losing to West Morris Mendham High School by a score of 28-19. The football team won the North I Group IV state championships in 1975, 1979, 1980 and 1986.
In 2005 and 2006, the girls' field hockey team won back-to-back county championships led by Coach Cheryl Grande, before repeating as county champion in 2009, defeating Wayne Hills in the final game in all three championship seasons.
On February 25, 2008, the boy's ice hockey team coached by Gary Steele captured their first Nardello Cup, 3-2 against River Dell Regional High School.
In the 2009 spring season, senior Gerardo Valenzuela of the boys' tennis team won the County Championship at 2nd Singles.
In the 2009 spring season, the boy's volleyball team won the County Championship.
On May 28, 2007, the varsity baseball team, led by Head Coach John Mazzo, won the Passaic County Championship with a 4-2 victory over Passaic County Technical Institute, the team's third title and their first since repeating in 1998 and 1999. In 2010, they advanced to the Passaic County final, losing to Wayne Valley High School by a score of 5-4.
In Fall 2009, the Marching Band won 2nd Place against six other bands in the Group 2A division at the Yamaha Cup competition that was held in Giants Stadium.
In the 2009-2010 season the Hornets Wrestling Team captured the state sectional championship by beating Roxbury in the finals. Then they captured the District 13 Tournament championship. In 2012 again they were able to get the District 13 Tournament championship.
In Fall 2011, the Marching Band won 1st place against four other bands in the Group 3A division at Verona High School.
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