Fall athletic season highlights
Varsity
Varsity Tennis: With the departure of most of last year’s starting lineup, this year’s team faced a steep climb to reach match readiness. Three returning seniors were joined by a group of first-time varsity starters, all of whom rose to the challenge, finishing the season with a 6-5-1 league record. Taline Madalian earned the honor of being the top female tennis player at EC. Kayleigh Marshall quickly established herself as a formidable 2nd singles player, adapting her game to singles competition and winning 12 out of 16 matches, including an epic 3rd-set win over Pompton Lakes to avenge an early season marathon loss. The third singles position was shared between junior transfer Schuyler Boe and senior captain Destiny Miller, both of whom battled valiantly against tough opponents to finish the season with a winning record in the league.
Girls Varsity Soccer: The girls’ soccer team had another strong season, led by senior captain Kirsten Braunius and junior captain Caroline Pringle. With a record of 14-6 (9-3 in conference), the team embraced every challenge, securing big wins over Lyndhurst in overtime and North Arlington. Their 14 wins marked the best record in over 10 years, earning them home night games in both the County and State Tournaments. Once again, the team reached the Sectional Semifinals. Kirsten Braunius capped off her career with 87 goals, which will be deeply missed, but with a strong freshman class, rising senior captain Caroline Pringle, and 10 returning starters, the team is poised for continued success in the fall of 2025.
Boys Varsity Soccer: The boys’ soccer team had a season of growth, led by captains Gianmarco Pulliti, Jason Alicea, and Joseph Virga. With a 5-14 record, many players were adjusting to the varsity speed and style of play. The team’s Passaic County Tournament run included two wins against Eastside-Paterson and Hawthorne Christian Academy, demonstrating the team’s hard work coming to fruition. While the season ended with some close losses, the team finished strong with back-to-back wins over Midland Park, HCA, and a key victory over Passaic Charter for homecoming. Looking ahead, there are many promising prospects and returning players to build on for next season.
Cross Country: The boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams had strong individual performances and competitive team efforts this fall. The boys finished with a 5-6 regular season record, placing 4th at the league championship. The boys carried this momentum into the county championships, where several athletes were once again recognized with honors. The boys’ team will look to build on their success with a strong freshman class next season. Although the girls’ team didn’t have enough runners for a full team, individual performances were strong, with several athletes making strides toward future success. Both teams were able to compete at the highest level in the State Meet, where Alex Culp once again qualified for his third straight Meet of Champions.
Varsity Volleyball: The girls’ varsity volleyball team had another successful season, led by seniors Lillian Vogel, Grace Ivanov, Sadie VanderPyl, and Mariah Ramdath. Despite battling illness and injury, the team finished second in the conference with a 9-3 record. EC played its toughest schedule in several years, including programs like St. Mary’s, Glen Rock, and Secaucus, while still managing to secure a big win over Bogota and showcase their skills, especially on the service line. Lillian Vogel had a standout season, leading the team in kills. The seniors have been integral to the program over the past four years and will be greatly missed. However, the future of EC Varsity Volleyball is bright, with many returning players ready to continue the team’s success.
JV
Girls JV Tennis: The girls JV tennis team experienced a season of growth and learning. Several new players joined returning players Karis Choi, Sunny Yuan, Yan He, and Nina Yang. The team fought hard in many close games, showing great perseverance and growth through the season. Against Glen Rock, EC won two games and fought valiantly, despite facing a tough opponent. A stand out match occurred in Secaucus where Sarah Conklin and Bryce de Jong played incredibly well, taking their matches to game 7 in both sets.
Boys JV Soccer: The boys JV soccer program made significant strides this year, finishing with a 9-4-2 record. Captains Kyle Magee, Azariah Pratt, and Yejoon Shin provided exceptional leadership both on and off the field, guiding the team through a challenging and rewarding season. Azariah Pratt led the team with 16 goals, while sophomore Luke Minaar continued to impress with his play. Goalkeeper TJ Bednarz delivered outstanding performances in goal, helping to anchor the team’s defense. One of the season’s highlights came with a thrilling 3-2 win against Park Ridge, with Azariah Pratt scoring the game-winning goal in the second half.
Girls JV Volleyball: The JV volleyball team saw an influx of talented freshmen this year, including Audrey Heerema and Amelia Pringle, who played for both the JV and varsity teams. Other standout freshmen like Ashley Incardona and Charlotte Kuiken joined a strong core of sophomores, including team captains Madelyn White and Alyssa Malasits, and libero/outside hitter Perci Edmondson. The team had impressive performances, particularly against Glen Rock and Elmwood Park.
Middle School
MS Boys Soccer: The MS boys soccer team enjoyed another successful season, with 20 players (including 10 eighth graders) contributing to a team-oriented attack that improved steadily throughout the year. Highlights included an exciting win against Midland Park on Community Night on the new home field, being tied 1-1 with the league’s best team (Waldwick) before falling 3-1, a hard-fought 3-2 loss at perennial powerhouse Glen Rock, and a well played 5-1 victory over Haledon in the season finale. Coach Veenstra and Coach Spoelstra thank the team, their parents, and those who contributed to the season’s success behind the scenes.
MS Girls Soccer: The 2024 girls middle school soccer season was marked by impressive growth, both individually and as a team. The players focused on developing their skills while exemplifying the Christian athlete’s values both on and off the field. They enjoyed several wins on a beautiful new turf field, including strong performances against teams like Waldwick and Glen Rock. Thanks to the leadership of eight 8th-grade players and the expertise of Coach Dyksen as assistant coach, the team’s future looks bright, with 15 6th and 7th graders gaining valuable experience this season.
MS Volleyball: The middle school girls’ volleyball team had a competitive season with a mix of veterans and new players. The team’s dynamic included four 8th graders, seven 7th graders, and one 6th grader. Coach Kukol brought a fresh approach to the team, which led to exciting matches and some hard-fought wins against teams like Glen Rock and Elmwood Park. The girls grew not only in their volleyball skills but also in their leadership and discipleship, learning the importance of “winning with pride, losing with grace.” One of the highlights of their season was inviting the opposing team to a time of prayer after each game, further deepening their sense of community and spiritual growth. We look forward to watching this team continue to grow in the seasons to come.
MS Cross Country: The middle school boys and girls involved in cross country persevered this year. Some students had competed in cross country before while others were very new. It was a blessing to see how they encouraged one another in practice as well as at the meets. No matter their placing, each student looked toward their personal growth and became stronger through it. The sportsmanship and dedication of the athletes made the coaching staff and community proud to be Eagles! We pray they continue to run THE race toward our Lord.
High School Honors
Tennis
County
2nd: Taline Madalian
HM: Kayleigh Marshall, Destiny Miller
League
2nd: Taline Madalian, Kayleigh Marshall
HM: Destiny Miller
Girls Soccer
County
1st: Caroline Pringle
2nd: Kirsten Braunius
HM: Paulina Velasquez, Emily Minervini
League
1st: Kirsten Braunius, Caroline Pringle, Brielle Heerema
2nd: Hannah Nashold, Paulina Velasquez
HM: Hannah Leegwater
COY: Seth Stadtlander
Volleyball
County
1st: Lilly Vogel
HM: Grace Ivanov, Sadie Vander Pyl
League
1st: Lilly Vogel, Grace Ivanov, Brooke Dykhouse
2nd: Sadie Vander Pyl, Mariah Ramdath
HM: Alessandra Cardamone
Boys Soccer
County
HM: Jason Alicea, Julius Voswinkel
League
2nd: Jason Alicea, Julius Voswinkel, Joseph Virga
HM: Zachary Ninan
Cross Country
County
2nd: Alex Culp, Kendra Heerema
HM: Caleb Kuperus, Daniel Tubb, Avery Peters, Megan Cuellar
League
1st: Alex Culp, Kendra Heerema
2nd: Caleb Kuperus
HM: Daniel Tubb, Megan Cuellar