Matawan Regional HS Senior Honored As NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete

ABERDEEN, NJ — A graduating senior from Matawan Regional High School has been honored as an NJSIAA scholar-athlete for the 2019-2020 school year.

Norman Gardell graduated this spring; he ran track and played varsity soccer for the Matawan-Aberdeen Huskies. Gardell was also a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship, an achievement given to less than 1 percent of all high-school seniors in the U.S.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association program has been honoring student-athletes for 27 years. The group chooses high school seniors from across the state who excel at both sports and academics.

"Given the very challenging year we've all faced, it's particularly important to recognize the academic achievements of New Jersey's student-athletes," said Colleen Maguire, the NJSIAA's chief operating officer. "I'm certain each certificate recipient worked hard not only in the classroom and in competition, but also in overcoming the hurdles presented by the closing of all school buildings. Despite the difficulties, they all continued to pursue their goals and dreams."

More than 7,700 students have been honored since the inception of the program in 1993.

The NJSIAA, which was established in 1918, is a voluntary, nonprofit organization comprised of 436 accredited public, private, and parochial high schools that oversees high school athletics in New Jersey. The NJSIAA conducts tournaments and crowns champions in 32 sports.