Essex Freeholders Honor Verona High Boys Basketball Team For Championship Win

From the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders: During a special presentation held at the Hall of Records in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7, 2017, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the Verona High School Boys Basketball Team for winning the 2016-2017 NJSIAA Group 1 Boys Basketball Championship.

Freeholder At-Large Patricia Sebold, Freeholder Vice President Brendan W. Gill, and District 4 Freeholder Leonard M. Luciano presented a Commendation to the team in celebration of their championship win and shared how proud they were of the team for successfully completing the season and bringing the championship title to Verona. Head Coach Eric McElroy and Assistant Coaches Greg Davidson, Justin Bruso and Mark Rossi accepted the Commendation on behalf of the team.

In addition to winning the 2017 NJSIAA Group 1 Boys Basketball Championship, the Boys Basketball Team was named Co-Champions of the Super Essex Conference (SEC), Colonial Division with a 9-3 Conference record. The team finished its outstanding 2016-2017 season ranked as the #6 team in Essex County and the State’s #1 Group 1 team with a stellar overall record of (25-6).

The Verona High School Boys Basketball Team was further recognized through honors bestowed upon several individual players, including: Senior Travis Jocelyn who was named NJ.com All Group 1 1st Team, the Sideline Chatter All-Essex County first team, SEC Colonial 1st team; Senior Jack Farrell who was named to the NJ.com All Group 1 2nd team, the Sideline Chatter All-Essex County 5th team, SEC Colonial 1st team, and was selected as a NJSIAA scholar athlete; Senior Zack Zaccone was named NJ.com All Group 1 3rd team and SEC Colonial 2nd team; Junior Joe Zecchino was named SEC Colonial Honorable Mention. In addition, Head Coach Eric McElroy was chosen as the NJ.com Super Essex “Coach of the Year”.

The team is comprised of the following members: Seniors: Travis Jocelyn, Jack Farrell, Zack Zaccone, Matt Zaccone, Kevin Kistner, Wade Kistner, Austin Molan, Robert Sorhaindo, Greg Marlo, Michael Malanga, Steven Gonzalez, Robert Farley, Zach Skrivanic; and Juniors: Garrett Percevault, Andrew Siegelin, Joseph Zecchino.

The team was coached by Head Coach Eric McElroy and Assistant Coaches Greg Davidson, Justin Bruso and Mark Rossi. It received administrative support from Superintendent Rui Dionisio, Principal Josh Cogdill, Athletic Director Robert Merkler, and Athletic Trainer Jason Calo.

Photo by Glen Frieson: Essex County Freeholders Patricia Sebold, Leonard M. Luciano, and Brendan W. Gill present the Board’s Commendation to the Verona High School Boys Basketball Team.