Photo by James Dombrowski Shown left to right: Coach Kimberly Hayes; Andrea Bajarezo; Meredith Berlowitz; Shannon Rennie; co-captain, Melissa Hernandez; Kristen Norton; Angelica Ronga; Gina Finelli; (on the top) Melissa Macaluso; captain, Morgan Hrnciar; captain, Ava Marie Valerie; and coach Mellissa Balala.

By James Dombrowski / Sports Columnist

(Dec. 3, 2009) — The St. Mary’s Gaels(6-5) football season ended on a losing note with a Thanksgiving Day loss to Wallington(7-3). The Gaels were blasted by the Panthers 42-6 for their first loss to Wallington in 13 years.

The Gaels were defeated by Paterson Catholic Nov. 21 in the Non-Public Group 1 Championship Game 28-7. St. Mary’s season was full of inconsistencies but their cheerleaders never gave up cheering for the home team.

Pat Rono of Lyndhurst is having a great sophomore season and a Group 1 second place finish at the State Group Championships held at Holmdel Park continues to build the character of this future State Champion. Rono took second place to nemesis  Senior Dave Oster of Verona. Oster ran a 15:52 to Rono’s 16:19. Rono’s time qualified him for the State Meet of Champions were Rono got a chance to run against the best of New Jersey and his time of 15:55 was good for ninth place.

As I have stated in past articles when you consider that Rono practices against much slower runners his performances are terrific. If he could be challenged by better competition all season long who knows what his times would be. The mental toughness of Rono is immeasurable.

At the prestigious Nike Easterns Cross Country Meet of Champions held in Wappingers Falls, N. Y. Saturday, Nov. 28 Rono took 14th place besting all area runners.

The New Jersey Devils 17-6-1 ride into December in second place in the Eastern Conference with 35 points trailing the Penguins by only one point for first place. The December home stand at the Prudential Center will give fans 10 chances to see the Devils. On Saturday, Dec. 5, against the Red Wings, New Jersey will celebrate their first Stanley Cup Championship in 1995 with a Devils Reunion at 7 p.m.