Lessons Learned From the Mat Propel Wrestler in Life

Daryl Cocozzo is an accomplished wrestler and 2006 River Dell grad

How different things could have been for the River Dell wrestling team. Former standout wrestler Daryl Cocozzo, could have decided to take his talents to Bergen Catholic, right near his Oradell home. He instead chose to stay with his friends and attend his local public school where he became arguably the most accomplished wrestler in school history.   “I had a lot of fun at River Dell,” said the 23-year-old Cocozzo, who wrestled varsity all four years of high school. As a freshman, Cocozzo wrested at 103 pounds, but came up short in the state tournament, losing to eventual third-place finisher Jimmy Conroy by one point. Junior year, Cocozzo bumped up to 135 pounds and finished fifth in the state. His senior year, he entered the state …

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Hawks Bounce Back To Win Home Opener

River Dell defeats Mahwah 2-1

ORADELL--River Dell boys soccer coach Kevin Sabella felt his team's home opener against Mahwah on Monday was an extension of the season opener versus Indian Hills that took place over the weekend. Sabella liked the way the Hawks played against the Braves, despite his side coming away with a 2-1 loss after conceding the winning goal with 25 seconds remaining. "We came back Sunday and had a nice little practice," Sabella said after the game. "And everything started clicking today." After having trouble burying chances against Indian Hills, River Dell (1-1-0) scored two first half goals—including one in the first two minutes—to beat Mahwah 2-1 at home on the grass field on a warm Monday afternoon.  Senior co-captain Craig Marullis put the …

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Lady Hawks Return to the Pitch

River Dell Girls Soccer hope that retooled offense will lead to more goals.

River Dell girls soccer coach Steve Grenz admits his team had trouble scoring last year. Having graduated six seniors, who were "the heart of the team," Grenz expects his returning starters--as well as the newcomers-- to step up. “I'm looking for everyone to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Grenz, who is entering his ninth year at the helm. That sentiment goes not only for his forwards, but his midfielders as well. Grenz added that the team's biggest strength is the offense and liked what he has seen in practice. "I like our offense," the coach said. "I want to see what it can do against varsity level defenses.” River Dell finished 9-7-2 last season. The Lady Hawks were eliminated by Ramsey in the opening round of the North 1, …

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Where Are They Now: Kelly Dowell Goes from Golden Hawk to Panther

Dowell was a member of River Dell's 1994 state champion softball team.

Kelly Dowell will always remember her junior year of high school. Dowell, 34, was the starting catcher for River Dell’s first—and only—state championship softball team.  “The season was great,” said Dowell, who grew up in River Edge. “We were just a group of kids who loved the sport and played growing up. It was a magical season.” Dowell, who graduated in 1995, noted that the team possessed strong chemistry due to the girls playing together in the recreation program before high school. The Lady Hawks won league that year, but were eliminated by Fair Lawn in Bergen County tournament. “Around that time, River Dell softball was great,” Dowell said. The year before, River Dell won its league, the Bergen County Tournament and the North 1, Group…

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Hawks, Crusaders Ready for State Tournaments

Baseball and softball state runs begin next week

The state seedings for the baseball and softball tournaments were released late last night and the good news is that the River Dell Golden Hawks and Lady Hawks and Bergen Catholic Crusaders have all picked up bids for the tournaments.  The North 1 Group 2 baseball tournament kicks off on Monday, 4pm for the 10th seeded Golden Hawks who will head to Warren County to face the 7th seeded North Warren Patriots.  River Dell has a 14-10 record as of today and is on a four-game win streak currently. If the Hawks keep up their winning ways they will face either Dumont (#2) or Elmwood Park (#15) in the second round on May 27. The 6th seeded Lady Hawks picked up a first round match in Oradell against the 11th Kinnelon Lady Colts on Tuesday, 4:15pm …

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River Dell Picks Up Win on Senior Day

Sophomores Tim Barnes and Ryan Duran are the heroes on Senior Day.

RIVER EDGE- On senior day at River Dell High School, it was the underclassmen that helped the Golden Hawks pull out a 5-4 win over Hasbrouck Heights. “[The win] wasn’t pretty, but it counts,” River Dell head coach Brandon Flanagan said. “We’re not gonna give it back.” Sophomore Tim Barnes pitched four solid innings in relief of starter Evan Stern. The righty Barnes allowed only three base runners—on two walks and gave up a run on an RBI double—all in the top of the seventh inning. He struck out the side in the fifth inning, racking up five ‘K’s’ in total. “He did a good job for us,” Flanagan said. “He really set the tone.” The other sophomore hero was left fielder Ryan Duran, who knocked in the winning run for River Dell (13-10), who …

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Golden Hawks Done In By Walk-off Home Run

The River Dell baseball team completed a 1-3 week, with the latest set back the second consecutive walk-off loss.

EMERSON- Bottom seventh, one out, runner on first. River Dell pitcher Ryan Duran, in relief of Dylan Smith, on the hill facing Emerson first baseman David Palladino. In his previous at bat, Palladino smoked a line drive solo home run—just an inning earlier—to bring the Cavos within one, 3-2. After his teammate Brandon Lacey hit a single to right field, the senior sent a 3-1 pitch over the fence in center for his second homer of the game, giving Emerson a 4-3 win, and handing River Dell (7-9) its second straight loss. “It’s frustrating because we can’t finish people off,” Golden Hawks head coach Brandon Flanagan said. “The kids are down.” Smith (3-1) went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The senior walked five and struck out …

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River Dell Pitcher Fires No Hitter In First Start

Senior John LaValle threw a no-hitter in his first start of the season, a 2-0 win over Dwight Englewood.

John LaValle hadn’t pitched at all this season for the Golden Hawks before taking the hill against Dwight Englewood on April 18. LaValle made his turn count by firing off a no-hitter in a 2-0 win. The senior made a case for a spot in the rotation with his performance. “It was a great feeling,” said the River Edge native. “I did start getting nervous in the seventh inning, though.” The five-foot-eleven righty noticed through the first three innings that he could be a part of something special. And sometimes no-hitters come with superstitious behavior. “We didn’t talk about it on the bench,” said LaValle, 17. “In the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, I walked out and did the same stretches in between.” LaValle also tried to sit in the same …

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River Dell Baseball Team Gets Much Needed Win

The Golden Hawks, who suffered two setbacks this week, defeated Glen Rock 5-2 on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

After two setbacks during the week, the River Dell baseball team picked up a 5-2 road win over Glen Rock on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Dylan Smith (2-1) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, scattering five hits while striking out three. “The win was huge,” Golden Hawks head coach Brandon Flanagan said. “Dylan picked us up. He’s been pretty good lately.” The righty benefitted from early run support, coming to the mound with a 3-0 lead. “Getting three runs in the first inning was huge for our confidence,” Flanagan said. “We haven’t been hitting with runners in scoring position. It’s been our Achilles’ heel.” Smith cruised through the first four innings, allowing only three base runners, before running into trouble in the fifth. Glen …

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Family Forever

Could One Conversation Change Your Life?

How Cancer Led A Determined RiverDell Mom To Become A Personal Holistic Health Counselor

Linda Chagachbanian is a great many things, only some of which are: a RiverDell mother of three teenage daughters, a sought-after fitness trainer at Gold's Gym in Paramus and an astonishingly articulate, educated and determined survivor of breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2008, Chagachbanian's life was immediately swept up into the furious tornado of cancer, becoming another cipher in what she calls the "cancer industry." "Cancer is big business in this country," she explains. Sadly, there seems to be an endless supply of customers. "The way drugs are prescribed and tested, what treatments are available to who....you absolutely have to be your own advocate." What followed her diagnosis is a story that has already been told too often (and will …

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