Conference Preview: NJIC

<p>The conference preview list continues with the NJIC. The North Jersey Interscholastic Athletic League is one of the larger conferences on our list and showcases talent everywhere you look. Teams are improving year-in and year-out so let’s take a closer look at the conference with the favorites, dark horses and key players to keep an eye on this season. </p> <p>Last Season</p> <p>The depth of the conference was on full-display in the shortened-spring season with three teams going unbeaten in conference play: Bogota, Midland Park and Hasbrouck Heights. Bogota actually had a perfect spring season but played a substantially less number of games. A majority of the squads were senior-heavy a year ago so it will be intriguing to see how many teams fair with younger groups. </p> <p><strong>Favorites</strong></p> <p><em>Bogota</em></p> <p>Whenever you think of the NJIC, you immediately think of Bogota as the favorites and most likely to win the NJIC. The team continues to bring in talent and just produce at the highest level. The team is losing some seniors but that does not mean there is a lack of talent on the squad. Expect them to be right there once again like always. This team is just dominant in this conference. </p> <p><em>Midland Park</em></p> <p>The other favorite, is another who went unbeaten in conference play, Midland Park. A squad that was reliant on senior production in the spring. The squad will have another group of upperclassmen ready to expand their roles. In years past, the team has displayed consistency and now it’s just time to eclipse the final hurdle. </p> <p><strong>Dark Horses</strong></p> <p><em>Lyndhurst</em></p> <p>Potentially the biggest threat in the NJIC is Lyndhurst as they were a team that was extremely heavy with juniors in the spring. All of those juniors return on this squad and they have depth at every single position. This team is going to be legit again this year and in my opinion have a legit chance to be a contender in the conference and as a sectional champ.</p> <p><em>Lodi Immaculate</em></p> <p>Many may disagree with this pick in Lodi Immaculate. However, the team last spring was one of the younger squads and had a solid season. Five players were underclassmen on this squad in the spring and every single player returns this season. They are going to surprise some people not just this season but for the next couple seasons. </p> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <p>Anna Geisler (Lodi Immaculate; L/DS)</p> <p>Kate Rutowski (Park Ridge; OH)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="128676" first="Mia" last="Pimentel"] (Bogota; S)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="128495" first="Jessica" last="Balala"] (Midland Park; L/DS)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="152482" first="Jaylinn" last="Colon"] (Lyndhurst; S)</p> <p>Sydney Reicher (Hawthorne; S)</p> <p>Wiktoria Kowal (Garfield; MB)</p> <p>Abigail Boyd (Leonia; O)</p>