Boys’ Soccer Out to Make School History
After beginning last season with a record of 1-5-1, Gill’s boys’ soccer team went on a phenomenal run to claim its fourth state championship in program history.
This fall, the Knights are looking to do it again, but maybe without the slow start this time.
“We feel like year number two in our new division will make a huge difference for us,” said Head Coach Tony Bednarsky, who was named the Skyland Conference Coach of the year last season. “We are a year older, a year stronger, and we look to improve upon our conference play and be good from wire to wire.”
While a major goal for the team is to be competitive throughout the season, there is always one, mainstay goal when it comes to this program: winning a state title.
“I always tell my players that we go into every season aiming to win the state title,” said Bednarsky. “We, of course, have other major goals like the Somerset County Championships or the Prep Championships which we are playing in for the first time in a while. However, state is the crown jewel.”
The Knights were able to win that crown jewel last year, and if they are able to do it again this fall, they will be the first program in school history to claim back-to-back state titles.
There is a good chance that the repeat could happen, as GSB will be bringing a ton of talent to the soccer pitch this season. Six players were chosen by NJ.com as being among the best position players within the Non-Public B grouping. Also, junior transfer Chris Chyzowych was selected by the publication as a potential breakout player this fall.
Rounding out Bednarsky’s squad will be Sean Beatty ‘20, Ayman Kazi ’20, Nick Kovalenko ’20, Drew Kramer ’20, Luke Mortensen ’20, Eideen Mozaffari ’21, Nick Skiadis ’21, Finlay Turnbull '21, Blake Bertolini ’22, Gavin Scavino ’22, Joe Howard ’23, and Charles Taliano ’23.
Gill will begin its state title defense on Wednesday, September 4, at North Hunterdon.
“We’re not a physically large team, but collectively we want our 11 guys to be bigger on the field than anyone else, and we’ll do whatever it takes to be on top again,” said Bednarsky.
Gill St. Bernard's School
Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a rigorous, meaningful, and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on our 208-acre campus.