Much like clockwork, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) presented Christian Brothers Academy with the ShopRite Cup for best non-public athletics program in New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon.
It is the third consecutive year that CBA has topped the standings and ninth time in the 14-year history of the award.
"This is a celebration of our incredible tradition,” Director of Athletics Vito Chiaravalloti said. “And although winning the NJSIAA/ShopRite Cup is always a special occasion, the award doesn't define us. It merely reaffirms the relentless effort of our student-athletes and coaches, day-in and day-out, to compete to be our very best.”
The ShopRite Cup is determined through a points system designed by the NJSIAA, which rewards schools for high finishes in NJSIAA-sanctioned state events. Fifteen of the 18 varsity sports at CBA are governed by the NJSIAA, with the exception of crew, rugby and sailing which have independent governing bodies.
In 2016-2017, CBA’s cross country, soccer, indoor track relay, indoor track overall, golf and outdoor track teams won their respective NJSIAA state championship. Both swimming and tennis finished as runners-up, while CBA Hockey took third place in their state tournament. These nine programs won points towards the ShopRite Cup standings.
In addition, CBA earned points in both the winter and spring seasons for having zero ejections across all sports during those seasons.
NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STANDINGS:
1) CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY (168)
2) Delbarton School (136)
3) Immaculate Heart Academy (133)
4) Bergen Catholic (93)
5) Pingry School (92)
Soccer, fencing, outdoor track, golf and tennis won their NJSIAA sectional championship. The Colts claimed Shore Conference titles in cross country, soccer, indoor track, swimming, golf and outdoor track. CBA added 10 division titles in 14 eligible sports as well.
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Meanwhile, the crew, cross country, indoor track and sailing programs all qualified for their sport’s National Championship in 2016-2017.
The CBA Class of 2017 student-athletes produced 44 collegiate athletes, with 23 of them signing Division I letters of intent. CBA named 18 of those seniors as “scholar athletes,” which is awarded based on an exceptionally high grade point average while playing a varsity sport.
“CBA athletes don’t compete for awards or recognition,” Chiaravalloti continued. “We compete because of a burning passion to strive for excellence in all that we do. A passion to uphold the tradition built by those who came before us. This year’s ShopRite Cup is a celebration not only for our current athletes and coaches, but for all those who have ever worn the navy and white or cheered as a member of the Colt Crazies."
Christian Brothers previously won the ShopRite Cup in 2004 (inaugural year), 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
