Before the 2015-2016 school year had ended, a group of 20 plus girls crowded into the health room of the high school to begin thinking of the new, upcoming year ahead of them.

For the second year in a row, the girls were meeting a brand new coach, the person who would lead them through their next season. Mr. Lona Ozrek, a graduate of William Paterson University, will be taking on the challenge for the 2016 soccer season.

Last year, the girls’ varsity team placed first in the league, proving themselves to be tough competition.

Once Ms. Leah Jerome resigned from her position as head coach after the 2015 season, the search was on for a capable girls’ varsity soccer coach.

Ozrek previously coached the womens’ varsity soccer team at Dominican college. Before that, Ozrek was the girls’ head coach at Wayne Hill High School for four years. During his time there, he was voted Passaic County Coach of the year, and his team made it to the Passaic County and NBIAL League Championships.

The girls have different opinions on having a brand new coach, but most are positive, like Jaclyn Mills (’17), who is looking forward to the upcoming season with a new coach.

“…we will get to experience a new take on the game,” Mills said.

For the seniors on the team this year, Ozrek will be their third coach in four years. Some of the girls juggle club teams, as well as their school team, and consider it a hassle to get to know a new coach and the new values they will bring to the team.