Feb. 13, 2024
By Emma Bannon
Editor
LHS’ joint hockey team with Paramus High School has faced adversity throughout this season. As of Feb. 13, the team had a 3-17 record, but losses have not hindered the players’ positive attitudes.
Junior Gianna Decoro, who has been on the varsity team since her freshman year, said she has developed a love for the sport.
“Hockey is more than just physical. [It] also requires mental strength and ambition,” Decoro said. “Surrounding myself with people I love helps me gain confidence and reminds me of how important it is to be positive to the people around me.”
Decoro said although hockey is a tough sport, the players compete well when they work together.
“What sets our high school team apart from others is our determination and love of the game. Since there is little appreciation or love of hockey in our school, the ones that do play truly love the game.”
“The key to playing hockey well is communicating and making smart decisions fast. Hockey helps with collaborating and adapting to tough situations,” Decoro said.
She said she hopes to see more LHS students join the team in the coming years.
“I am proud that we have been able to build our hockey community in Lyndhurst over the past [11] years, and I hope to see it expand even more in the future to really get our name on the map for New Jersey hockey,” Decoro said.
Senior Teddy Hintzen, who joined varsity his sophomore year, said his standout quality as a hockey player is his determination.
“I have never been the fastest skater or the best shooter, but I’ve always kept practicing and training to get better,” Hintzen said. “Recently I’ve been working on my stamina and speed on the ice. I’ve been running and [doing] cardio to help improve these aspects of my game.”
Before each game, he stretches and meditates to clear his mind, which he said has helped his gameplay.
“I have learned to overcome challenges when they come and to always keep pushing even if it feels [like I am] going downhill,” Hintzen said.
He said he is proud of how hard the hockey team works in practice and on game days.
“What sets our high school team apart from others is our determination and love of the game. Since there is little appreciation or love of hockey in our school, the ones that do play truly love the game,” Hintzen said.
Freshman Ryan Lemanowicz said having many young players on the team has given him an opportunity to compete on the varsity level.
“Even though I am a freshman, I have earned my spot and respect on the team,” Lemanowicz said.
He said his experiences on the hockey team have taught him valuable life lessons.
“I learned to have a good work ethic on and off the ice to train and get better, and I believe this will help me with pretty much anything in the future,” said Lemanowicz.
