Clifton High School (New Jersey)

Clifton High School (CHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from the city of Clifton in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Clifton Public Schools. It has the largest student body in a single facility amongst high schools in New Jersey; Elizabeth High School had more students, but its students have been spread over multiple campuses.^[3]

Clifton High School
Address
333 Colfax Avenue Clifton , Passaic County , New Jersey 07013 United States
Coordinates	40°52′17″N 74°09′47″W / 40.871253°N 74.163167°W / 40.871253; -74.163167
Information
Type	Public High School
Established	1906
School district	Clifton Public Schools
CEEB code	310245
NCES School ID	340330004762^[1]
Principal	Ahmad Hamdeh
Faculty	220.9 FTEs^[1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	3,059 (as of 2022–23)^[1]
Student to teacher ratio	13.9:1^[1]
Color(s)	Maroon and   Gray^[2]
Athletics	Big North Conference (general) North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Mascot	Clifton Mustang
Team name	Mustangs^[2]
Rival	Passaic High School
Website	www.clifton.k12.nj.us/Domain/8

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 3,059 students and 220.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.9:1. There were 1,572 students (51.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 332 (10.9% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.^[1] Based on 2021-22 data from the New Jersey Department of Education, it was the third-largest high school in the state and one of 29 schools with more than 2,000 students.^[4]

History

The district established a high school in 1906, with 40 students, with a curriculum that covered "English, Latin, Greek, German, history, mathematics, physics, chemistry, bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting." By 1914, the school had 150 students. A new building was dedicated in April 1926, by which time the school served an enrollment of 1,100.^[5]

The current high school building on Colfax Avenue was completed at a cost of $6 million (equivalent to $62.5 million in 2023) and opened in September 1962 with 3,000 students.^[6]

An additional overflow site, the Clifton High School Annex, was constructed at a cost of $17 million and opened in September 2009 to accommodate 540 of the school year's 850 incoming freshmen to alleviate overcrowding.^[7]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 239th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.^[8] The school had been ranked 274th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 259th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.^[9] The magazine ranked the school 223rd in 2008 out of 316 schools.^[10] The school was ranked 280th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.^[11]

Campus

Clifton High School is divided into four wings; North, Central, South and East. Between the South and East wings, the William F. Shershin Memorial Technology and Media Center provides students access to many books, music, movies and computers with internet access.

Due to overcrowding, a walkway that runs alongside the four wings was added. There is also an annex building which now contains ASPIRE students. Originally, it had both freshmen students and ASPIRE students in the building. This annex building is located on Brighton Road.

Activities

Athletics

The Clifton High School Mustangs^[2] compete in over 50 sport programs as part of the Big North Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).^[12] For the 2009–10 season, the school competed in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference, an interim conference established to facilitate realignment.^[13] Prior to the reorganization, the school had participated in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) an athletic conference of high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties.^[14] With 2,131 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.^[15] The football team competes in the Liberty Blue division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.^[16][17] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 1,313 to 5,304 students.^[18]

Interscholastic athletics offered at the school include:^[2]

• Fall sports include boys' and girls' cross country, girls' gymnastics, football, girls' Volleyball, girls' tennis, boys' and girls' soccer, and marching band.^[19]
• Winter sports include hockey, boys' and girls' indoor track, wrestling, basketball, swimming, and bowling.
• Spring sports include baseball, boys' volleyball, boys' and girls' outdoor track, boys' and girls' lacrosse, boys' tennis, softball, and golf.

The boys' baseball team won the North I Group IV state sectional championships in 1960 and 1961.^[20]

The boys soccer team won the Group IV state championship in 1967 (defeating East Brunswick High School in the tournament final), 1994 (vs. Cherry Hill High School West), 2007 (as co-champion with Manalapan High School) and 2019 (vs. Hunterdon Central Regional High School).^[21] The 1967 team won the Group IV state title, defeating East Brunswick by a score of 4–1 in the championship game played at Fairleigh Dickinson University's campus in Madison.^[22] The 2007 boys' soccer team, under the direction of Coach Joe Vespignani, won the North I, Group IV state sectional championship with a 1–0 win over defending Group IV state champion West Orange High School in the tournament final.^[23][24] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Columbia High School by an identical 1–0 score. The spectacular goal was scored by Manuel Caicedo with a brilliant Bicycle Kick from the penalty spot. Manny Caicedo was named Passaic County Player of the Year and Second Team All State. The team moved on to share the Group IV state championship with a 1–1 tie against Manalapan High School.^[25][26] The 2008 boys' soccer team repeated as the North I, Group IV state sectional champion with a 3–2 overtime win against North Bergen High School.^[27] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Elizabeth High School 2–1 in overtime in a match-up of the two largest high schools in the state, before falling in the state final to Rancocas Valley Regional High School by a score of 2–0.^[28] The 2009 boys' soccer team completed a threepeat as the North I, Group IV state sectional champion with a 3–0 win over Livingston High School.^[29] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Ridge High School 1–0 in double overtime, before falling in the state final to Toms River High School South by a score of 1–0, a goal was the only goal allowed through the five games of the state tournament, in a season in which Clifton had a record of 19–6–1, including 16 shutouts.^[30] The team averaged 20 wins a season over the three-year period. In Coach Vespignani's eight years at the helm, the team is a combined 149–36–7. The Clifton boys' soccer team won the Passaic County Championship for nine consecutive years, from 1997 to 2005, before their streak was ended by Wayne Valley, which had lost to Clifton in the tournament finals in both 2004 and 2005 before defeating Clifton in both 2006 and 2007.^[31] The 2019 finished the season with a 20–0–1 record after defeating Hunterdon Central on penalty kicks in the Group IV final after a scoreless tie in regulation and overtime.^[32]

The boys' bowling team won the state championships in 1970, 1980, 2000 and 2002. The program's four state team titles are tied for third-most of all high schools in the state.^[33]

The boys' wrestling team won the North I Group IV state sectional title in 1984, 1986 and 2014, and won the North I Group V title in 2016^[34]

The girls cross country team won the Group IV state championship in 1985.^[35]

The boys' cross country team won the NNJIL for eight years in a row (1998–2006) and the girls' team won for three years (2004–2007).^{[citation needed]}

The softball team won the Group IV state championship in 1993 (defeating Washington Township High School in the final game of the playoffs), 1997 (vs. Middletown High School South), 1998 (vs. Cherokee High School) and 2007 (vs. Toms River High School East).^[36] The 1993 team finished the season with a 24–7 record after winning the Group IV title with a 7–1 win against Washington Township in the championship game played at Trenton State College.^[37] In 1997, the team finished with a 31–0 record after winning the Group IV title by defeating Middletown South by a score of 3–2 in the finals.^[38] The 1998 team had a 31–0 record and stretched its winning streak to 63 by winning the Group IV title with an 8–0 win against Cherokee in the championship game.^[39][40] The 2007 team won the North I, Group IV sectional championship with a 10–0 win over top-seeded Bloomfield High School.^[41][42] The team moved on to win the Group IV state championship defeating North Hunterdon High School in the semifinals and then Toms River High School East in the final game of the playoffs, both by a score of 2–0.^[43] NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Clifton as their number-one softball team in the state in 1997 and 1998.^[44]

The ice hockey team won the public school state championship in 2001, and won the Handchen Cup in 1989, 1990 and 1995.^[45]

The Mustangs won the North I, Group IV football state sectional title in 2006, defeating Eastside High School in the championship game by a score of 26–0 in a game played with 8,000 spectators at Giants Stadium.^[46][47][48] The school has maintained a rivalry with Passaic High School, which was listed by The Record as one of the best in Bergen and Passaic counties; though the schools first faced each other before then, from 1950 through the 2017 season, Clifton is ahead with a 39–20–2 record in games between the two schools.^[49]

The girls' soccer team at Clifton, under Coach Dan Chilowicz, shared the Passaic County Championship title with Wayne Valley High School in 2007 with a deadlocked score of 0–0. The girls' team, led by Stan Lembryk, was declared county co-champion again in 2009 after a 1–1 tie with Wayne Hills High School.^[50]

Clubs

Clifton High School has over 60 clubs. In its auditoriums, many plays and dance performances are held, many occurring annually. The Chemistry II "Dream Team" members came in second out of 127 schools in the state science competition in 2011.^[51]

Band

The Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band, "The Showband of the Northeast", is modeled after the fast-paced, high-stepping, Big-10 bands. It was under the leadership of band director Robert D. Morgan from 1972 through 2013–14. The band has been under the direction of Bryan Stepneski, a Clifton Mustang Band alumnus.^[52] The group forms the letters "C-H-S", similar to the script "O-H-I-O" of The Ohio State University Marching Band. The marching band unravels from a tight block, following one another, forming the school's initials in cursive. The band is showcased in many venues within the city of Clifton. It appears annually in the North Jersey Band Festival, (formally known as the Clifton Band Festival, or Herald News Band Festival) the West Milford Military Tattoo, all Clifton High School football games, and city parades. The Clifton High School Mustang Band has traveled extensively across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada. The Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band won first place in "Best in Parade" during the 2007 and 2008 Columbus Day Parade in New York City, second place in the 2009 Columbus Day Parade, and first place again in 2010. They won first place in the Columbus Day Parade in 2014. In 2016, the band won second place in the Columbus Day Parade once again. Among the other activities in Clifton High School, the city of Clifton placed the marching band on its list of the most recognized activities in the city of Clifton. The Mustang Band also has an active Alumni Association which has given out over $50,000 in scholarships to graduating band members since its founding in 2002.

Robotics

The Clifton High School "Mechanical Mustangs",^[53] team 3314 are a robotics team in the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Mid Atlantic District. The team won their first competition at the Bridgewater-Raritan FIRST Robotics District Competition 2013^[54] and their second competition at the Buckeye Regional.^[55]

Marine Corps Junior ROTC

The school is one of five in the state to participate in the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program.^[56][57]

Administration

The school's principal is Ahmad Hamdeh. Core members of the school's administration include the five vice principals.^[58]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Clifton High School (New Jersey) alumni

• Greg Bajek (born 1968), retired soccer player, coach and team owner who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League and owned a franchise in the USL Premier Development League.^[59]
• Sofia Black-D'Elia (born 1991), actress who has appeared as Tea Marvelli in Skins, Sage Spence in Gossip Girl and Andrea Cornish in The Night Of.^[60]
• Bennie Borgmann (1898–1978, class of 1917), professional baseball and basketball player and coach who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.^[61]
• Jonathan Borrajo (born 1987), professional soccer player, who has played for Miami F.C. in the NASL^[62]
• John J. Cali (1918–2014), real estate developer.^[63]
• Russ Carroccio (1931–1994), American football offensive lineman who played in the NFL for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.^[64]
• Dan Garrett, head football coach at Kean University.^[65]
• Gary Geld (born 1935), composer known for his work creating musicals and popular songs with his lyricist partner Peter Udell.^[66]
• Bob Holly (born 1960), former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.^[67]
• Karin Korb (born 1967), retired wheelchair tennis player who twice competed at the Summer Paralympics.^[68]
• Wojtek Krakowiak (born 1976), football (soccer) midfielder who was the head coach of the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team after playing professionally in Major League Soccer.^[69]
• Stan Lembryk (born 1969), retired professional soccer player.^[70]
• Sue Macy (born 1954), author, whose 2019 book, The Book Rescuer, won the Sydney Taylor Book Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries.^[71]
• Ernest Mario (born 1938), pharmaceutical executive^[72]
• Lloyd B. Marsh (1893–1971), politician who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey and Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.^[73]
• Ronald F. Maxwell (born 1949), director and producer of several movies, including the 2003 Civil War film Gods and Generals^[74]
• Kayla Meneghin (born 1994) ice hockey forward for the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League.^[75]
• Larry Mialik (born 1950), tight end who played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers.^[76]
• Matt Miazga (born 1995), professional soccer player who played for the New York Red Bulls.^[77]
• Newton Edward Miller (1919–2012), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 34th Legislative District^[78]
• Chris Opperman (born 1978, class of 1996), composer.^[79]
• Nikki Phillips (born 1987), soccer defender and midfielder who plays with FC Kansas City in the National Women's Soccer League.^[80][81]
• Giuseppe Rossi (born 1987), American-born Italian soccer player, who has played for ACF Fiorentina.^[82]
• Ed Sanicki (1923–1998), outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who hit a home run in his first at-bat in the Major Leagues.^[83]
• Jon Seda (born 1970), actor best known for his role as Detective Paul Falsone on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street.^[84]
• James P. Shenton (1925–2003, class of 1942), historian of nineteenth-and twentieth-century America and professor at Columbia University.^[85]
• Dave Szott (born 1967), offensive lineman who played for the New York Jets^[86][87]
• Dave White (born 1979), Derringer Award-winning mystery writer^[88]
• Ivan Wilzig (born 1956), techno mix musician known as Peaceman^[89]

References

1. School data for Clifton High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
2. Clifton High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. Alex, Patricia. , The Record, December 6, 2006. Accessed December 8, 2015. "Clifton High School, circa 1962, is the largest single high school in the state. Only Elizabeth High School has more students, but they are spread out over five campuses."
4. Kausch, Katie. "N.J.’s biggest high school has 3,350 students. See how your school compares.", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 31, 2023. Accessed August 31, 2023. "Another 28 New Jersey schools have at least 2,000 students, according to 2021-2022 enrollment data released by the state Department of Education.... 3. Clifton High School Number of students: 2,939"
5. "New Clifton High School Dedicated; Over 1,500 at Exercises Held in Auditorium of Building Last Night.", The Morning Call, April 15, 1926. Accessed March 14, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Clifton high school was established in 1906 - and it was my good fortune to be connected with the schools of the city at that time. We had an enrollment of forty pupils with a very meager course of study embracing the following subjects: English, Latin, Greek, German, history, mathematics, physics, chemistry, bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting. The growth of the school is insignificant from 1906 to 1924, but from 1914 to the present day it has been phenomenal aa is evident from the following tabulation: In 1914 there were enrolled 150 pupils; 1915, 201; 1916, 240; 1917, 280; 1918, 297; 1919, 336; 1920. 379; 1921. 478; 1922, 614; 1923. 729; 1924, 778; 1925, 974, and at the present time, 1,103."
6. "Clifton High Has Smooth Opening", Herald News, September 10, 1962. Accessed March 14, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The opening of the new $6 million Clifton High School on Colfax Avenue worked out without major problems or confusion this morning, according to Dr. J. Revis Hall, principal.... There are approximately 3,000 pupils enrolled."
7. Gicas, Tony. , The Record, July 14, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2014. "The Clifton High School annex building, a lightning rod for controversy since its approval in 2004, is complete and almost ready to be occupied.... The $17 million school at 290 Brighton Road, in the renovated former Mayer Textile building, will hold about 540 of the total 850 freshmen expected to be enrolled for classes in September."
8. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
9. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 27, 2012.
10. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 17, 2011.
11. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
12. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
13. , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed November 24, 2014.
14. , Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 9, 2009. Accessed November 24, 2014.
15. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
16. Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
17. Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
18. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
19. Home Page, Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band. Accessed August 27, 2012.
20. NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
21. NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
22. Lurie, Steve. "Clifton Hooters Win State Championship", The Morning Call, November 25, 1967. Accessed March 7, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Clifton High School soccer team achieved the remarkable distinction of winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Group 4 championship in only its fourth year of existence, belting East Brunswick, 4-1, in yesterday's final on the slippery, rain-soaked pitch of Fairleigh Dickinson University's Madison campus.... The Mustangs posted a 14-1-2 record on the way to the State title including tournament wins over Bloomfield, 3-2; Scotch Plains Fanwood, 4-1; and Union, 7-0 on corner kicks after playing 70 minutes to a 3-all tie on goals."
23. 2007 Boys Soccer – North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 13, 2007.
24. Bondy, Stefan. , Herald News, November 10, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2015.
25. 2007 Boys Soccer - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 24, 2007.
26. Bondy, Stefan. , Herald News, November 17, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2015. "The Mustangs had plenty of reasons to celebrate their 1-1 tie with Manapalan in Friday's Group 4 boys soccer final. Few expected them to be in this position, raising a trophy for their first State title in 13 years (albeit as co-champions)."
27. Staff. "Clifton 3, North Bergen 2", The Star-Ledger, November 13, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Milton Gutierrez scored with three minutes remaining in the second overtime period to secure Clifton's 2–1 victory over North Bergen and the NJSIAA/MAC Testing North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 championship yesterday in North Bergen."
28. Staff. "Red Devils fulfill season of promise, Ryan Finley scored both goals to give Rancocas Valley the state Group 4 crown.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 22, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2011. "With Ryan Finley scoring both goals, Rancocas Valley beat Clifton, 2–0, last night at the College of New Jersey for the state Group 4 championship. Ranked No. 1 in South Jersey since the preseason, Rancocas Valley won its second state title after earning a co-championship in Group 4 in 2004."
29. Staff. "Boys Soccer - 2009 NJSIAA Tournament - North 1, Group 4 - Round 4 - Game 1 - Boys Soccer", The Star-Ledger, November 13, 2009. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Victor Manosalvas, a senior midfielder, scored twice and junior midfielder Oscar Gonzalez also scored as Clifton won its third consecutive NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 championship with a 3–0 victory over Livingston yesterday in Clifton."
30. Karn, Jeff. "Toms River South 1, Clifton 0", The Star-Ledger, November 20, 2009. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Chrashewsky scored the winning goal with 24:55 on the clock in the second half and O'Neill made 10 saves to lead Toms River South to a 1–0 victory over Clifton in the final of the NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank Group 4 final in front of 500 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.... On the other hand, Clifton (19–6–1) entered the group final having posted 16 shutouts, including all four of state playoff games... Clifton was appearing in its third straight Group 4 final after tying Manalapan, 1–1, in 2007 and dropping a 2–0 decision to Rancocas Valley a year ago."
31. Schutta, Gregory. "Clifton, Wayne Valley advance to Passaic County final", The Record, October 17, 2010. Accessed June 21, 2011. "It will be the first time the two teams meet in the final since playing each other in four straight from 2004 through 2007. Wayne Valley won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, ending Clifton's streak of nine straight County titles."
32. Farrell, Sean. "Clifton boys soccer completes perfect season over Hunterdon Central with win in PKS", The Record, November 17, 2019. Accessed November 15, 2020. "The Mustangs (21-0-1) completed an undefeated season and one of the best ever in North Jersey with some more overtime magic. Suarez scored the winner to give Clifton a 5-4 shootout win over Hunterdon Central and this year's Group 4 championship."
33. History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 1, 2022.
34. NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
35. NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
36. Softball Championship History 1972–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed April 1, 2024.
37. Culligan, Joey. "Washington Township falls", Courier-Post, May 30, 1993. Accessed January 5, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "It was going to take a very good pitcher to stop the Washington Township High School softball team from winning a state Group 4 title on Saturday. And Clifton's Dana DeVito proved to be just that pitcher. DeVito limited Township's potent offense to just a pair of singles as the North Jersey champions downed Coach Mickey Shaw's team 7-1 at Trenton State College to win the school's first state group crown.... The Bergen County squad, 24-7, scored four runs on hits in the bottom of the second inning and added two more runs in the third to take a commanding 6-0 lead."
38. Chessari, Joe. "Dream comes true; Clifton won't ever forget '97 season", The Record, June 9, 1997. Accessed January 6, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Clifton put the finishing touches on its first perfect season with a 3-2 victory over Middletown South in the Group 4 State final. Thirty-one opponents stepped up to the plate against the Mustangs, 31 tried and failed. It was the first perfect softball season in Bergen or Passaic County since Ramsey turned the trick in 1991 by winning 32."
39. Falzarano, Brian. "Next Year Can Wait for Champion Mustangs; Still, Questions Raised About Softball Team", Herald News, June 8, 1998. Accessed January 6, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Drenched after a postgame water-bucket dousing, and also a bit bleary-eyed following Clifton's 8-0 Group 4 championship game win over Cherokee at Toms River North High School, he refused to answer the one question on the tip of every reporter's tongue: What about a three-peat? "I'm not going to talk about nothing," LaDuke said. After basking in his team's second straight Group 4 state title win -- and 63rd consecutive victory second best in state history behind Whippany Park's 75-game streak -- LaDuke would finally get some decent shut-eye, something he said escaped him this season as the skeptics and opposing squads applied an endless amount of pressure."
40. Sawicki, Greg. "Cherokee defeated by Clifton in bid for title", Courier-Post, June 7, 1998. Accessed January 13, 2021. "The Cherokee High School softball team overcame many obstacles this season. But the Chiefs ran into one hurdle they couldn't clear on Saturday: The No. 1-ranked team in the state, Clifton. The Mustangs (31-0) used a six-run fourth inning to power themselves to their second consecutive Group 4 state title by defeating Cherokee 8-0. It was the 63rd consecutive win for the Mustangs."
41. 2007 Softball – North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 12, 2007.
42. Zagoria, Adam. , Herald News, June 1, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2015. "Sam Litchfield didn't use any of her tae kwon do maneuvers on the softball field at Pulaski Park, but she certainly helped deliver the knockout blow to Bloomfield in the North 1, Group 4 final. Litchfield, a black belt in the martial art and the right fielder for Clifton, went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and also made an eye-popping running grab in the outfield to lead the No. 2-seeded Mustangs to an emphatic 10–0 victory over the No. 1 Bengals in five innings before an estimated 750 fans."
43. 2007 Softball - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 12, 2007.
44. "Softball: Every No. 1 team in the state from 1979 to 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 4, 2021. "Following are the teams that finished as the NJ.com No. 1 softball team in the state with year and record.... 1998: Clifton (31-0) 1997: Clifton (31-0)"
45. NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
46. 2006 Football Tournament – North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 4, 2006.
47. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
48. McConville, Jim. "Clifton's sixth straight win is a doozy", North Jersey Sports, December 3, 2006. Accessed November 15, 2020. "From that moment on, Clifton has ridden a cresting wave, one that finally crashed ashore on Saturday night in Giants Stadium with full force, crushing an Eastside team that had previously defeated them and leaving only the Mustangs standing. For the first time since 1973, the words Clifton and football champions can co-exist in the same sentence, thanks to a resounding 26-0 defeat of the Ghosts in front of a crowd in excess of 8,000, with at least 75 percent Clifton backers."
49. Cooper, Darren; Farrell, Sean; and Mattura, Greg. "North Jersey football: Best public school rivalries; Read up on the top rivalries in Bergen and Passaic counties, and vote for the one you think is best in the poll at the bottom of this page", The Record, July 17, 2018. Accessed May 13, 2021. "Clifton vs. Passaic... First meeting: Unknown; Series history: Since 1950, Clifton leads 39-20 with two ties"
50. Stamboulian, Rich. "Wayne Hills shares Passaic County title with Clifton", Wayne Today, October 29, 2009. Accessed June 21, 2011. "In a result that seemingly pleased no one, Wayne Hills and Clifton battled to a 1-1 overtime tie in Saturday's Passaic County final and were declared Co-Champions. It was the sixth time in tournament history that the championship game went to overtime with two of those ending in ties. Clifton was a part of two of those games having tied Wayne Hills in a scoreless battle at Hawthorne in 2003 and having tied Wayne Valley in 2007."
51. Gicas, Tony. "CHS chemistry 'dream team' makes district proud ", Clifton Journal, May 27, 2011. Accessed December 8, 2015. "Led by Vetri Velan and Kevin Lorenc, this year's valedictorian and salutatorian, the Chemistry II team fought its way to the number two overall ranking in the state amongst 127 schools."
52. Staff. "Mustang Band orientation scheduled for June 6", Clifton Journal, June 3, 2011. Accessed June 20, 2011. "The Mustang Marching Band performs at all high school football games as well as at various parades and special events. Known as the Showband of the Northeast and The Pride of Clifton, the band will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2013."
53. "Mechanical Mustangs - Team 3314". The Blue Alliance. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
54. "2013 Bridgewater-Raritan FIRST Robotics District Competition". The Blue Alliance. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
55. "2018 Buckeye Regional". The Blue Alliance. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
56. MCJROTC Information, Clifton High School. Accessed March 10, 2018.
57. New Jersey, Marine Corps Junior ROTC Training and Education Command. Accessed March 7, 2018.
58. Administration, Clifton High School. Accessed June 30, 2023.
59. "Icon FC Will Host Stal Mielec of Poland This Saturday In Clifton, NJ", The Post-Eagle, June 13, 2016. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Bajek is a Clifton High School graduate who earned all-state honors for the Mustangs, and was a three-time All-American at Kean University before launching a long professional career in Poland and the U.S. 'Clifton will always be home. I was raised here, learned to play soccer here and now very proud to return with a professional team and the opportunity to showcase world-class soccer matches at Clifton High School Stadium.'"
60. Cotter, Kelly-Jane. "Jersey Girl has starring role in Project Almanac", Asbury Park Press, January 27, 2015. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Clifton's Sofia Black D'Elia stars in sci-fi thriller Project Almanac.... A graduate of Clifton High School, D'Elia might be recognizable to soap opera fans through her breakthrough role as Bailey Wells on All My Children."
61. Porter, David L., ed. Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary, p. 48. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. ISBN 9780313309526 Accessed August 29, 2020. "Borgmann lived in New Jersey his entire life. He graduated from Clifton High School (New Jersey) in 1917 and immediately excelled as a shooting forward for several local basketball clubs."
62. Fensom, Michale J. "Red Bulls sign Clifton native Jonathan Borrajo", The Star-Ledger, January 5, 2012. Accessed November 12, 2013. "Jonathan Borrajo, a former standout at Clifton High School, signed today with the Red Bulls, the team announced through a press release."
63. "Office real estate magnate John Cali dies at 95", The Record, February 4, 2013, copied by Montclair State University. Accessed September 17, 2018. "John Cali graduated from Clifton High School, and worked his way through Indiana University by playing saxophone and clarinet."
64. Russ Carroccio Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed March 14, 2018.
65. Szieber, Tom. "Assistant football coaches make impact for Clifton", The Record, October 10, 2017. Accessed September 17, 2018. "And as far as Anthony, he got educated by [former Clifton graduate and current head football coach at Kean University] Dan Garrett."
66. Greatorex, Susan."Clifton's Geld makes beautiful music on Broadway", Herald News, May 29, 1975. Accessed October 8, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Broadway owes Clifton High School a note of thanks. On second thought, make that two notes and musical ones, please.... Geld left Clifton High School to study business administration at college."
67. Bob Holly Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed March 14, 2018.
68. Washburn, Lindy. "Invincible Karin battles the odds", The Record, November 4, 1984. Accessed July 12, 2020. "This year's Clifton High School homecoming queen, a 17-year-old senior named Karin Korb, seems to have everything going for her everything, that is, except use of her legs."
69. Wojtek Krakowiak, Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Krakowiak, a native of Poland who played high school soccer at Clifton High School, went on to Clemson University, where in 1998, he scored 31 goals, earning First Team All-America honors and more importantly, was presented with the Hermann Trophy, symbolic of being the top college soccer player in the country."
70. Szieber, Tom. "Clifton's 2001 team set standard for girls soccer program", The Record, July 14, 2017. Accessed September 6, 2017. "A 1987 Clifton High School graduate who was a star player under his mentor, Lembryk took the job on a mission to put the girls on par with the boys team on which he played (and now coaches), as well a contender on the girls circuit."
71. Daidone, Angela. "Bringing women's stories to life", Clifton Journal, October 23, 2009. Accessed May 24, 2020. "'Nellie Bly was a gutsy woman who did not want to be stuck in a traditional woman's role of writing about the flower show for the society pages,' said Macy, a Clifton native who now lives in Englewood.... Macy went on to become editor of the Hub, Clifton High School's newspaper and attended Princeton University upon graduation."
72. Ratish, Robert. , The Record, December 16, 2001. Accessed May 13, 2007. "...graduated from Clifton High School when he was 16 years old..."
73. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 177, p. 325. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1953. Accessed November 10, 2021. "Secretary of State Lloyd B. Marsh - Mr. Marsh was born at Little Falls, New Jersey, July 31, 1893, the son of James and Emma Coon Marsh. Не graduated from Clifton, N. J., grammar and high school and was made office boy in Passaic County Clerk's Office on December 5, 1911."
74. Biography: Ronald F. Maxwell - Narrator September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Horses of Gettysburg. Accessed June 17, 2007. "Ronald F. Maxwell is the son of a World War II veteran and a French war bride. He grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Clifton High School."
75. "The Whale's Own Jersey Girls" January 26, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Cetacean Nation. Accessed December 29, 2020. "Kayla Meneghin went to both New Jersey’s Clifton High School and the Gunnery in Connecticut for her prep career, and then Plattsburgh State University in New York."
76. Doherty, Justin. What It Means to Be a Badger: Barry Alvarez and Wisconsin's Greatest Players, p. 69. Triumph Books, 2011. ISBN 9781617495373. Accessed September 29, 2016. "So I really didn't start until I was a sophomore at Clifton High School in Clifton, New Jersey."
77. Cowen, Richard. "Passaic soccer kids meet Clifton player who made it to the Red Bulls" February 17, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Record, August 13, 2015. Accessed February 16, 2017. "Miazga said he played for Clifton High School for one year before moving on to the Red Bulls development program."
78. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 203, Part 1, p. 276. E.J. Mullin, 1988. Accessed December 15, 2022. "Mr. Miller was born in East Orange on March 1, 1919. He attended elementary school in Paterson, and Clifton High School."
79. Gabriele, Michael. "Oppie ambles on an eclectic musical trail", Clifton Journal, August 1, 2014. Accessed May 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "As a member of the Clifton Community Band, Chris Opperman was one of 80 musicians who squeezed on the stage at Main Memorial Park.... A member of the CHS Class of 1996, Opperman played coronet in the Mustang Marching Band, but his main instrument was piano."
80. Howell, John. "Red Star Nikki Krysik: Living The Dream", Bleacher Report, June 30, 2009. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Hailing from Clifton, NJ, where Nikki attended Clifton High School, she was named the 2004 NSCAA Athlete of the Year. She was a two-time Parade magazine All-American, and holds school records at Clifton for most goals in a season (21) and in a career (55)."
81. Lawlor, Christopher. "Women's Soccer: Former Clifton High School star Krzysik lands in Seattle", Clifton Journal, February 7, 2013. Accessed November 12, 2013. "She graduated from Clifton High in 2005, where she was selected twice Parade All-American. She collected 55 career goals with the Mustangs and helped them reach the Group 4 state championship match in 2001."
82. Bergeron, Tom. "Clifton's Rossi does it again, scores for Italy in men's soccer", The Star-Ledger, August 10, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2011. "The U.S. team has dreamed of having Giuseppe Rossi in its international pool of players.... Rossi, who played at Clifton High School but was born in Italy, scored his second goal in two games to help Italy clinch a quarterfinal berth with a 3-0 victory over South Korea."
83. Ed Sanicki, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed December 24, 2022. "High School: Clifton HS (Clifton, NJ)"
84. Moss, Linda. , NewJerseyNewsroom.com, May 30, 2010, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 11, 2012. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Seda himself was especially moved by the reaction of Charles Tatum, who actually served with Basilone and was on Iwo Jima with him. Tatum, who is portrayed in The Pacific, visited the set of the miniseries when it was shooting in Los Angeles. Seda said that Tatum shook his hand and said, 'We're all in agreement: You're John.' The actor, a graduate of Clifton High School, was left speechless by Tatum's praise."
85. "Graduates To Told Take Their Place In Community Life; Edmund G. Lyons Gives Commencement Address At High School", The Morning Call, June 20, 1942. Accessed April 10, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "D.A.R. award in American history, James P. Shenton"
86. Eskenazi, Gerald. "Pro Football: Jets Turn Attention to Offense", The New York Times, March 13, 2002. Accessed June 21, 2011. "The Jets met yesterday with Bob Hallen of the Falcons, who was a second-round pick in 1998; will meet later this week with Chris Naeole, a first-round pick of the Saints in 1997; and Dave Szott, a 31-year-old who started 16 games last year with the Redskins. Szott, who played at Clifton High School in New Jersey, knows Jets General Manager Terry Bradway from their days together at Kansas City."
87. 1985-86 Wrestling USA Magazine's High School All-America Team December 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Wrestling USA Magazine, accessed February 20, 2007.
88. Gambuti, Steve. "Award Winning Author is a North Jersey Teacher" September 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, North Jersey Teacher, August 4, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014. "[Q] Were you educated in the Clifton school system? [A] Indeed. I grew up in Clifton and am happy to still be teaching in district."
89. Cook, Michael. "Sir Ivan", Get Out! magazine, September 27, 2012. Accessed September 17, 2018. "I was born in Newark, went to Clifton High School and worked for 20 years in the family business, Trust Company Bank, 'The Bank with Heart,' which was headquartered in Jersey City and had 100 branches in the northern half of the state when it was sold to North Fork Bank (now Capital One)."

External links

• Clifton High School
• Clifton Public Schools
• Clifton Mustang Marching Band – The Showband of the Northeast
• School Performance Report for Clifton High School, New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the Clifton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics