Bob Shwalb, Special to NorthJersey.com
It took Ridgefield roughly 25 years to record its first winning season and five more years to record its second. Last fall, the Royals posted a 14-5 mark, highlighted by their first-place finish at the inaugural Hudson-Bergen Invitational Tournament.
Last week, Ridgefield won the title again and senior Hannah Kim was the hero. With all the other players having finished, Kim won the last two games of her final set to give her side a 97-96 victory over Memorial (West N.Y).
Ridgefield coach Ben Aufiero credited his brother and assistant coach Clifford and Athletic Director Jon Duncan for helping turn the program around. Ben Aufiero said winning the tournament again “validated the success we had last year and the hard work of the girls.”
This year’s Royals lineup also includes singles players Juliana Kim and Liz Garcia and the doubles pairs of Nicolette Cruz/Emily Moreira and Sarah Greiner/Wendy Kim.
Record Sports / Top 20 rankings
Records through Wednesday 9/18
1. Holy Angels (6-0)
2. Ridgewood (5-0)
3. Northern Highlands (3-0)
4. Dwight-Englewood (2-1)
5. NV/Demarest (3-0)
6. Paramus Catholic (4-0)
7. Ramapo (2-2)
8. Tenafly (1-1)
9. Bergen Tech (4-0)
10. Cresskill (3-0)
11. Ramsey (5-0)
12. Indian Hills (1-1)
13. Pascack Hills (1-1)
14. Glen Rock (5-1)
15. NV/Old Tappan (0-2)
16. Leonia (3-2)
17. Saddle River Day (2-0)
18. Immaculate Heart (1-3)
19. Wayne Hills (2-1)
20. River Dell (4-1)
