Rich Zrebiec, a junior linebacker at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the ECAC Southern Conference championship game. Muhlenberg beat Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 26-22.
Zrebiec recorded four quarterback sacks (a school record) and eight tackles in leading Muhlenberg to the ECAC title. Muhlenberg finished the 2000 season with a 9-2 record.
Zrebiec is a graduate of Manalapan High School where he was a football, and track and field star.
Freehold’s Denise Buckley helped The College of New Jersey, Ewing, women capture the NCAA Division III national championship, 2-1, over Tufts University, Medford, Mass. She was named the Most Valuable Offensive Player of the tournament. Buckley had a foot in both Lions goals. She put TCNJ up 1-0 in the first 8:59 of the match. Tufts would tie the match at 1-1 with just 3:38 remaining in regulation. With the final seconds ticking off the clock, Buckley raced upfield on the left wing and sent a crossing pass that Lisa Pelligrino was able to put on goal. The shot was saved by the Tufts goalie, but the goalie couldn’t hold on to the ball, and an opportunistic Cara Gabage was there to kick in the rebound just before the buzzer, giving the Lions a thrilling 2-1 win and their third NCAA crown. The Lions finished the season 23-1. With 11 goals and 11 assists, Buckley led the Lions in scoring with 33 points. The junior is a graduate of Freehold Borough High School.
Manalapan High School graduate Linda Talarico played her last game in the NCAA final. The Lions defender had two goals and two assists.
Nick Pellegrino finished 21st at the IC4A Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park, the Bronx, N.Y., and helped the Monmouth University, West Long Branch, men take third place (112 points). Pellegrino, a freshman, ran the five-mile course in 26:29. He was the Hawks’ No. 3 runner. Pellegrino is a graduate of Marlboro High School where he earned all-state honors in cross country last year.