Sunday, Feb. 20, was a great day — not only to represent the people of North Brunswick as their councilwoman — but also to witness the North Brunswick Youth Sports teams at their best, both on and off the courts and fields.
The day started off with the North Brunswick Adams A.C. Indian Awards banquet. As I gazed around the room at the hundreds of people — including past and present board members and coaches — and the proud parents of the many football players and cheerleaders, I was struck with many emotions. First of which was nostalgia, as I was once an Adams A.C. cheerleader and later a volunteer cheerleading coach. Second, as I looked around the room at all of the parents — many of whom are old classmates of mine — I felt a deep sense of community.
My old classmates made the conscious decision to remain and reside in North Brunswick and to raise their families here in our great town. Lastly — and most significant — was the pride I felt as I watched the many players and cheerleaders receive their awards in earnest. I watched our youth of all ages interact with each other, their coaches and parents with respect, admiration and unity.
After this homecoming banquet, if you will, I was bestowed with yet another inspiring youth sports activity, that being the North Brunswick Basketball Association’s youth travel playoff games and final, specifically the U-14, North Brunswick vs. North Brunswick final. Not only was it an all-North Brunswick final, but its coaches were two North Brunswick graduates and, better yet, brothers. The Schnediker brothers exemplified North Brunswick volunteer coaching at its very best. One team battled back from a 22-point deficit to win the game in overtime by one point.
While watching this nail-biter, I observed the coaches exchange words of encouragement to their teams and to each other, I saw each team player treat each other with the utmost respect and watched their parents root on each and every player, not just their own. There were no losers on the basketball court, only winners, exhibiting quality play, superior sportsmanship and true brotherhood.
Thank you to the many volunteers who make these events happen. Thank you to the voters of North Brunswick for honoring me with the opportunity to represent and support them. Thank you to all North Brunswick residents — both young and old alike — for making North Brunswick the very best community, with the emphasis on unity to live and to call home.
God bless you all.
Cathy Nicola
councilwoman
North Brunswick