Team: Wayne Hills
Trainer: Bjonda Ademi
Last year’s record: 15-4-1
Final ranking 2023: No. 7
Rearview mirror
The Bjonda Ademi era in Wayne has started promisingly.
The former Patriots goalkeeper led the program to a shared Big North Independence title in 2023 after replacing her old high school coach Gregg Rehberger.
A surprise loss to Hawthorne in the Passaic County quarterfinals proved to be a turning point for the Patriots, who won their next nine games thanks to a stifling defense and Virginia commit Sophia Bradley. The winning streak ended in the North 1, Group 3 semifinals when Wayne Hills lost 3-1 to Ramapo.
Best assets
With 13 older players to replace, the Patriots are banding together this summer to meet the challenge.
“The team spirit, in my opinion as a coach, is better than it has been in previous years,” said Ademi. “These girls do everything together and you don’t have to ask anything of them. The season hasn’t even started yet and these girls meet on the weekends and do fitness tests, run on the lake and go to the weight room.”
Wayne Hills returns a group of top scorers led by senior forward Blake Nisenson (10 goals, 3 assists), who secured first place with a hat trick at West Milford last October. On offense, the Patriots also return senior Mia Bacchioni (5 goals) and their versatile senior captain Maddy Chessin (6 goals, 3 assists).
The question for Wayne Hills is who will pass them the ball. A team that had already lost two central midfielders lost another this spring when senior Charah Sysounthone tore her ACL playing flag football. The Patriots, however, have insurance in the form of her cousin Star Vorabouth, another creative player who reads the game well.
On defense, senior fullback Riley Sexton will be the only returnee from a group that ranked fourth in North Jersey in goals-against average. There is another change in goal, as sophomore Olivia Keenan will take over the spot.
Keenan practiced with the varsity team as a freshman and came to games when there were no scheduling conflicts.
“I remember growing a lot as a goalkeeper that year,” Ademi said. “I think a lot of that has to do with confidence. I think her exposure to not only our varsity team but the good players we had on the varsity team definitely prepared her for that.”
Expectations
This is a year of monumental change for Wayne Hills. After losing a generational scorer in Bradley and seven other starters, it is now up to a young squad to carry on the program’s long-standing tradition.
Ademi is visibly pleased to see a new generation of players stepping out of the shadows and describes the atmosphere in the team as more relaxed and easy-going.
Given these changes and the fact that DePaul is the clear favorite in the county, the pressure is a little less.
“I think these girls will step up this year and show what they can do,” said Ademi. “I’ve met a lot of people who are willing to take risks and show themselves. The confidence has grown a bit.”
