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The St. Joe’s TopMoments, Memories& AchievementsIn 2011, the Alumni Officeconducted an online poll throughwhich alumni made theirsuggestions for the best moments,memories, and achievements fromthe school’s first 50 years; andsubsequently cast their votes fortheir own top 5. The votes weretallied and the results established.The following are what the alumnihave selected to be the St. Joe’sTop 50: Moments, Memories &Achievements.50. The very first athletic teamevent - Freshman Cross Country,in the fall of 1961 under Coach Br.Richard at Warinanco Park inElizabeth.49. The undefeated Swimming Seasonof 1997 - the second undefeatedseason in Swim Team history.48. Jimmy Weir ‘66 being the firstSt. Joseph athlete to break a boy’sschool state record (in the track &field half mile).47. Vince Reilly ‘77 winning thefirst National Freshman Decathlonin 1974.46. The Swim Team achieves Number5 national ranking in 1987.45. Senior Calculus.44. The 1978 State Soccer Championshipat Giants Stadium.42. When St. Joe’s took on PerthAmboy in the Middlesex CountyBasketball Finals in 1967.42. Ed Potter ‘98 setting the trackrecord in the 400 meters with 47.8seconds.41. Disciplinary measures, such asthe paddling of students in the principal’soffice.40. The painting of the St. Josephmural between the gym (now library)and the cafeteria in 1963.39. The 1971 - 1972 Cross Countryand Track & Field Teams. They wonall 5 county championships thatyear, along with the Indoor State Relays, and tied for the Outdoor StateChampion Title. Nine members ofthat senior class went on to run atDivision I colleges.38. The basketball accomplishmentsof Frank Fitzgerald ‘67, whowas the school’s first All Countybasketball player in 1967, set aschool record with 38 points in onegame, and became the first 1,000point scorer in school history.37. The Lacrosse State Championshipin 2010 and reaching the Tournamentof Champions Final.36. Br. Bernardine’s 10-minute BaltimoreCatechism lessons in LatinClass.34. Practical jokes and pranks, likewhen some jokers placed a Volkswagenon the porch of the Brothers’house overnight.34. Between 1965 and 1969 whenSt. Joe’s won 18 of 20 possible Trackor Cross Country championships.33. St. Joe’s defeating CBA in the2010 State Basketball Tournament.31. When Vanilla Fudge played aconcert at St. Joe’s on October 25,1968 - the first time a band on theTop 50 Pop Music charts played atthe school.31. Inscape Retreats and SocialAction projects.30. The Cross Country Team’s 14-year consecutive county title streak.29. Mass in the gym.28. The lay teachers’ “strike” in1976-1977.27. Basketball games vs. CBA in theold gym during the Jason Williams‘99 years.26. The opening of the expanded St.Joe’s building in 2003, with the newgym, media center, and science labs.25. The first Hand in Hand inMetuchen.23. Jeremy Campbell’s ‘95 javelinin-the-neckincident (in ‘92-’93) andAl Ernst’s first response actions asexemplary behavior of a teacher.23. The first class graduating in1965.22. The 1997-1998 Basketball Teambeing ranked in the Top 10 in the nation,according to USA Todaystandings.21. In the fall of 2002, when Mr. Anderson‘70 gave the famous “St. Joe’sWay” speech to the school after thefirst Mass of the year. The phrasehas been around ever since.20. Freshman Cup19. The systematic wave of “Hey!”when someone dropped a chair offthe table at lunch.17. The 2008 Volleyball Team winning43 consecutive games, finishing43-1, and winning the State Title.They had the most wins in a seasonby any high school sports team inNew Jersey history.17. The Falcon Flock16. The first St. Joe’s football gamein September, 2009.15. The influence of Dave Bixel ‘66.14. John Sabine’s ‘79 artwork, particularlyhis rendering of faculty as“Lord of the Rings” characters.13. The Swim Team’s consecutiveCounty Championship streak.12. Andrew Bynum ‘05 being draftedright out of St. Joe’s.11. The first day of school freshmanyear.10. The opening of the school in1961.9. Br. John directing freshmen andnew students around the seal in theearly weeks of school.8. Br. Bernardine’s sayings, suchas “Bear Bryant did not die of heartfailure, but was killed when walkingacross the water and was hit by aspeedboat,” resulting in no homeworkfor a week.7. Br. Regis’ “Learn How To Learn”approach to education and his“Write-On” manual.6. The Swim Team’s Decade of Dominancein the ‘80s and consecutiveState Championship streak startingin 1979.5. Bruce Springsteen performing ata St. Joe’s dance on March 3, 1972.4. Dances in the gym.3. The influence of Mr. Platko.2. The influence of “Pops” Ryan.1. Br. Mike Yerkes’ history classes.7