Sarlo & Wimberly Named To Governing Committee of NJ Athletic Association

NJSIAA Oversees High School Sports

Trenton – Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen/Passaic) and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic) were both named to the Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, the statewide association that oversees high school athletics in New Jersey. The Executive Committee is the governing board of the NJSIAA, which sets the rules and regulations for high school athletics at public, private and non-public schools and conducts tournaments and crowns champions in thirty-one sports.

Senator Sarlo was appointed by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman Wimberly was selected by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.

“High school sports play an important role in the education, growth and development of students at a critical phase in their lives,” said Senator Sarlo. “Organized athletics can instill discipline and promote teamwork, giving young people the ability to adapt to challenges and work with others. For many kids, it’s the first time they are on their own and it’s up to them to fulfill their commitment to the team.”

“I personally understand the impact high school athletics play in a young kid’s life,” said Assemblyman Wimberly. “Especially in communities where families work hard to keep their children involved in positive activities, extracurricular sports are the saving grace for many inner-city children providing a place for them to grow, be encouraged and to excel. It will be an honor to serve on the Athletic Association Board and help to ensure school programs are accessible, supportive and safe for New Jersey’s students.”

Senator Sarlo graduated from Wood-Ridge High School where he was a scholar-athlete earning varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was named First Team All-Division and All-County in baseball and was inducted into the WRHS Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology – graduating with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering – where he earned Division III All-American honors as a baseball player and was inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Senator Sarlo, who has two sons, has coached baseball at various levels, including high school, as well as Junior Football in the Meadowlands Football League and Travel Basketball.

Assemblyman Wimberly has served as an Assistant Football Coach at Eastside High School for 6 years, Head Baseball Coach at Eastside High School for 7 years, Head Football Coach at Paterson Catholic for 15 years and is currently the Head Football Coach at Hackensack High School.  He is also currently the Joint Recreational Coordinator for the Paterson Public Schools and the City of Paterson.  Previously, he served as a member of the Paterson City Council, and as director of the Paterson Division of Recreation. He received his Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Virginia State University.  Assemblyman Wimberly and his wife, Kimberlynn, have four children: Justin, Jared, Jordan and Jaden, all involved in sports.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, founded in 1918, is a voluntary, non-profit organization made up of 433 accredited public, private and non-public high schools in the state. The New Jersey Association joining with the other forty nine State Associations constitutes the National Federation of State High School Associations which has represented the best interests of high school athletics since 1920, and today represents 22,000 schools, more than 330,000 coaches, and almost 4.5 million high school athletes.