Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Watchung, NJ for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Watchung, NJ can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Watchung, NJ, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933WATCHUNG – The Board of Education has approved the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr as a day off for students and a professional development day for staffers in 2024."The calendar that was revised by the curriculum committee recognizes April 10 as Eid al-Fitr," said Amber Murad, board president. "What happens is that we’re going to have – the suggestion came forward to have it as a professional development day, a day which is closed for students. The original calendar had Oct. 11, a Tuesday, a...
WATCHUNG – The Board of Education has approved the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr as a day off for students and a professional development day for staffers in 2024.
"The calendar that was revised by the curriculum committee recognizes April 10 as Eid al-Fitr," said Amber Murad, board president. "What happens is that we’re going to have – the suggestion came forward to have it as a professional development day, a day which is closed for students. The original calendar had Oct. 11, a Tuesday, as a professional development day and that day is moved to April 10 in next year’s calendar."
At the Jan. 24 school board meeting, several students and parents spoke in favor of the calendar change and welcomed the decision to mark April 10, 2024, as the Eid holiday.
The decision came after nearly two years of lobbying by students and parents.
Last spring, Noora Kuran, a Watchung Hills Regional High School sophomore and co-founder of the high school's Interfaith Coalition, created a survey of student sentiment about having school off on Eid and Diwali.
According to Kuran, more than 98% of the 400 students favored having schools closed on the holidays.
"The win in Watchung and Warren is one small step for Watchung Hills and one giant leap for minorities nationwide," Kuran said. "I hope that what we’ve accomplished inspires others to do the same. It is beautiful to see our hard work for the last few years pay off."
Diwali also was mentioned as being added to future calendars, but in the 2023-24 calendar year, the holiday falls on Sunday, Nov. 12. In 2024, the holiday takes place on Friday, Nov. 1.
Also at the Jan. 24 meeting, there was a proposal to add three additional holidays − Juneteenth, Lunar Chinese New Year and Orthodox Christian Good Friday − to the calendar and extend the 2023-24 school year by a week from June 14 to June 21. The proposal did not pass but was sent back to the curriculum committee for further study.
A separate survey had asked for thoughts on having schools closed for Eid, Diwali, Juneteenth, Orthodox Christian Good Friday and Lunar Chinese New Year.
"Including Eid in the 2023-2024 calendar is a victory for educational inclusion and for Muslim students who have long advocated for this necessary accommodation," said Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) Outreach Coordinator Zaid Hussein. "We are hopeful that Watchung Region High School will follow suit and give their Muslim students the opportunity to balance their academic obligations with religious duties."
Hussain added that while designating Eid as a professional development day for staff is "a step in the right direction," CAIR-NJ hopes to see the Watchung Board of Education "move in the direction of adopting Eid as a permanent calendar holiday instead in the future."
The Watchung Borough School District serves more than 600 students in pre-K through eighth grade in two schools.
Students in higher grades attend Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, which has yet to decide on a separate Eid holiday.
Recently parents, students and local organization leaders asked that Eid be added to the East Brunswick school calendar. Board members said they would investigate the issue. Several community members said they had been asking for the holiday as a day off for students for 10 years.
There are two Eid holidays. The first − Eid al-Fitr − comes after the month-long observance of Ramadan, when observant Muslims pray and fast for 30 days. The second − Eid al-Adha − is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th Islamic month and is associated with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Eid festivities include congregational prayer, often early in the morning, gatherings with family and friends, as well as gifts and entertainment, particularly centered around children.
Because the occurrence of Eid depends on the sighting of the new moon, the exact date can only be determined with certainty the night before.
Almost 30 New Jersey school districts, including Monroe, South Brunswick and West Windsor-Plainsboro, already recognize Eid on their school calendars. There are more than 100 mosques in the state and at 3% − the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center.
Typically, celebrating Eid requires that Muslims take at least one day off from school. Attendance in school does not allow the student to fully participate in their religious holiday and conversely, an absence creates stress in the form of missed academic time, schoolwork and sometimes tests to make up.
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
WATCHUNG – The Blue Star Shopping Center, one of the first major shopping centers in Central Jersey, is undergoing a renaissance.The redevelopment of the 420,000-square-foot complex on Route 22 is being led by a new and expanded ShopRite, one of the primary anchors along with Kohl’s and Marshalls....
WATCHUNG – The Blue Star Shopping Center, one of the first major shopping centers in Central Jersey, is undergoing a renaissance.
The redevelopment of the 420,000-square-foot complex on Route 22 is being led by a new and expanded ShopRite, one of the primary anchors along with Kohl’s and Marshalls.
Levin Management Corporation, the property’s managing and leasing agent, is taking major steps to redevelop, renovate and "re-tenant" the shopping center.
ShopRite will remain open in its existing space at Blue Star while the new 72,000-square-foot location is built. ShopRite has been a tenant of the center since 1980. The present ShopRite is 43,365 square feet.
The ShopRite, operated by Village Supermarkets, is expected to begin work on its larger store this summer.
Following the relocation, Levin Management will reconfigure the vacated store to accommodate multiple tenants.
Other renovations at the center include façade and common area updates, an extensive landscaping redesign and the addition of outdoor seating. New lighting, parking lot refurbishments and the incorporation of infrastructure to support EV charging stations are also in the plan.
"Blue Star Shopping Center has long served as a preeminent Somerset County shopping destination,” Maxim Gagneron, Levin Management's vice president of construction and development, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to unveil the details of its bright future, centered on the addition of this state-of-the-art ShopRite. It is always gratifying to work with long-term tenants to accommodate their evolving needs. The end result will be a source of pride for property ownership, every Blue Star tenant and the entire community.”
The shopping center draws more than 2.6 million visits annually, according to real time traffic data from Placer.ai.
Other tenants in the center include Dollar Tree, The Children’s Place, Roma Salon, and Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. Dining options include TGI Friday’s, Five Guys, Wendy’s and Arby’s.
Retail availabilities at Blue Star Shopping Center range from 1,200 square feet up to 50,000 square feet, including an 8,500-square-foot pad site.
For seven decades, Levin Management, based on Route 22 in North Plainfield, has a leasing and management portfolio that includes 125 properties totaling almost 16 million square feet in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
In Central Jersey, Levin also owns the Somerset Shopping Center on the Somerville Circle, Rutgers Plaza in Franklin and St. George's Crossing in Woodbridge.
Blue Star is one of the oldest shopping centers in Central Jersey. Construction on the $7 million center on 47 acres along a half mile of Route 22, which was also known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway, began in January 1958.
Other major tenants at the time, besides E.J. Korvetter, were Acme, Grand Union, Sun Ray Drugs, Father and Son Shoes and Thom McAn.
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Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.
WATCHUNG – After a few months of stalling on naming an architect for the approved $16 million referendum project, the Board of Education has decided Des...
WATCHUNG – After a few months of stalling on naming an architect for the approved $16 million referendum project, the Board of Education has decided Design Resources Group (DRG) was the right firm for the job after all.
DRG was the design team that developed the referendum plans approved by borough voters in December.
But at the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, the school board, with several new members, put off renaming DRG as architects for the project. The Board oversees two schools in the pre-K-8 district.
Superintendent of Schools George P. Alexis had recommended DRG as the architect.
After going out for bids again on the project, the board voted 7-1 on March 14 to award the contract of DRG.
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The only exception was Board Vice President Anthony Ingrassia who opposed the referendum and reiterated that he intends to look into other aspects of the referendum plans.
The project calls for improvements to both Valley View Middle School and Bayberry Elementary School, including HVAC, renovated athletic fields and air conditioning. But Ingrassia said that he wishes to "readdress" those features
But several parents told board members at the March 14 meeting that the referendum plans were approved by voters and should be moving forward.
"When I voted for the referendum, I voted for it because of the specific projects identified by the referendum architects," said Katie Corrigan, a former teacher at Watchung Hills Regional High School. "These types of continuing comments the likes of which Mr. Ingrassia were making before the referendum passed do not instill any sense of confidence in the members of this community. How can we have any faith that you are going to follow the law and the public will when you were sitting there saying the same thing you said before the referendum votes?"
Corrigan asked for reassurance that the Board will proceed with the project as approved by voters.
"You are not permitted to pick this referendum apart piece by piece," she said.
Alexis delivered unexpected good news at the March 14 meeting when he said the sale of a bond to fund the project attracted seven bidders and yielded a rate of 3.75%, which was lower than before.
"The lower rate means that the annual average tax impact on the average home in Watchung has decreased by $14 to $309," Alexis said. "The proceeds of the sale have been received and placed in the district’s interest-bearing account."
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
WATCHUNG, NJ -- The search is over. On Tuesday the Watchung Board of Education shared the following:The Watchung Borough Board of Education wants to express our gratitude for your support and patience during the search for our next Superintendent of the Watchung Board of Education. With great pleasure, we share an important update regarding this process.A board meeting was held on May 22, 2023, to conduct interviews for an interim superintendent. Having evaluated and discussed a number of candidates, it was unanimously decided ...
WATCHUNG, NJ -- The search is over. On Tuesday the Watchung Board of Education shared the following:
The Watchung Borough Board of Education wants to express our gratitude for your support and patience during the search for our next Superintendent of the Watchung Board of Education. With great pleasure, we share an important update regarding this process.
A board meeting was held on May 22, 2023, to conduct interviews for an interim superintendent. Having evaluated and discussed a number of candidates, it was unanimously decided to appoint Dr. René Rovtar, former superintendent of the Long Hill Township School District, as Watchung Board of Education Interim Superintendent. Dr. Rovtar has served in the role of Interim Superintendent since July 1st.
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A diligent search was started in the spring to find our new Superintendent. The Board engaged the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) to ensure a thorough selection process. Staff, administrators, and community members were surveyed, and public forums were held. As a result of this inclusive approach, we were able to identify a leader to guide our district toward a bright and promising future.
Our Board conducted rigorous interviews throughout the summer to identify the best fit for our district. The board agreed at the conclusion of the second round that we would have our new Superintendent in place by the school year's start.
A thoughtful plan has been devised in order to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. We look forward to having Dr. Julie Glazer meet our entire staff on August 28th as we begin the with our inservice days for our faculty. We are excited that Dr. Glazer will be on board as superintendent as we welcome our students back for the 2023-2024 school year.
Dr. Julie Glazer is committed to building upon the strong foundation laid by our educators, parents, and community members. Her experience, passion, and dedication to our district's success align seamlessly with our goals and values. Our confidence in her ability to continue to elevate Watchung's educational quality is based on her focus on creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Dr. Julie Glazer will undoubtedly make a positive impact on our educational community. As we embark on this exciting new chapter, please join us in welcoming her.
Watchung Hills got a huge boost when Aleks Sitkowski decided to transfer in for his senior season. The 6-foot-4 quarterback quickly built a strong connection with is wide receivers and it was on full display during night one of the postseason.“It all started when he transferred back in December,” junior Brayden Kelly said. “I heard some rumors and reached out to see if he was coming and he said he was. I said’ alright, let’s get to it.’ We were out here throwing the first day he was here and we have...
Watchung Hills got a huge boost when Aleks Sitkowski decided to transfer in for his senior season. The 6-foot-4 quarterback quickly built a strong connection with is wide receivers and it was on full display during night one of the postseason.
“It all started when he transferred back in December,” junior Brayden Kelly said. “I heard some rumors and reached out to see if he was coming and he said he was. I said’ alright, let’s get to it.’ We were out here throwing the first day he was here and we haven’t looked back since.”
In the second quarter, Kelly went up and over a defender to make a 22-yard catch that set up Watchung Hills at the three-yard line. The very next play was a touchdown run from Aleks Sitkowski that put the Warriors in the end zone for the first time.
This would be the trend of the night as this duo led the Warriors to a historic victory on Friday night.
Kelly hauled in 11 catches while Sitkowski scored three times on the ground during second-seeded Watchung Hills’ 33-26 win over seventh-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan in the first round of the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5 tournament.
“This is a special team,” Watchung Hills head coach Rich Seubert said. “I told these guys to believe in each other. Our mantra this year is heart. We stick to that and believe in it. It seems like nothing is ever pretty but we find a way to get it done in the end.”
This marked the first playoff victory for the Warriors in program history and they will get a chance to host another. Watchung Hills will take on the winner third-seeded Montclair and sixth-seeded Columbia in the semifinal round next Friday.
“We were pumped up,” Kelly said. “After what happened last year, losing at home in the first round, we didn’t want it to happen again. We were locked in and ready to go this week.”
Watchung Hills (8-2) needed to score points against a Bridgewater-Raritan (3-7) offense that was moving quick and found a groove early. After forcing a three-and-out to begin the game, the Panthers marched 90 yards and scored on a Frankie Verano nine-yard run. He finished with 100 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Bridgewater-Raritan extended its lead with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jack Bray to Joe Spirra on fourth down. This was one of many big plays for the offense over the course of the night.
“When the schedules came out, that was probably the last team I wanted to play,” Seubert said. “I know they have a good team. Give those guys a lot of credit. I know their staff well and they have those guys playing the right style of football.”
The Warriors needed to find adjustments defensively if they wanted to gain control of the contest. It would not happen early in the third quarter, despite Watching Hills taking momentum.
Watchung Hills dropped a pooch kick on the opening kickoff of the second half and hustled to recover it. Sitkowski ended a short drive with his third touchdown run of the night.
“It’s good when you play all three phases of the game,” Seubert said. “You cause a couple turnovers. The one on special teams was huge coming out of halftime and that’s Warrior football. You just find ways to do it. It was one of those games where we had to score some points and we haven’t scored many points recently.”
Trailing for the first time, the Panthers answered with a three-play drive ending in a 51-yard touchdown pass from Bray to Confalone. The senior quarterback finished 12-for-20 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Confalone led Bridgewater-Raritan with four catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
From there, the Warriors would stiffen up defensively. This includes a Byron McCann interception late in the fourth quarter.
“First half, they were gashing us a little bit,” Kelly said. “We made some adjustments at halftime like our coaches have done all year. Second half, we gave up one touchdown and the adjustments were there from the coaching staff. That’s all them and players made big plays when needed.”
Watchung Hills took the lead for good on a 35-yard pass from Sitkowski to Kelly. The junior wide receiver totaled 135 yards and a touchdown while Sitkowski completed 21-of-31 passes for 206 yards and a score.
“We trust him a lot,” Seubert said of Sitkowski. “Obviously he’s a big kid so if we could get a few more blockers in there and let him run to finish the game out, why not? He can throw the football too and we have some talented guys on the outside that can make plays. This is a full team win.”
Watchung Hills was able to get it done in all three levels in round one. The first goal was completed and now the Warriors have their sights set on bigger things moving forward.
“We won one so now we know how it feels,” Kelly said. “We’re going to enjoy this one now but we know the task and what we want to do. We accomplished our first goal winning the first one, now we win two then three then four. We want to win that final game.”
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