Justin Schwartz (’95)
Justin Schwartz was an outstanding multi-sport athlete, being a First Team,
Group 1, All-State quarterback and being a multi-year Group, State Champion in
the javelin
Justin led the 1990s resurgence of Glen Rock’s football program. After several unsuccessful seasons, in Justin’s junior year, the 1993 team compiled a 6-3 record. Then in his senior year, Justin led the 1994 team to an 8-2 record (including a 23-22 victory over Group 4 Passaic Tech) and a Group 1, State Sectional playoff berth. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost to (the ultimate Sectional Champion) Hasbrouck Heights by the margin of a field goal, 16-13, despite Justin connecting on two touchdown passes in that game.
In addition to playing quarterback, Justin also often played linebacker – and, due to a teammate’s injury, he even played defensive end in one game. As team Co-Captain, Justin not only set the tone for the team on the field, but also in the weight room and in the classroom.
Justin finished the season completing 79 of 139 passes for 1,074 yards and 6 touchdowns and rushing for 733 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was named to the First Team, Group 1, All-State and to the First Team, All-County (by The Bergen Record).
As a member of the track & field team, Justin specialized in the javelin and delivered truly spectacular results.
In his junior year, Justin finished first in the B-PSL Carpenter Championship, finished first in the Group 2, Bergen County Championship, finished first in the Bergen County Meet of Champions, finished first in the Group 2, Sectional Championship, and finished first in the Group 2, State Championship.
In his senior year, Justin finished first in the B-PSL King Championship, finished first in the Group 1, Bergen County Championship, and finished first in the Bergen County Meet of Champions. At that last meet, with a throw of 201’ 6” (over 20 feet longer than his nearest competitor), he was voted the outstanding field event performer.
In the State Tournaments, Justin finished first in the Group 1, Sectional Championship and then finished first in the Group 1, State Championship, before finishing second at the New Jersey Meet of Champions. In that year, he also finished fourth at the nationally-invited Penn Relays and seventh at The Golden West Invitational in Sacramento, CA.
Justin’s personal best throw of 212’ 8” was the then-fifth best in Bergen County history and was the best that year in the county by over 20 feet. He had the 25 best throws in the county in 1995 and completely dominated the event.
Needless to say, Justin’s throw was and still is the school record.
At the Groups 1 & 2, Bergen County Relays Championship meet, Justin joined the 4×100 relay team and helped that relay team finish first, a victory that helped Glen Rock win the team championship at that meet.
At the subsequent Group 1, Bergen County meet and then the Group 1, Sectional Championship meet, Justin’s throws helped the 1995 Glen Rock Boys Track & Field Team win the school’s first school championships at those meets. As a result, at the end of the season, The Bergen Record voted that team the #1 Groups 1 & 2 team in Bergen County.
In June 1995, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Justin as the top male athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave him the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award.
After high school Justin went to the University of Virginia on a track & field scholarship, but an injury cut short his career. Demonstrating his leadership qualities, Justin then became the Assistant Throws Coach while still a student. Justin graduated from Virginia with a double major in Philosophy and Psychology and then went on to Northeastern for his M.A in Finance.