Julie James (’81)
Julie James earned eleven varsity letters and was selected as Co-Captain for all three of her teams (soccer, basketball and track) in her senior year. She performed at a high level throughout her career and was selected as the top athlete in her grade in each of her four years at Glen Rock High School.
An outstanding runner, Julie was the Group 1, Sectional Champion in both the 200 meters and the 400 meters as a junior and was the Group 1, Sectional Champion in the 200 meters (with a then-record breaking time for that meet) and the second place finisher in the 100 meters as a senior. In her senior year, she was also B-PSL Champion in both the 100 meters and 200 meters (with then-record breaking times for that meet).
For her achievements that senior year, Julie was named to the First Team, All-Suburban (by The Ridgewood News) in both sprints. She also received Honorable Mention, All-County (by The Bergen Record) in the 400 meters as a junior and in the 100 meters and the 200 meters as a senior.
Julie graduated holding the then-school records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters. In addition, with Julie as the team’s anchor, she and her teammates also held the then-school record for the 400 meter relay.
On the soccer field, Julie was an important player in the launch of Glen Rock High School’s girls soccer program. In her junior and senior years, those teams finished with Top 10 rankings in the State and Julie was named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL and also received Honorable Mention to an All-State team.
Julie also played a major role on the basketball court for Glen Rock, being a four year starter and being named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL as a sophomore and to the First Team, All-B-PSL as a junior and as a senior. During her senior year, she was also named to the First Team, All-Suburban and received Honorable Mention, All-County.
In June 1981, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Julie as the top female athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave her the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award.
A basketball scholarship to St. Bonaventure University led to a storied performance there that saw her set the then-career steals (243) and assists (338) records for the school.
Julie has also run in the Boston Marathon (and other races) and climbed Mount Rainier and two major mountain peaks in Mexico in her spare time.
Note: The James Gang (Julie, Merilee and Dierdre) was a prominent feature on the Glen Rock sports scene in Julie’s junior year as all three competed together in each season – a great source of pride and satisfaction for the family.