Gary Glass (’73)
Gary Glass was an outstanding three sport athlete, being named to the First or
Second Team, All-League for his play on Glen Rock High School’s soccer,
basketball and baseball teams.
On the soccer field, Gary Glass was a center halfback who was an outstanding goal scorer and a great defensive player. A two year starter, as a junior, Gary helped lead the 1971 team to a B-PSL Championship and was named to the First Team, All-B-PSL. He also received Honorable Mention, All-County (by The Bergen Record). As a senior (and team Co-Captain), Gary led the 1972 team to a Group 2, Sectional Championship, scoring 4 goals and assisting on 6 goals and anchoring one of the school’s all-time best defenses. After the season, he was named to the First Team, All-County (by The Bergen Record), the First Team, All-Suburban (by The Ridgewood News) and the First Team, All-B-PSL. He also notably received All-State honors.
His coach, Hall of Fame inductee Bill Carbone emphasized Gary’s contribution to that team’s success when he said that Gary would be the first player that he would choose for any team because he was not only talented but also so unselfish that he made everyone he played with better.
After graduating from Glen Rock, Gary played soccer at West Virginia University.
As a junior, Gary was a starting guard on the 1971-72 Basketball Team that won the B-PSL Championship (with a 13-1 record) and then defeated Rutherford to win the Group 2, Sectional Championship. It was Glen Rock’s first (and still only) Sectional Championship in basketball. Unfortunately, in the subsequent Group 2, North Jersey Championship game, they suffered a heartbreaking 62-61 loss to the ultimate Group 2, State Champion, Vailsburg (Newark).The team ended its season with an overall record of 19-6 and were ranked third in Bergen County behind two Group 4 schools, Hackensack and Ridgewood, by The Bergen Record.
In his following senior season, Gary was the second leading scorer (and team Co-Captain) for the 1972-73 Basketball Team that nearly duplicated the success of the preceding year’s team. It repeated as B-PSL Champion and advanced through the opening rounds of the State Tournament but lost to a much taller Lincoln (Jersey City) team in the Group 2, Sectional Semifinals. The 1972-73 team’s final record was 19-6.
Known as a tenacious defender with quick feet and relentless hustle, Gary was named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL and received Honorable Mention, All-County.
Gary started at third base for the baseball team in both his junior and senior years. He was a great fielder with a rifle of an arm to throw runners out. The 1972 team won the B-PSL Championship and then won the Group 2, Sectional Championship and the Group 2, North Jersey Championship. Sadly, they were defeated by defending State Champion Haddonfield in the Group 2, State Championship final. The 1972 team has been recognized as the most powerful baseball team in Glen Rock High School’s history. The team finished with an historic 25-6-2 record (which was the most wins that year in Bergen County). Gary batted .348 and was named to the Second Team, All-B-PSL.
As a senior, Gary was Co-Captain of the 1973 team that repeated as B-PSL Champion and as Group 2, Sectional Champion but lost to Clifford Scott in the Group 2, North Jersey Championship game. The team finished with a 21-5-1 record. Gary batted .325 and was named to the First Team, All-B-PSL and First Team, All-Suburban.
By being named to the First or Second Team, All-League in three sports, Gary joined a very selective club of Glen Rock High School athletes.
In June 1973, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Gary as the top athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave him the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award.