Bethpage, July 9, 2012––MSG Varsity, Cablevisionâ€s 24/7 network devoted to all things high school, will premiere the first Tri-State Quarterback Showdown on July 17 at 7:30 p.m. on Optimum TV Channel 14. The television special features the top 24 high school quarterbacks from the New York Metro area competing for the “Showdown Champion” title through various challenges and obstacles testing their speed, strength, accuracy. New York Giants veterans Phil Simms and Amani Toomer serve as judges for the event and provide commentary throughout the show.

“It was an honor to be a judge at the first ever Tri-State Quarterback showdown,” said New York Giants veteran, Phil Simms. “I was really impressed by these student athletes and I enjoyed getting to talk to each of them and help them with their game. The tri-state has a great line-up of talent and I look forward to catching some of the games this fall on MSG Varsity.”

“At MSG Varsity we are always looking for new ways to showcase high school athletes,” Said Michael Lardner, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, MSG Varsity. “By creating the first-ever Tri-State Quarterback Showdown and bringing in former NFL greats, we are providing another platform for these athletes to excel.”

The 24 quarterbacks who competed in the showdown are as follows:

1. Spencer Aukamp St. Joseph Montvale HS, Montvale, NJ

2. Henry Baldwin Darien HS, Darien, CT

3. Tyrice Beverette Lakewood HS, Lakewood Township, NJ

4. Mario Biaggi Iona Preparatory School, New Rochelle, NY

5. Isaiah Biaz-Mays Union City HS, Union City, NJ

6. Brian Castlelot Bunnel HS, Stratford, CT

7. Joey Capobianco Lawrence HS, Lawrence, NY

8. Kevin Duke Roy C. Ketcham High School, Wappingers Falls, NY

9. Khalil Edney New Rochelle HS, New Rochelle, NY

10. Greg Galligan St. Anthonyâ€s HS, Huntington Station, NY

11. Blake Geller Demarest HS, Demarest, NJ

12. John Germano Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ

13. Danny Hoffer Archbishop Stepinac HS, White Plains, NY

14. Tyler Keetch John Jay Cross River HS, Cross River, NY

15. Jack Massie Staples HS, Westport, CT

16. Antonio Natale Immaculata HS, Somerville, NJ

17. Ryan Nitti Half Hollows East HS, Dix Hills, NY

18. Kevin Olsen Wayne Hills HS, Wayne, NJ

19. Liam O’Neil Greenwich HS, Greenwich, CT

20. AJ Otranto William Floyd HS, Mastic Beach, NY

21. Devin Ray Bernards HS, Bernardsville, NJ

22. Conor Rowe Ridgefield Memorial HS, Ridgefield, NJ

23. Phillip Walker Elizabeth HS, Elizabeth, NJ

24. Chris Wright Bayonne HS, Bayonne, NJ

For MSG Varsity Mike Quick and Jimmy Cavallo will be providing the commentary for the event with Steve Levy, former Don Bosco and Cal Berkeley quarterback calling the showdown. Also Chad Cutler will provide all the action from the sidelines.

About MSG Varsity

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: a 24/7 Emmy Award winning HD television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area. Content for these services includes MSG Varsityâ€s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves. Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their schoolâ€s stories. MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market. For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

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“The NJ/NY All Star Wrestling Charity Challenge Live Call-in Show” on MSG Varsity

–Network Gathers Top HS Wrestlers In-Studio Prior to Cross-State Tourney-

–Viewers Can Call and Weigh-In–

In advance of March 25â€s Second Annual NJ/NY All Star Wrestling Charity Challenge, MSG Varsityâ€s Gregg Sarra will gather 12 of the regionâ€s top high school wrestlers at MSG Varsity studios and reveal the roster of athletes selected to represent their states in a live one-hour special, “The NJ/NY All Star Wrestling Charity Challenge Live Call-In Show” on Monday, March 19, at 8:00pm ET on MSG Varsity, iO TV Channel 14. The call-in show will also stream LIVE on www.msgvarsity.com– available for viewers across the country.

 Top New York State wrestlers from Connetquot, Eastport South Manor, Kellenberg, Long Beach, North Rockland and Scarsdale high schools will be in-studio.

Top New Jersey wrestlers from Bergen Catholic, St. Peterâ€s Prep, Seton Hall Prep, South Plainfield, Wachtung Hills and West Morris Mendham high schools will be in-studio.

Gregg Sarra, MSG Varsity, will host the one-hour special

“The NJ/NY All Star Wrestling Charity Challenge Live Call-In Show, ” a one hour, live call-in special revealing the wrestlers from New York and New Jersey who have been selected to participate in The Second Annual NJ/NY All Star Wrestling Charity Challenge, presented by MSG Varsity. The state vs. state event benefits two organizations—The Adam Frey Foundation and Pinning Down Autism.

Competing wrestlers from the following high schools will be announced:

NY athletes: Brooklyn Tech, Canastota, Connetquot, Eastport South Manor, Johnson City, Kellenberg, Long Beach, Monsignor Farrell, North Rockland, Scarsdale, Shenedahoah, Wantagh and Ward Melville.

NJ athletes: Bergen Catholic, Hunterdon Central, Jackson Memorial, JFK-Iselin, Lacey Township, Mahwah, Mendham, Morris Knolls, North Bergen, St. Peterâ€s Prep, Seton Hall Prep, South Plainfield, Toms River South, Trenton Central, Watchung Hills and West Morris.

Monday, March 19, 2012

8:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

MSG Varsity, Channel 14 for Cablevisionâ€s iO TV subscribers

About Gregg Sarra:

Gregg Sarra is the Long Island correspondent for MSG Varsity, covering all sports across the island. He is also a regular contributor to High School SportsDesk, MSG Varsityâ€s signature daily highlight show. Prior to joining MSG Varsity, Sarra was Newsday’s High School Sports Editor, and he still contributes to their high school sports coverage.

About MSG Varsity:

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: an Emmy award-winning 24/7 HD television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area. Content for these services includes MSG Varsityâ€s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves. Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their schoolâ€s stories. MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market. For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

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The post Lenny Richardson from St. Peter’s Prep Participating in The Second Annual NJ/NY All Star Wrestling Charity Challenge, presented by MSG Varsity. first appeared on River View Observer.

Saddle Brook HS Senior Tyler Vitiello Receives Courage Award;

Shawn Oâ€Connor, Lincoln (NYC) Named Coach of the Year;

Vin Ascolese, North Bergen Receives Lifetime Achievement in Coaching

BETHPAGE, N.Y., December 20, 2011 –– MSG Varsity and The National Football Foundation this evening announced the second annual MSG Varsity All Metro Team, comprised of 25 standout tri-state area high school football players. Selected by the networkâ€s panel of football experts from hundreds of tri-state area high schools, the honors were revealed live on MSG Varsityâ€s “A Quick :60,” Cablevisionâ€s iO TV Channel 14 at 8:00 p.m. The broadcast also showcased the first ever Courage Award, the Coach of the Year and Lifetime Achievement in Coaching awards, while second team and honorable mentions are available on www.msgvarsity.com.

For the second year in a row, five players from Don Bosco Prep of Ramsey, NJ—ranked number one nationally and in MSG Varsityâ€s Tri-State Top 25—received first team honors, including senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo; senior defensive linemen Darius Hamilton and Mike Strizak; senior defensive back Kyle Sakowski; and sophomore running back Jabrill Peppers. Old Tappanâ€s quarterback Devin Fuller, Bergen Catholicâ€s wide receiver John Tsimis, running back Dalton Crossan of Sachem North and William Floydâ€s Stacey Bedell also received first team honors.

“Weâ€re delighted to partner with The National Football Foundation to honor the stand-out student athletes who comprise this yearâ€s MSG Varsity All Metro Team,” said Michael Lardner, Senior Vice President & Executive Producer, MSG Varsity. “The MSG Varsity All Metro Team is part of our ongoing effort to showcase the sportsmanship, determination and passion of local athletes and coaches in the tri-state area.”

“Through MSG Varsityâ€s comprehensive coverage of high school football, viewers have had a chance to watch all these field leaders develop and excel throughout the season,” said MSG Varsityâ€s Mike Quick. “Weâ€re honored to recognize these athletes who represent the very best that the tri-state area has to offer.”

 The following players have officially been named to MSG Varsityâ€s All Metro Team:

Saddle Brook High School (NJ) senior captain Tyler Vitiello is the recipient of the first ever Courage Award. Vitiello, who suffered a serious neck injury during a game on November 5, is now walking and will be returning home in time for the holidays. Since his injury, he has been at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange (NJ) working on his recovery.

 Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) head football coach Shawn Oâ€Connor, who led the Railsplitters to an undefeated season (13-0) and the schoolâ€s first PSAL championship since 1993, has been named All Metro Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the top-seeded Lincoln team has strung together 20 consecutive regular-season victories and back-to-back title game appearances.

North Bergen (NJ) head football coach Vin Ascolese was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Coaching for his unparalleled dedication to high school football and decades of student athletes. Ascolese, who concluded a storied 50-year coaching career by spending 39 years at North Bergen HS, retires as the third winningest coach in New Jersey history. Ascolese amassed an overall record of 359-124-7, with 12 Hudson County titles and seven state championships. North Bergen rallied with a touchdown pass as time expired to win the North 1, Group 4 state title over previously unbeaten Montclair HS in his farewell game.

ABOUT MSG VARSITY

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: an Emmy award-winning 24/7 HD television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area. Content for these services includes MSG Varsityâ€s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves. Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their schoolâ€s stories. MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market. For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, Play It Smart, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, the NFF Gridiron Clubs of New York City, Dallas, and Los Angeles, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings.

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The post MSG varsity’s all metro FOOTBALL TEAM announced ON “A QUICK: 60” first appeared on River View Observer.

 in  Cablevision Service Area

 MSG Varsity is kicking off a new contest open to all high schools in the Cablevision service area, MSG Varsity’s Mascot Dash to the Desk. Mascot Dash to the Desk offers schools the opportunity to submit a photo of their school mascot online at msgvarsity.com from April 14^–21 to be eligible for the grand prize – a brand new mascot costume for their high school (worth up to $6,000) and a guest appearance by the school’s mascot on MSG Varsity’s signature daily sports show, High School SportsDesk, on Cablevision’s iO TV (Channel 14).

 From the submissions, a maximum of 80 schools will be selected to compete in the contest. Over five weeks, the mascots will compete in “heats” for weekly prizes. Online voting will determine the 20 finalists that will go on to compete in the final sprint to win the grand prize. Online voting will also determine the Mascot Dash to the Desk Champion. The grand prize, 2^nd & 3^rd place winners will be announced on June 6^th.

 “Based on the success of our first contest School Spirit Mania, we wanted to find another interactive way for high school students to showcase their school spirit,” said Philip Summers, VP Marketing for MSG Varsity. “And a mascot race was the answer. We’re looking forward to getting the Dash to the Desk started to find out which school mascot will be voted champion and be receiving a make-over.”

 For more information on Dash to the Desk and to see the weekly prize packages please go to www.msgvarsity.com.

 

MSG Varsity includes a multi-platform suite of services, made up of a 24/7 television network that airs on Cablevision’s iO TV service, channel 14; a comprehensive online destination, msgvarsity.com; and a groundbreaking interactive service, channel 614 – all spotlighting extracurricular activities and events at local high schools. 

 

About MSG Varsity

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: a 24/7 television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area.  Content for these services includes MSG Varsity’s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves.  Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their school’s stories.  MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market.  For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

 

 

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The post DOES YOUR HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?ENTER MSG VARSITY’S MASCOT DASH TO THE DESK NOW first appeared on River View Observer.

 BETHPAGE, N.Y., February 16, 2010 — MSG Varsity is kicking off Playoff Month with a special online event – School Spirit Mania. School Spirit Mania is an opportunity for students to display their school spirit through an online photo contest, where students, teachers, administrators, parents and fans select the winners through online voting. Photos can be submitted by logging onto MSGVarsity.com anytime between February 10^th and midnight on February 28^th and uploading an image that shows us what school spirit is all about.  

 Once all of the images have been reviewed, MSG Varsity experts will narrow the list down to the first round of finalists and post the opening brackets March 8^th on MSGVarsity.com. Online voting by round will take place between March 8^th and April 5^th – until only the top two photos remain.  The School Spirit Mania Champion will be announced Tuesday, April 6^th at 7pm on High School SportDesk, Cablevision’s iO TV (Channel 14). 

 “As we enter Playoff Month, we wanted to give high school students the chance to showcase their school spirit in a fun and interactive way,” commented Philip Summers, VP Marketing for MSG Varsity.  “We’re looking forward to seeing all the creative entries and finding out who the viewers pick as Spirit Mania Champion.”

 

The winning school gets to choose their grand prize – a customized indoor or outdoor Daktronics digital scoreboard or a Club Car trainer utility vehicle wrapped in school colors.  Prizes will also be awarded to all 64 finalists in contention to be the School Spirit Mania Champion.

 

For more information on School Spirit Mania go to www.msgvarsity.com.

 

 

 

 

About MSG Varsity

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: a 24/7 television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area.  Content for these services includes MSG Varsity’s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves.  Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their school’s stories.  MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market.  For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

 

About Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation’s leading telecommunications, media and entertainment companies. In addition to its Optimum-branded cable, Internet, and voice offerings, the company owns and operates News 12 Networks, MSG Varsity and Newsday Media Group.  Cablevision’s assets also include Rainbow Media Holdings LLC and its programming and entertainment businesses, AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and IFC Entertainment, as well as Clearview Cinemas.  Additional information about Cablevision is available on the Web at www.cablevision.com.

 

 

The post MSG VARSITY HAS SPIRIT, YES WE DO, WE HAVE SPIRIT…HOW ABOUT YOU? first appeared on River View Observer.

Former NBA player John Celestand has come back to his New Jersey roots, as a Garden State basketball play-by-play announcer for MSG Varsity. Celestand (on right) is pictured with fellow sports producer Lou Brogno.

 

BETHPAGE, N.Y., January 25, 2010 – John Celestand, former NBA player and member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship team in 2000, has come back to his New Jersey roots, as a Garden State basketball play-by-play announcer for MSG Varsity.

 Celestand, an alumnus of Piscataway High School, helped lead the Chiefs to two consecutive County Championships. He went on to play at Villanova University scoring, 227 points in 124 career games from 1995-99. He was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Lakers.

 On his new role at MSG Varsity, Celestand said, “Not every kid can play in the NBA or in college. But how about being the announcer that gets to say a kid’s name for the first time? It’s phenomal and I am very excited to be a part of this.”

 About MSG Varsity

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: a 24/7 television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area.  Content for these services includes MSG Varsity’s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves.  Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their school’s stories.  MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market.  For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

The post Former NBA Player John Celestand Joins MSG Varsity first appeared on River View Observer.