DeFabio Tapped for State Scholar-Athlete Honor

When a select group of New Jersey high school athletes gathered for the 18th annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) at the Pines Manor in Edison on May 15, Watchung Hills' Christopher DeFabio—known as "CJ" to his friends—was there to represent his school.

“It was a great ceremony,”  he said, “and I was very privileged to have been named for the honor of representing Watchung Hills.”

DeFabio was part of the group comprised of one distinguished representative in the Class of 2011 from each of New Jersey’s more than 400 public and private high schools, to celebrate what they all have in common: talent in both athletics and academics.

The Scholar-Athlete Honorees were acknowledged for their accomplishments in the company of parents, teachers and administrators.  

DeFabio, a Millington resident, was an easy choice for selection, he has not only demonstrated outstanding athletic skills on the Watchung Hills Regional cross country and track teams, but he's also been named to the National Honor Society, the English National Honor Society, and the Italian National Honor Society. 

DeFabio has attained an outstanding record in both cross country and track. Captain of the Winter Track Team, as well as Most Valuable Player, he made the All Conference Team. In Spring  Track, in which he has  participated for the past three years, he was also named Most Valuable Player and Captain,  and he achieved First Team All County and All Conference, from ’09 to the present.

His record in Cross Country is equally impressive. He has received the four-year Varsity award, captained the team,  and, again, was named Most Valuable Player.

DeFabio was Somerset County Champion, was a member of the First Team, Skyland Conference as well as All  Area, All State and Somerset County Runner of the Year.

He was recently awarded  the Watchung Optimist Athlete of the Year Award for his achievement in Men’s Indoor Track.

A lacrosse player all through elementary school, he played during his freshman year at Hills and has served as a volunteer coach of boys’ lacrosse in Long Hill. He is also involved in the Surfrider Foundation and the Ski & Snowboard Club.

The Scholar-Athlete will enter Rutgers University in the fall as a liberal arts major  and will continue running cross-country and track.

The NJSIAA, organized in 1919, began the recognition luncheon event for outstanding student athletes of its member schools in 1994. It awards scholarships as well as tokens of recognition to those who have been designated Scholar-Athletes by their respective high schools.