Middle Township High School Basketball Jersey No. 23 Retired

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Middle Township High School honored the 1993 Boys and 1994 Girls Basketball State Championship teams on the anniversary of their wins, Jan. 21. 
The celebratory event took place in between the girls and boys vs. Lower game. In addition to celebrating the anniversary of these two memorable wins, the High School retired Stefano Anderson’s jersey.  Anderson helped put Middle Township on the map as a basketball competitor and will go down in Panther history as one of the best. He led the 1993 Boys Basketball team to States and helped bring home the title.
“The night was epic.  It was emotional and humbling.  More than half of each team returned, some traveling across many states not to miss it,” Athletic Director Sharon Rementer said. “I have been in the role of AD at Middle for just over a year and in that year heard so much about about Stephano Anderson and LaMarr Greer and what it was like back then.”
The impact these men had on the school were extraordinary. Rementer had planned to retire Stephano and LaMarr’s jerseys at the same time.
“I tried to do both together but LaMarr respectfully said Stephano deserves his own night,” Rementer said. “He was extremely supportive of Stephano and was more than happy to come and support his friend and long overdue occasion.”
Alumni filled the gymnasium and it was a successful night.
“Middle alumni are amazing and super successful,” Rementer said. “I wanted to create an environment where alumni is encouraged to come back and help keep Middle strong.  Kudos for Lower to being a team player in the night.  They were awesome and played a huge role in such a great night.  Despite being rivals we are all one community.”
Rementer puts her student athletes first and provides them with an inside look into Middle history.
“History is key to inspiring our kids for future success on and off the court or athletic arena,” Rementer said.
Retired Middle Principal Frank Riggitano told Rementer what the basketball team was like during the 90s.
“It was an awesome time to be a member of the Middle Township community during the boys and girls basketball championship run in the early 90s,” Riggitano stated. “Those teams took us all on an unbelievable journey that saw kids of all ages became engrossed in the high school like never before.”
At the time, getting into the gym was difficult.
“If you didn’t know someone, you were not getting in the building after 4:30 p.m. because the place was packed,” Riggitano stated. “Even better were on the road trips for South Jersey title games and state semifinal and final games. Fan buses full of students and carpooling like you never have seen before were all now being planned in order to support a group of thirty athletes and two coaching staffs determined to succeed.”
The success the team brought to the sports department put the athletic teams on the map.
“All Middle Township athletes and teams became a force to reckon with after this unique two team state championship. They will always be known as the teams that helped Middle turn the corner towards how hard work can lead to success,” Riggitano stated.