Athletic Hall of Fame
Cooper Rego enjoyed the most remarkable single season of any Green Knight on the football field. Beyond that, he was also an exceptionally accomplished track athlete.
In football, Cooper was a three year starter at Tailback. He came into his own as a junior, rushing for 1,393 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 9.2 yards per carry. He was a First Team All-County and First Team All-State selection junior year, and earned the first of his two “Athlete of the Week” awards on December 5, 1995.
However, as a senior, Cooper had what Coach Karcich called “one of the greatest seasons a running back has ever had in the state of New Jersey”. He ran for 2,440 total yards, averaging more than 10 years per carry. He scored 244 points to lead the state and set a Bergen County record.
He was named a First Team All-American by Parade magazine, and was the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year. He was a first team All-league, First Team All-County and First team All-State selection and earned Athlete of the Week honors for the second time on the strength of a 453 yard, and 36 point effort in a 44-29 win over Paramus Catholic. He also scored 5 TDs and amassed 288 rushing yards in the Parochial Group 3 title game against Delbarton at Giants Stadium. He finished his football career with 4,392 yards rushed, an SJR record.
In his senior year, Cooper was also a First Team All-County Winter Track selection in the 55 meters and 200 meters. He finished first in the NNJIL championship meet, setting meet records in both events. He finished second in the Eastern States Championship. And in the spring, he took First place in the County Seat Invitational (in the 100 and 200 meter events). Likewise, he finished first in the Bergen County Group 3 competition for the same events.
