1922-23 RHS Girls Basketball Team (2008)

The 1922-23 Ridgewood High School girls basketball team is the first team to be inducted into the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame in its third year of operation. The team was formed in 1919 as the first girls varsity sport offered at RHS. Entering the 1922-23 season, there was some speculation whether the program would be continued. The boys athletic program was just authorized to include soccer and cross country as varsity sports, which gave the boys of the time six sports (football, cross-country, soccer, basketball, baseball, track and field) in which to earn their varsity "Rs" compared to one (basketball) for the girls. Under the direction of faculty member Miss Elizabeth M. Sellier, the girls basketball team enjoyed a spectacular season with 10 wins, one loss and one tie while capturing the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League girls basketball championship. There was anticipation for this team to succeed. Their accomplishment was a stepping-stone for the time that led to more interscholastic sports teams for girls in the 1920s. The team was written up in the bulletin issued by the State Commissioner of Education and the spring issue of the Arrow quarterly at RHS (1923) was dedicated to its success. The team's prized "Shield" recognizing the team's championship can still be seen outside Ridgewood High School's main gymnasium today.

CLASS YEAR

1923

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