Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • June 8, 2011 Midland Park The Midland Park High School javelin-throwing team of Zuidema, Zuidema and Zuidema fulfilled a long held dream this school year, and is going out with a bang. The two brothers and a cousin - Kaleb, 18; Seth, 14; and Arie, 16 – won the Bergen County relays in April and attained a best relay score of 484 feet. “This was the only year all three of us could ever play together, and we came in first at the county relays. It was our goal for the season to throw well together. It was exciting for our grandpa and grandma,” said Arie. “The javelin brought us closer together as cousins. We were fighting for the same personal goal and for the school.” “I’m happy for them and their families that they could achieve what they wanted. They are great kids, a great family,” said head track coach Steve Ferro. “It took a lot of work on their part all year. They are well deserving of the accolades,” he added. Seth got his start by practicing with his brother Kaleb and another brother, Andrew, also a record-breaking thrower, and won the nationals in javelin throw in Des Moines, IO in 2009. Seth is now ranked one of the top three freshmen in New Jersey. With a personal best of 151 feet, he is looking forward to an even better season next year. Arie, their cousin who trained for the javelin so he could be on the family team, is a sophomore who can throw the javelin 137 feet. But his passion is the Zuidema cousins team up for javelin throw success discus throw. His personal best of 129 feet has earned him first place status in the league, fourth in the county and eighth in the state sectionals thus far. He is only six feet away from surpassing the school record in discus. He is also only three feet away from the school record in the shotput. Both teens, however, give credit where credit is due: to Kaleb, the track team captain for the past two years, who last year made history by becoming Midland Park High School’s first state champion in any sport. This season he threw 220 feet, 10 inches during the state sectionals in May, achieving first league, all county honors for the second year in a row. He is expected to garner even higher honors at the state championships this week, where he hopes to best his own record from last year - the 209 foot, five inch throw which won him the state title. “We’re really going to miss Kaleb,” said Arie. “He’s a fantastic kid, and a good role model for the younger kids. We’re lucky to have him,” said Athletic Director Nick Capuano. Kaleb is graduating next week and will attend South Carolina University on a scholarship, majoring in business. At right: Seth, Arie and Kaleb Zuidema with their javelins.