Rahway's West, Old Bridge's Rivera are the HNT Boys Indoor Track Athletes of the Year

When Rahway High School's Jordan West was in the seventh grade, his father set up a workout routine of pushups for him and his older brother, Tyler, to do during the summer break.

During Jordan’s eighth grade year, the pushup routine went from a summer workout to a nightly activity at the West residence.  Jordan tried to keep up with his older brother, who could finish near 200, while Jordan would bottom out at 50.

“It was definitely competitive with me and my brother growing up,” said Jordan West, who is the 2016-17 Home News Tribune Boys Indoor Track Co-Athlete of the Year. “While I would say he got the better me during middle school, I think in high school is when I grew and had my growth spurt, and that’s when I got the best of him.”

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Once in high school, West was introduced to the weight room and throwing, the rest you can say is history.

“He’s definitely the greatest thrower our program has ever seen,” Rahway track coach Leon Bunion said. “He’s definitely a kid that won’t be forgotten. The community loves him, he’s left a rich legacy here at Rahway.”

West added to his legacy this past winter as he repeated as a gold medalist in the shot put at the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions with a throw of 64-0.5. The University of Tennessee commit also set a New Jersey state shot put indoor record at the Group II Championships with a toss of 65-6. West capped off his indoor track with a third-place finish at the New Balance Indoor Nationals with a mark at 65-00 and was named an All- American in the process.

For West, who thrives off competing against the best, the national scene was an intensely competitive event as every inch mattered. As a detailed-oriented student-athlete, this is the type of competition West has longed for since he was doing pushups with his brother and father in the seventh grade.

“People between sixth and third place were between 62 and 55 feet,” West recalled. “So, three feet difference meant placing sixth or third. It was really great competition.”

While West is a clear individual talent, it’s his ability to lead a team and set an example that separates him from the rest. West uses his obsessive work ethic he displays in the throwing circle and applies it to every other aspect of his life, especially, his studies.

West will begin his collegiate academic career as an undecided major, but he is looking to apply for the mechanical engineer program at Tennessee. The senior uses his well-rounded knowledge to help out his teammates who are struggling with their studies.

“He thinks he’s the coach at times,” Bunion joked. “He is not only very demanding of himself but with his teammates as well. Not just in track, but in the classroom. If there’s kids, whether they are a freshman or a senior, if Jordan finds out you’re messing up in the classroom, you’re going to hear about it. He always willing to lend a helping hand but he’s definitely all about excellence in every aspect.”

His teammates refer to him as “The Google” sometimes because of how knowledgeable he is in every subject. With a willingness to help out with homework, also comes a willingness to do whatever it takes to help out the team get a win.

Last season, West participated in the javelin despite throwing with an injured elbow, and helped the Indians capture the Central Group II sectional title.

“He’s a team player, he always puts the team first,” Bunion said. “Last year, he continued to compete in javelin even though he was in pain. He still did it because his team need it and it came clutch when we needed it most.”

This year, West helped the Indians to a third-place finish at the Group II Championships and did so while fighting through a sprained finger.

West has never had a major injury, but throughout his high school career minuscule injuries always seemed to occur. One time, West cut his finger on a basketball hoop, another time he cut the back of the hand on one of gates the in the school’s hallway.

“He always wants to be active and we kind of have to chain him down during those times,” Bunion said. “We have to watch what he’s doing in gym class because Jordan think’s he superman and he gives 100 percent in everything.”

Whether West is practicing his shot put in the middle of the hallway in between classes, playing basketball with his friends or even doing pushups with his brother and father, West will always give it his all.

“I think it’s a combination of family, morals, ethics and the community,” West said when asked where his winning mentality transpired from. “With both of my parents being very hard workers, they taught me to do the best I can do. And if I’m not doing the best, do more, do more reps, do extra activities in order to help you excel.”

Rey Rivera of the Old Bridge High School Indoor Track team has family from all over the country. Some of his family is settled in South Jersey, others in Maryland and Connecticut.

Despite the long distance, his supportive family makes an effort to make sure they are there to watch him race.

At the New Balance Indoor Nationals, both of Rivera’s grandparents drove two hours to New York City to watch their grandchild run in the 800-meter race. Rivera, who is the 2016-17 Home News Tribune Indoor Track Co-Athlete of the Year, placed second in the nation in front of several family members and friends.

“It was definitely like the most exciting moment of my career,” Rivera said. “My family was happy, I was happy. I could barely breath but I was happy. It was special to share with that group of people.”

The Georgetown University commit had a successful final season indoor as he was able to repeat at the Meet of Champions with a time of 1:52.18, which was a state record at the time until Rivera beat his own state record at nationals with a time of 1:50.04 that earned him the silver medal at nationals.

Rivera was able to sweep all four major individual events as he earned first at the Greater Middlesex Conference Championships with a time of 1:58.54. He then proceeded to earn gold at both the sectional and Group IV Championships. Following the nationals, Rivera was rewarded All-American status to cap off his illustrious indoor track career.

When Rivera started running in sixth grade he was just trying to keep busy. Fast-forward several years and Rivera is one of the most decorated track athletes in not only Old Bridge’s history, but in the GMC’s history as well.

“It’s the type of the thing you can completely fathom the idea of it happening,” said Rivera when asked if envisioned himself as a Division I athlete when he first took on the sport. “It wasn’t something I could imagine happening to myself until it actually happened.”

The reason for all his success is simple, Rivera is obsessed with not just competing, but winning as well.

“It’s just the drive and wanting to compete with great athletes,” Rivera said. “I like winning and I like competing, that’s one of the biggest motivators.”