Sports

UPDATE: Point Beach Coach Collapses; Moved To ICU Monday Night

Nick Catania, head coach for the boys varsity basketball team at Point Pleasant Beach High School, collapsed Monday morning across the street from Middletown North High School, according to reports.

Catania, who led the Garnet Gulls to their first NJSIAA Group I title last winter, was in the intensive care unit at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank on Monday night after collapsing earlier in the day and requiring CPR until the paramedics arrived, according to Shore Sports Network.

Catania, 36, who is a physical education teacher at Middletown South, suffered the medical emergency during an in-service day at the school while he was at nearby Tindall Park in Middletown.

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A Riverview spokesperson confirmed Monday afternoon that he is being treated there, according to Shore Sports Network.

Catania is entering his 10th season at Point Beach after winning the Class B Central title, reaching the Shore Conference Tournament final and making the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.

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In 2011, nobody was happier for his forward, Kevin Donohue,  than Catania after the forward nailed both free throws with 18.8 seconds to play, sending Point Pleasant Beach High School's boys basketball team to the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals after a thrilling 56-55 victory over No. 1 seed Christian Brothers Academy (17-4).

"I couldn't be happier for him,"  Catania said then. "He's the most unselfish kid I've ever had, he deserved the moment."

The two free throws finished off an impressive  16-for-16 game by the Gulls at the line.

Point Beach had knocked off the top two seeds from the Shore Conference that year.

"This is the best win I've had since becoming the coach at Point. To see the reaction on my kids faces. Beating CBA, doesn't get better than this," Catania said then.

With the win, Point Beach advanced to the Shore Conference semis for the first time since 1963.

Scott Stump contributed to this story


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