Right in the midpoint of the third marking period, when tests are piling up and classes are moving along rapidly, West Essex received two new students. Junior brothers Max and Ben Ruvo, who have spent their previous high school years at Seton Hall Prep, joined the West Essex student body and were able to adjust to a new school, schedule and team very quickly.

The Ruvos are not completely new to this environment. They grew up in North Caldwell and attended West Essex Middle School along with their triplet sister, Holly Ruvo, who now goes to Mount St. Dominic. They walked into a new-but-not-so-new school already knowing many familiar faces.

“It was hard to leave my old school, but I already had friends here from going to the middle school,” Ben said. “Everyone was really welcoming and the teachers were nice, which made the transition easier.”

West Essex is a very different school than Seton Hall Prep, especially since it is public and a co-ed school. They said it was exciting to be able to go to a school with girls after being strictly with boys all of high school.

Aside from having familiar faces around the halls, Max and Ben were quick to join the West Essex baseball team, a sport they are both very passionate about.

Injuries affected their plans to play at Seton Hall, they said, so coming to West Essex was an opportunity for them to continue playing.

“I got a call from someone who used to coach them saying that they were thinking about coming back to West Essex and it was probably a week or so before they came, so it all happened pretty quick,” varsity baseball Coach Johnson said. “For a tough situation, they’ve handled it very well.”

The Ruvos agreed that being a part of a team was most helpful in their transition to the school. “It helped create a bond with some of the students and Coach Johnson has helped a lot with the process,” Max said. “We felt a part of the team and accepted early on.”

Both Max and Ben are standout players whether batting or playing in the outfield, and have contributed a lot in a short period of time. Coach Johnson also said Max and Ben have had a great impact on the team through their skills and mentality.

“They are everything we would want and more,” Coach Johnson said. “Forget the fact that they’re extremely talented, they dedicate themselves to the program, and are ‘I’ll do anything you need Coach’ kind of kids. They’re all in.”

The Ruvos have the second and third most hits on the team, closely behind senior Zac Balz. They have two of the highest batting averages: Max with .475 and Ben with .432, elevating the level of play and success of the team greatly. Coach Johnson said that in his opinion, the Ruvos gave the team a leadoff batter (Ben) and a power hitter (Max).

“Any time that you can plug somebody into the lineup the team is impacted,” Coach Johnson said. “And if that somebody has a twin that you can plug in as well, it definitley changes the whole dynamic.”

Their teammates embraced the Ruvos and did their best to make them feel welcome. “We were really excited to have them on the team,” senior Shane Smith said. “They are both very talented players and have made a difference for us this season.”

Coming back to a new school is never easy and despite the stress of school and sports, the Ruvos have found their place in the West Essex student body.

“I hope to continue playing baseball collegiately because I’m not ready to stop playing yet and want to continue my career,” Max said.