Bernards defense takes big blow, as Thomas Diemar suffers season-ending knee injury

There was celebration Friday night after the final horn at Olcott Field, but it was somewhat subdued.

Bernards senior defensive end Thomas Diemar had left the game in the opening quarter with an injury, had flashed a thumbs up sitting on the trainers’ table to the stands, and seemed to be sitting comfortably. As the Mountaineers built up a big lead, he probably wouldn’t be needed anyway, the way they were playing, even though he kept saying he was okay, according to head coach Jon Simoneau.

But by the time it had all ended, and we caught up with Simoneau after the game, after everyone had gone, the prognosis was grim. “It doesn’t look good,” he told us as we stopped to talk wheeleing our broadcast equipment back to the car.

By Saturday, doctors had confirmed: it was his ACL and meniscus, and Diemar was done for the season.

Not only is it a terrible – and painful – way to have your senior season end, Diemar was looking to have a big year before heading off to Hartford to play at Trinity College. Now, he’ll have to cheer for his teammates from the sideline.

And if you know anything about the Bernards program in nearly two decades at the helm, you can be sure Diemar will be not only the loudest among them, but helping teach those who will now have to step up in his place.

Diemar is one of the premier players in the Big Central Conference. NJ.com recognized him as one of the top Group 2 defensive linemen in the state. He already had two sacks through two games and a bit of the third this year, giving him 22 for his career. He had ten each last year, and in 2023, where the Mountaineers had some of their most successful seasons in school history.

Oh, and he’s also a nationally-ranked long-snapper. So there’s that, too.

2023 brought their first sectional title of the playoff era, then they made another trip to the finals last season, falling to Shabazz. Diemar was a huge part of all of that, as well as the fact that Bernards hasn’t lost a regular season game in their last 28 chances. No one else in New Jersey is even close.

Team-wise, it’s a big hit. He had ten of the team’s 14 sacks last season, and nearly half of their tackles for loss. Now, it’ll be up tho the remaining defensive line, including seniors Fouzi Danial at end and Hudson Gershon at tackle, as well as junior Chase Caponegro at the other tackle.

And stepping in and getting his name called a number of times Friday night in a 43-7 win against Delaware Valley was sophomore Victor Nina, who’s 6′ 2″, 185, and had just one assisted tackle coming into the game.

Some will step up. After all it’s the Bernards way. The question is: who, and how soon?