ED GRANT'S 2004 XCOUNTRY PREVIEW


 

BOYS

      Once again, the coming cross-country campaign shapes up as a two-team affair, with Christian Brothers 
as one of the protagonists and Cherokee replacing Mainland (the Chiefs naturally hope with the same result) 
as the other.

     Cherokee will field a largely senior outfit from its excellent fresh-man team of three years ago. CBA, on 
the other hand, will depend hea-vily on its junior class with only one member of its equally strong 2001 frosh 
group likely to make the top five.

     Dominating the individual scene should be Bobby Papazian,  sopho-more Craig Forys of Colts Neck, 
who hopes to become the first boy to win three AG titles before he graduates in 2007, and the “outcast,” 
Bryan Scotland of St. Benedict’s who will likely win every race he is allowed to run.

     We will now get to the business of listing a projected top 10 teams and top 25 individuals, both by 
alphabetical order (in each case where a number appears, it indicates the AG finish in 2004):

 

TEAMS

     BERNARDS  (12): It is a long time since this once-dominant school appeared in this listing, but the 
Mountaineers have a veteran team with four solid performers: John Gould, Pat DiGioacchino and the 
Palma brothers, senior Joe and sophomore Anthony. They should easily repeat as Gr. I champs.

     CHEROKEE (5): The Chiefs have a solid top five with Tom Yersak, Sean McLaughlin and junior 
Greg Bredeck all having finished in the top 50 at last year’s AG meet. James Maneval and Mike Candy 
fill out the lineup.
            
       CBA (2): Tom Heath thinks his team may be a year away, but juniors Chris Horel, Greg Leach 
and Kevin Rogers all ran 16:45 or bet-ter at Holmdel last year. Another junior, Justin Wheat, and a lone 
sen-ior, Brian Keating, figure to fill out the top five with a host of candidates for the other two varsity 
positions.

      CRANFORD: The Cougars suffered a severe disappointment when they failed to qualify for last year’s 
AG meet, but they should make it with something to spare this time, led by the unrelated Browns, Kevin 
and Glenn, soph Joe McKenney, Josh Hanke and Nate Thompson.

       MORRIS HILLS (9): Like CBA, this is a junior dominated team with Brandon Rodkiewicz, Ryan 
Uhrynowich and Jayson Decker from the state’s No. 2 frosh team of 2002. Senior Dan Godfrey and 
soph Kyle Soloff compete the well-balanced lineup.

       PHILLIPSBURG (10): No Warren County team has ever made the Top 10 by season’s end, but 
the Stateliners could break that spell this time. They have a great 1-2 punch with Josh Davis and Ryan 
Doyle, two pretty fair backups with Mark Tickle and Matt Sheridan and just may get a boost from 400H 
star Justin Gaymon, who is being primed this year to take over the 800 leg on what could be a sub-10:10 
DMR team.

       POPE JOHN (7): Justin Scheid has graduated, but the Lions get back almost all the others with 
junior Anthony LaMastro, senior Albert Taylor and soph Jeremy Scheid leading the way.

      RIDGEWOOD (4): The Maroon graduated a ton-load of talent last June, but come back with two junior 
stars Mike Cator and Byron Williams, plus soph transfer Dan Emont who was an all-state frosh last fall 
for Bergen Tech,

      SETON HALL (10): Still another team which is returning to past glories this year. A.J. DeRose and 
Brian Trembley head the lineup with plenty of depth, led by Ryan Campi and soph Ian Shore.

       TOMS RIVER NORTH (3): Three of the top five return, including Chris Pisano, who was the highest 
underclass finisher (9th) in last year’s AG meet. Justin Brackett and Mike McGarry join him, along with 
senior Joe Caffrey and a couple of promising sophs. 


INDIVIDUALS

       JASON APWAH, Roxbury: Jason came into HS last fall from a brilliant junior career, but had injury 
problems which wrecked his CC season and still bothered him some indoors and out. But he had a 
sensational summer, running under 1:56 in the 800 (see Junior Olympic coverage in this issue).

       JUSTIN BRACKETT, TR North (42): A steady No. 3 on the 2003 team---and sometimes No. 2---
Brackett ran 16:43 at Holmdel and, in the spring, was a steady 800 man on the Mariners’ DMR team.

      GREG BREDECK, Cherokee (44): Had a fine sophomore season, running either 2nd or 3rd for the 
Chiefs in most meets with a best of 16:34 at Holmdel.

      GREG BULL, East Brunswick (50): Had a big breakthrough last spring with marks of 4:21.2 in the 
1600 and 9:30.15 in the 3200.

      MIKE CATOR, Ridgewood (40): Another who enjoyed a fine sophomore year with bests of 4:21.2 
and 9:30.35 in the spring and a 16:42 at Holmdel in the fall.

      STEVE CHENNELLS, Lakewood (26): Possibly the “loneliest” run-ner in the state on the sprint-
oriented Piners, Steve had a very steady season last fall with a 16:30 at Holmdel.

 
       JOSH DAVIS, Phillipsburg: His CC season was only average last fall, but he broke loose in the 
track season, eventually running 1:5610 for the 800 and 4:16.24 for the 1600).

       BRIAN DENNIS, Hillsboro: An all-state class runner in both his freshman and sophomore years, 
Brian was 7th in the Central Jersey IV race last fall at 16:47 and broke 4:30 for the 1600 in the spring.  

      KOREY EDWARDS, Parsippany Hills: Had a tremendous im-provement last spring when he ran 
9:20.79 to upset Craig Forys for the Gr. III 3200 title.

      CRAIG FORYS, Colts Neck (34): The find of the 2003-04 school year, Craig set a national age-
group (14) 3200 mark in the winter and just missed state frosh marks in the 1600 and 3200 in the 
spring. His CC season was sensational as he shattered Brad Hudson’s frosh record at Holmdel, 
twice running 16:15 there.

       CHRIS GUERRIERO, Saddle Brook (46): Won half a dozen or more races last fall in invitationals 
and local championship meets with a best of 16:47 at Holmdel.

      JUSTIN HEDDERICH, Sparta: Had the thankless task of chasing Justin Scheid last fall, but turned 
in a 10th at the Gr. III meet, running 16:57 at Holmdel.

      CHRIS HOREL, CBA (27): Should be co-leader of the Colts this fall with classmate Greg Leach. 
He ran 16:30 at Holmdel last fall and got down to 9:30.15 in the spring.

     JAMIE KAVALIAUSKAS, Highland: An all-state frosh three years ago, Jamie has been a steady 
runner since then but came into his own last spring with a 4:20.07 1600.

    JAMES LAGRECA, Demarest: Has been a top runner since he made all-state as a frosh. Ran 9th 
in Gr. III in 16:58, then clocked 1:57.1 for 800 and 9:30.04 for 3200 in the spring.

     ANTHONY LAMASTRO, Pope John (48): Anthony did his best running on the 1200M leg of the 
crack PJ DMR last year, getting under 3:10 a couple of times. He ran the 1600 in the low 4:20s outdoors.

     GREG LEACH, CBA: A versatile runner who has been on the Colts’ 3200 team since freshman year 
and several times ran 51 seconds or so with the 1600R last year, Greg hit 4:20.62 in the 1600 last 
spring and will no doubt take over the 1600 leg for the DMR this year.

     SEAN MCLAUGHLIN, Cherokee (29): Did his best running in CC as a junior with a 16:34 in the 
AG meet. Injuries hurt him both indoors and out.

      JOEY MASTERS, Mainland (18): The lone survivor of the AG champs, Masters missed the 
spring season with injuries and it will be interesting to see how he fares as a virtual solo runner this fall.

      BOBBY PAPAZIAN, Gill-St. Bernard’s (11): There were rumors of a change of schools for Bobby 
in his senior year, but he will be looking to win the PB title that so narrowly escaped him last year. 
He looks ready for it having, despite injuries, run 9:16.27 in the 3200 last spring.

     CHRIS PISANO, TR North (9): With senior Dan Bingham having his troubles with injuries last fall, 
Chris took over the lead spot and performed with a 16:03 in the superfast AG race. In the spring, he 
ran 4:20.16 for the 1600 and 9:28.00 for the 3200.

       KEVIN ROGERS, CBA: Ran 16:45 for 10th in the PA race last fall and was in the 9:30s outdoors 
for the 3200.

       BRYAN SCOTLAND, St. Benedict’s: When he got a chance to run last fall, Bryan was among 
the state’s best, winning his races at the Shore Coaches Invitational and the Manhattan meet. On 
the track, he ran 1:52.88 for the 800 indoors and had 1600 relay legs below 4:13. Outdoors he ran 
1:53.84 and 4:16.4 in a limited schedule. He could well be the state’s best this year at distances 
from 600M through 1600M.

     THOMAS WALSH, Matawan (19): In his first full year of compete-tion, Walsh ran 16:22 at 
Holmdel and had outdoor marks of 4:17.34 and 9:30.21.

     TOM YERSAK, Cherokee (38): The probable leader of the Chiefs’ title bid this fall ran 16:41 
at Holmdel last fall and had a 9:24.89 in the 3200 outdoors.

 

OTHERS TO WATCH

     The big question is whether Burlington County 800 stars Ian Waterhouse of Rancocas 
Valley and Rob Novak of Bordentown will be on the scene this fall and, if so, to what extent. 
Another dark horse is Bill Sep-ich who came from nowhere to run a 4:19.2 1600 outdoors.

     Four other boys who ran under 17:00 at Holmdel last fall could well break into the top 
25 by AG time: Joe Berardi of Red Bank Catholic, Albert Taylor of Pope John, Andrew 
Catalano of Roselle Catholic and Chris Beyrent of Morristown.

     Some other spring track stars who bear watching are Byron Will-iams of Ridgewood, 
Hayrol Cruz of Passaic, Matt Dahl of Raritan. Ryan Jagielski of Colts Neck, Pat DiGiaocchino 
of Bernards, Geoff McCrane of Randolph and Ben Massam of Chatham.

     Freshmen boys rarely break in---Forys an obvious exception---but we hear that CBA has 
a hot prospect this fall in Brendan Pierson who comes in with impressive credentials at 
distances from 400 through 1600.

 

 

GIRLS

      Things are a lot more wide-open here with at least four teams entering the season with a 
legitimate hope of winding up as No. 1: Morris Knolls, Msgr. Donovan, Ocean City and Old 
Bridge. And who knows what the new freshman class might bring: Msgr. Donovan has three 
prime prospects in its top seven.

    The individual scene is very crowded. Not only are the top three from last fall returning, 
but there will also be such newcomers as Danielle Tauro of Southern Ocean, who was lost 
in the pack a year ago, but who won the outdoor AG 1600, defeating the 2003 CC champ, 
Brittany Sedberry of Ocean City. And Jen Clausen, sixth in the last year’s ASG race, but 
a Footlocker qualifier, will be trying to make up for her loss to injury of the 2004 outdoor campaign.

    It must also be noted that we will have a year to wait for the appearance of the state’s 
top girl distance runner of last season, Brian-na Jackucewicz of Colts Neck

 

TEAMS

     CHEROKEE: A potent 1-2 punch here with Lisa Burkholder and Megan O’Leary plus other 
members of the team that defeated eventual AG champ Shawnee in last year’s SJ sectionals.

     HOPEWELL VALLEY: Another team with a top pair in Annie Carney and Emily Sherrard---
both of whom had great outdoor seasons. Lauren Seiler also returns and there are rumors 
of a strong frosh infusion.

     MORRIS KNOLLS (3): With the 1-2 finishers from last year, Shaw-nee and Voorhees, 
both hit hard by graduation, the Golden Eagles, team intact, move into the favored role. 
The junior-dominated lineup is led by the Laurens, Gregory and Berard, and also includes 
their class-mates, Elle Tansey and all-state frosh from last year, Kerry Ann Binns.

    MORRISTOWN: Another junior-led team with Tara Duggan, Lindsey Pierret and Tricia Hoen 
forming the top trio and a host of one of the state’s largest squads scrambling for the other 
positions.

      MSGR. DONOVAN (11): The Griffins are led by one of the state’s best, Leah Brogan,
 will welcome perhaps the top member of the incoming frosh class, Molly Kempton, and fill 
out the lineup capably with soph Heather Carbone, junior Tara Watson and versatile senior 
Maggie Taverna.

      OCEAN CITY (5): The Red Raiders have the defending AG champ in Sedberry and 
the rest of the 2003 team as well with one exception: Molly Minehan, Allie Moreland and 
Erin Walsh. Stepping into Brenda Briney’s shoes is soph Elizabeth Richardson, who was 
under 11:25 for 3200 last spring. All that’s missing is last spring’s AG 800 runner-up, 
Renee Tomlin, and she will probably join the team next year after completing hew 
commitment to her swimming teammates.

      OLD BRIDGE: The Knights got a big boost last spring with the arrival of from Sarah 
Root from Ohio and she joins a solid veteran cast (most of them members of the 2001 
Gr. IV champs) which includes Mara McInerney, Kaitlyn Regan, Shannon Robinson, 
Christine Mar-quez and Stephanie LaFergola.

     PINGRY (10): The top three from last year return---Amanda Smith, who finished 5th 
in the AG meet, Liz Encarnacion and Erin Ton-er---and the Big Blue could pull the hat 
trick plus one this year by taking conference, county, state prep and Parochial B honors.

     WESTFIELD: Injuries wrecked the 2003 season, but the Blue Devils had a strong 
spring with its 3200R and three members of that team, Anne Onishi, Eadoin Quinn and 
Meg Driscoll will join with Rachel Barrett this fall. It would be a big help, of course, were 
Emily MacNeil to give up soccer.

.    WEST WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO SOUTH (6): The top duo of Lisa Miller and Michelle 
Barabasch, both top 20 finishers in the AG race last fall, makes the Pirates a real threat 
to the top four this fall. Allison Warner and Rebecca Pierson also return from the 2003 team 
whose finish was the surprise of the season.

 INDIVIDUALS

     MICHELLE BARABASCH, WW-Plainsboro So (19): Had a very steady season last fall, 
capped by her 6th in the Gr. IV race at 19:38 and her top 20 finish in the AG at 19:43.
                  
    LAUREN BERARD, Morris Knolls (31): Played second fiddle to team-mate Gregory in 
CC last fall, but was her team’s top distance runner in the spring at 5:11 and 11:25.

     LEAH BROGAN, Msgr. Donovan (11): Her junior year was nigh perfect as she swept 
distance honors in the Parochial A division and finished 3rd both indoors and out in the 
AG 1600. Twice barely missed breaking 5:00 at that distance and ran 11:19.88 in the 3200.

     LISA BURKHOLDER, Cherokee (8): Finished 2nd  indoors and 5th outdoors in the AG 
1600. Also just missed a sub-5:00 1600 and ran under 10:55 twice in the 3200.

     BRITTANY BYNOE, Willingboro: Her CC season was up and down last fall, but 
she was dynamite on the track indoors and out with top marks of 4:59.60 and 11:19.54. 
Doubled as a 400-meter hurdler and anchor in several big 1600R wins.

     ANNIE CARNEY, Hopewell Valley: Was headed for a top 25 finish in the AG race last 
fall when illness caught up with her. This took her out of the indoor campaign, but she 
returned outdoors with a ven-geance, running 2nd in the AG 3200 and twice getting under 
11:00.

     JEN CLAUSEN, Jackson (6): Ran off a string of CC victories last fall, beginning 
at the opening Randolph Invitational and ending with a Gr. IV triumph. Her best at Holmdel 
was 18:41, beaten only by Jackuciewicz. She continued indoors with a 10:54.67 AG 3200 
win, but lost her outdoor season to injury.

   TARA DUGGAN, Morristown (16): Overshadowed as a freshman in 2002, Tara came 
unto her own as a soph with top five finishes in all her major races up to the AG meet, 
running 19:30 at Holmdel in Gr. IV.

    JENN ENNIS, Roxbury: Another up and down runner without any big wins as a soph 
but a 19:31 for 5th in the Gr. IV race in CC and marks of 5:05.2 and 11:18.70 outdoors.

     LAUREN GREGORY, Morris Knolls (22): Like Bynoe, Gregory was all over the lot 
outdoors with a fling at the 400H included. But she found time to run 2:16.78 in the
 800 and 5:09.0 in the 1600.

       LARA HEIGIS, Pope John (3): The best of a good lot of frosh CC runners last fall, 
she ran 19:02 in the AG race. Injuries sidelined her indoors, but she came back to run 
11:08.04 outdoors and probably would have been under 11:00 in another week or two.

     KATHLEEN HENRY, Ridge (29): A “pure” CC runner, Kathy will be well-tested this 
fall as she moves into the Skylands Conference after dominating the Mountain Valley for the 
last two years.

    ASHLEY HIGGINSON, Colts Neck: Until Jackuciewicz joins her next fall, Ashley will 
be queen of the hill here and did a very good job of it last spring as she ran 3rd in the Gr. 
III 3200 in 10:53.26.

     MOLLY KEMPTON, Msgr. Donovan: Has been overshadowed through her junior career 
by Jackuciewicz, but ran well under 19:00 for 5K at the National indoors meet last winter.

     ARIANNA MCKINNEY, Highland (2): A surprise 2nd-place fin-isher last fall (taking advantage 
of Clausen’s one “off” day), Arianna went on to run 5:05.66 and 10:56.54 outdoors with one 
indoor relay leg just under 5:00.

     AMANDA MARINO, Jackson: One of several frosh aces who burst on the scene last spring, 
Amanda took over the distance chores at Jackson from the injured Clausen and proceeded to 
run 5:05.59 for the 1600 and 11:02.13 for 3200.

     LISA MILLER, WW-Plainsboro So. (14): After a brilliant CC sea-son, which saw her run 
19:26 at Holmdel, Lisa ran 11:36.42 in the 3200 indoors, but lost her outdoor season to injuries.

     CHEYENNE OGLETREE, Garfield (21): A sometimes too brave runner, Cheyenne ran 5th 
in the Gr. III race last fall and ran 11:33.28 for 3200 indoors. She was among the early pacesetters 
in the outdoor AG race, but faded in the latter half.

     SARAH ROOT, Old Bridge: We could find no record of what Sarah may have done last fall in 
CC, but her outdoor marks here---5:00.56 in the 1600 and 10:55.78 in the 3200---indicate she 
could be quite a force this fall.

     BRITTANY SEDBERRY, Ocean City (1): An all but perfect CC season (there was an early-season 
loss at 3200M) was followed by injuries that kept her sidelined indoors. But she returned in style 
with a strong 3K race at Penn and her only setback after that was in the AG 1600 as she ran 
4:58.41 and 10:44.23.

     AMANDA SMITH, Pingry (5): Like her county rival, Kathy Henry, Smith seems to belong to 
the “pure” CC class of runners, though she did turn in an 11:19.83 in the 3200 last spring after 
clocking 19:13 at Holmdel.

     JULIE STENSLAND, Voorhees (12): Julie will have little company this fall as her teammates 
form the No. 2 finishers last year have all graduated. She ran 3rd in the Gr. III race in 19:16.

     DANIELLE TAURO, Southern Ocean: Danielle was a complete novice in CC last fall, never 
having run in middle school, so her 21+ performances gave no indicated of what was to come 
outdoors. She ran so easily in her 4:52.79 AG 1600 run and her 10:45.14 Gr. IV 3200 triumph 
that she must be considered a threat to Sedberry and Clausen this fall (and has much more 
finishing speed than her rivals, as noted by her legs on a sub-4:00 1600R team).

     KATIE VAN HORN, Triton (46): A steady, solo runner, Katie had a big spring, running 
11:06.87 for 3200M.

 
      VANESSA WRIGHT, Haddonfield: Vanessa won the Gr. II title in 19:08 and then was 
out of the money in the AG meet. It was much the same outdoors as she doubled the Gr. II 
distances, then failed to place in the AG meet. But when she is good, she is very, very good.
                            
OTHERS TO WATCH

     There are perhaps a dozen of more runners who deserve mention here, including Vickie
Latella of Mt. Olive, Ali Caruana of Roxbury, Amy VanAlstine of Midland Park, Emily Don 
of North Hunterdon, Alexis Roy of Lacey, Andrea Campbell of Mainland, Abby Hinds of 
Mt. Lakes, Theresa Cattuna of Cherry Hill East and Emily Sherrard of Hopewell Valley 
and Aimee Chegwidden of Wallkill Valley.

 

 
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