A Central Preview
If you haven't seen the new Shore Conference division alignment, you might be thinking the same thing I am (assuming you know your Shore Conference track): What happened to A Central?
That's not to say the SJVs, Raritans, Red Banks, RBCs, Manasquans, and Holmdels of the world are teams to scoff at, but none really stick out as a division champion. Red Bank is the new face of the bunch, going 4-2 in a fairly strong B North division in '06, and should fair well in the race this season.
RBC and Holmdel went through rebuilding years of sorts last year and their sucess this season will hinge on athlete development rather than returning stars. Manasquan lost a fair amount of seniors, while RBC and Holmdel (a combined 1-11 last year) bring back a lot of bodies with a lot of room for improvement. Those three teams will make up the bottom half of the division, and RBC looks likes the best of the bottom. Sean Curry and Dan Fitzpatrick will be strong at hurdles, and Shawn Platz and Nick Bond head a nice distance group.
To say Raritan will rocket to the top of the division would not really apply. It's more like they fell asleep in third place last June and woke up this March as the favorite. Raritan will be a strong in the throws with three-sport standout Brian England (All-Shore defensive lineman and starting power forward), the hurdles with Doug Anderson, distance with Jim Curran, and jumps with John Krajunus.
Depth could come into play against St. John Vianney, which can throw a lot of athletes at the Rockets in every event, save maybe the throws. But considering England and co. will likely own A Central's weight division, SJV might be in good shape, even if they do punt the pole, javelin, and the discus. You can read all about Chris Favaloro (pole vault) in tomorrow's preview, and Paul Barolette (sprinter/jumper) returns after a bronze medal in the 100 meter dash at last year's Non-Public A Championships.
Red Bank is the wildcard of the bunch. The other five have a few years of familiarity with each other, but throwing Red Bank in the mix could either give SJV and/or Raritan an extra win or could replace the loss Matawan or Colts Neck would have handed them. The Bucs' Dennie Waite and Mark Degenhart (of RBR soccer fame), will anchor another strong distance group in Red Bank. Coach Corey Radcliffe expects Will Sanborn (guard on the hoops team) to make an impact in the jumps.
Potential Group/State Champions: Barolette (SJV) - 100 m; Favaloro (SJV) pole vault; Dennie Waite (RBR) - 1600 m; Brian England (Raritan) - discus.
That's not to say the SJVs, Raritans, Red Banks, RBCs, Manasquans, and Holmdels of the world are teams to scoff at, but none really stick out as a division champion. Red Bank is the new face of the bunch, going 4-2 in a fairly strong B North division in '06, and should fair well in the race this season.
RBC and Holmdel went through rebuilding years of sorts last year and their sucess this season will hinge on athlete development rather than returning stars. Manasquan lost a fair amount of seniors, while RBC and Holmdel (a combined 1-11 last year) bring back a lot of bodies with a lot of room for improvement. Those three teams will make up the bottom half of the division, and RBC looks likes the best of the bottom. Sean Curry and Dan Fitzpatrick will be strong at hurdles, and Shawn Platz and Nick Bond head a nice distance group.
To say Raritan will rocket to the top of the division would not really apply. It's more like they fell asleep in third place last June and woke up this March as the favorite. Raritan will be a strong in the throws with three-sport standout Brian England (All-Shore defensive lineman and starting power forward), the hurdles with Doug Anderson, distance with Jim Curran, and jumps with John Krajunus.
Depth could come into play against St. John Vianney, which can throw a lot of athletes at the Rockets in every event, save maybe the throws. But considering England and co. will likely own A Central's weight division, SJV might be in good shape, even if they do punt the pole, javelin, and the discus. You can read all about Chris Favaloro (pole vault) in tomorrow's preview, and Paul Barolette (sprinter/jumper) returns after a bronze medal in the 100 meter dash at last year's Non-Public A Championships.
Red Bank is the wildcard of the bunch. The other five have a few years of familiarity with each other, but throwing Red Bank in the mix could either give SJV and/or Raritan an extra win or could replace the loss Matawan or Colts Neck would have handed them. The Bucs' Dennie Waite and Mark Degenhart (of RBR soccer fame), will anchor another strong distance group in Red Bank. Coach Corey Radcliffe expects Will Sanborn (guard on the hoops team) to make an impact in the jumps.
Potential Group/State Champions: Barolette (SJV) - 100 m; Favaloro (SJV) pole vault; Dennie Waite (RBR) - 1600 m; Brian England (Raritan) - discus.
posted by Matt Manley at 1:30 PM
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