O.B. track shows there is strength in numbers
Team comprises over 100 athletes
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
With a strong group of upperclassmen and plenty of promising younger competitors, the Old Bridge High School winter track team will be looking to defend its GreaterMiddlesex Conference (GMC) and GMC Red Division titles this season.

The Knights lineup includes: Travis Mahoney and Brandon Lyman, both of whom are coming off a stellar cross country campaign; Peter Jodogne, juniors Billy Crane and Zach Garrison and sophomore Anthony Branco - giving Old Bridge a strong presence in the distance events. Mahoney and Lyman have recorded times of 9:38 and 9:43, respectively at 3,200 meters.

"We have some very strong seniors and I expect them all to be leaders," coach Jack Campbell said. "Our team has great experience in the distance and weight events; our sprinters have excellent talent but they don't have nearly as much experience."

SeniorMohamedMonsary, juniors Dan Cuevas, Sean Lunkenheimer, Jordan Schwartz and Tyler VanGoglia, along with sophomores Evan Petrovich and Tom Perry give Campbell a solid group of sprinters to choose from.Most of them will compete at 200 and 400 meters; Lunkenheimer will also run the 800-meter race. In all likelihood, Campbell will choose from this group to populate the 4-by-400- meter relay team.

Petrovich and Cuevas finished third and fourth, respectively, at 300 meters during the recent Season Opener Invitational at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Garrison was fourth at 1,600 meters and Lyman was fifth, and Lunkenheimer took second at 800 meters.

Brian Florek and junior Jorge Merino are the shot putters. "We're still kind of sorting out who is

doing what and adjusting to the indoors,"

Campbell said. "Right now

we're just taking it day by day to

make sure we're ready for our meets."

Old Bridge's winter schedule

includes the Merli Invitational

in Toms River during the

holiday break; the Varsity Classic at the New York Armory and the Eastern States Championships. The Knights will also compete at other meets at both the New York and Jersey City armories.

Campbell reported that Old Bridge had a strong turnout- the largest ever- and more than 100 students are currently in the program, many of them sophomores and freshmen.

"That will give us a strong foundation for the future," the coach said. "Right now our focus is really just on getting ready for the season.We would really like to win the Red Division again and we want to do well in the GMC."