Looking back with a few weeks’ perspective on his Spotswood High School girls’ spring track team, first-year Coach Matt Swartz still takes delight in the Chargers’ school-record 10-1 campaign.
"I looked at this team and saw a lot of freshmen, sophomores and a few juniors," Swartz says. "And I thought, ‘Oh, well, this’ll be a rebuilding year.’ "
In fact, it was anything but that. Spotswood’s average victory score was a dominating 96-23, and the club’s sole defeat was to Central Jersey Group I champion and perennial power Metuchen. The Chargers finished second to the Bulldogs in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division, besting schools such as South River, Highland Park and New Brunswick, where Swartz coached for several years before coming to Spotswood.
"The girls worked really hard in practice," says Swartz, the Blue Division Coach of the Year, who was assisted by Gregg Mezera. "And they were a very nice group."
Indeed, the Chargers were nice enough to win the division’s Sportsmanship of the Year award. Spotswood tracksters also achieved some impressive individual accomplishments.
Miranda Taylor captured the GMC freshman 100 hurdles championship, while Michele Mishak won the conference’s sophomore 800 meter title, placed fourth in the 1600 meters in the state sectionals and earned recognition as a Blue Division all-star.
Among other standouts, Florence Kemelman took second in the sectional discus, also earning divisional all-star status, and fellow all-Blue pick Chelsea Stratowski high-jumped 5 feet to win a berth in the Meet of Champions.
Two other Blue all-stars included Vanessa Romanko, who placed in the sectionals in all three throwing events, and Yolanda Dove, a long-jumper who scored in three sectional events.
To top things off, Spotswood’s 4 X 400 relay team set a record at the Metuchen Freshman-Sophomore Relays.
"We had some other girls who also had fine years for us," says Swartz. "Christina Evans, a freshman, will be a phenomenal distance runner for us, and finished second in the freshman GMC meet for the 3200. Whether she does the mile or two-mile, she’s going to be a nice, nice runner."
Graduated senior Melissa Wallace, also a basketball star, finished sixth in the state javelin competition, while frosh Erica Steiger and Anthea Chan were the two top 400 runners, part of the Chargers’ superb 4 X 400 squad.
"Sophomore Kaitlin Finnerty was our most improved athlete," says Swartz. "She finished fifth in the GMC sophomore 400 hurdles."
Freshman Carolyn Logan, a soccer and basketball standout, promises to be a "great sprinter," Swartz says. "She came along big time in the 4000," he adds.
Spotswood also benefited from the progress of junior Lara Luczkow, who in her first year of track performed admirably in the 400 and 800.
"She’s a real role model," says Swartz. "A great young lady."
Another 11th-grader, Christina Lacertosa, showed ability in the hurdles, high-jump and long-jump and she can run, too.
Swartz is also expecting big things from Lindsey Drake, who will be one of the captains of the team next year as a sprinter and long jumper.
With the abundance of talent on his team, Swartz is already thinking about next year, and for good reason. Things have gone right for Swartz thus far.
"I have to thank Dave Hayes for all his help in my first year," says Swartz, summing up the campaign. "He’s a great athletic director."