HHS ready to run down Valley

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: The Rams will take their four CVC Colonial Division crowns with them into battle in the Valley Division this season.

By: Neil Hay
   Could the boys cross country team claim the first CVC Valley Division championship for Hightstown High School?
   With four Colonial Division crowns in the last six years, coach Mary Brower would love to carry over her team’s success to the Valley. And she just may have the team to do it.
   Brower has several solid runners back from a year ago when the Rams went 11-1 overall and won the Mercer County championship and the CVC Colonial Division. There are also some new runners on board with great potential. Moreover, the team is not concentrated in one or two classes, but is evenly distributed among freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. So the Rams should be stacked for years to come.
   "I’m looking forward to the season," said Brower. "I’ve got some really interesting kids this year. I am going to enjoy it."
   Leading the veterans is senior Joe Harms, of whom Brower said, "He is looking great. He really worked, went to camp and is very determined, very strong for this time of year. And he is a really smart runner."
   Also back is senior Brandon Verrault, another camp goer, to give the Rams a solid one-two senior punch.
   "Both will do well at (the) county (meet)."
   Others back include junior Brian Pinney and sophomore Tim Moran.
   The most impressive of the new additions is freshman Dan Montserat, who looks more like a junior than a freshman.
   "He is looking really good," said Brower. "He is big. He is a runner. And he’s good at it. I think he’ll make his mark."
   Another freshman opening eyes is Graham Apgar.
   "He is looking very good. In time trials he is up there. Very impressive."
   Others out for the first time are juniors Peter Klapsogeorge and Alex Trunzo ("He has a great attitude"), sophomore transfer (from South Brunswick) Dan Csontos, sophomore Andy Feeney ("He should do pretty good"), senior Justin Wexler, and freshman Ryan Glaser.
   "They’ve really worked together. They are working on the whole pack philosophy. This is a good group, different from last year’s team which was more vocal. It’s spread out (among four classes). I like that."