The Sayreville War Memorial High School boys’ and girls’ winter track teams boast talented athletes throughout their lineups, and both contingents opened the season with victories over Bishop Ahr, Edison.
Unfortunately, longtime coach Bill Scarola will be sidelined for the remainder of the season after undergoing knee replacement surgery on both knees Jan. 2. Scarola is following his charges closely from home, where he noted that his recovery is progressing well, as the Bombers compete under the tutelage of assistant John Tysczkiewicz.
"We have a lot of talent on both teams, and we also have several excellent freshmen who are going to get better and better," Scarola said. "It’s tough for me not being there, but the team couldn’t be in better hands."
The boys, winners of the past three Greater Middlesex Conference White Division titles, have a solid group and are particularly strong in the shot put, where four seniors: Kyle Deutsch, Scott Armstrong, Boleslaw Czachor and co-captain Vinnie DeNota, can all reach the 40-foot mark.
Deutsch, who won the event in the Bishop Ahr meet, is poised for a breakout season, Scarola said, but on any given day each is capable of winning the event.
Senior Rich Torok, the other captain, won the 400-meter hurdles against Bishop Ahr, and also recorded a 5-10 mark in the high jump.
Ryan Piscitelli, another senior, handles the shorter events as well as the 400-meter race, where he has already recorded a time of :56.
Sophomore Rafael Valentin and freshman Chris Curtin handle middle-distance events; junior Rich Fruehwirth is an up-and-coming hurdler; and Jay Townsend, another junior, runs the long distance events. Townsend ran 1,600 meters in 5:16 to come in first against Bishop Ahr.
On the girls’ side, the Bombers are led by three senior co-captains: Vanessa Rodriguez, Jennifer Didik and Andrea Sarvetnick, a four-year veteran.
Rodriguez excels at 800 meters, where she finished in 2:36 at the GMC Relays; Didik runs the 3,200- and 1,600-meter events, running a 6:08 in the latter; and the versatile Sarvetnick is a hurdler and sprinter. She ran the 400-meter hurdles in 66 seconds at the GMC Relays.
Other members of the girls’ squad include juniors Nicole Vissallo, a high-jumper and hurdler; Nicole Gallagher, a hurdler and sprinter; and Lindsay Kelly, a middle- and long-distance competitor.
Jessica Tirpak is the team’s top shot-putter with a toss of 34.10 at the GMC Relays, and Tracey Clark is right behind, regularly reaching distances in the low 30s. Both are juniors. Sophomore Sara Pauciello has been impressive at both 800 and 1,600 meters, and versatile freshman Nicole Knight is a promising hurdler, who finished third in both the 800- and 1,600-meter races against Bishop Ahr.
"I know both teams have been working hard, and I think we’ll continue to see the results as the season progresses," Scarola said.