Bombers finding wins hard to come by in Red Division
Boys playing well against quality
competition
JERRY WOLKOWITZ East Brunswick pitcher Dara Gadziala delivers a pitch during the Bears’ recent win over South Brunswick. Gadziala’s pitching and hitting are major reasons that the top-ranked Bears have jumped out to a 11-2 start this season.
The Sayreville War Memorial High School boys’ tennis team is struggling to get its footing in the difficult Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division.
The Bombers have played some good tennis along the way but have managed only one triumph, against Woodbridge.
Coach Hank Connelly’s team had been playing in the White Division, making steady progress and going 10-6 in 2000 before being switched to the Red a year ago when the Bombers went 0-14.
"We have some good players, and they’re great kids who work hard," said Connelly, who is in his final season at the helm. "The Red Division is very tough, and we just haven’t had any success. I don’t think we should have been moved here in the first place, but since we’re here, our guys are doing their best to win."
Hard-serving Boleslaw Czachor is Sayreville’s top singles player. Though the senior has won only twice, his strong service keeps him in most matches.
Younger brother Gregory Czachor, a freshman who also has a solid serve and good ground strokes, holds down the No. 2 slot.
Junior Michael Radajcyk, who played doubles a year ago, is the Bombers’ third singles player. Meanwhile, senior Shardul Phutane and junior Eric Park are at first doubles, and junior Dennis Malopolski and sophomore Kevin Rapach are the second duo.
Connelly said he kept several sophomores and freshmen who are likely to see some action as the season progresses. In any event, they’re practicing with the team and gaining experience for next season.
"Hopefully, coupled with our veterans, that will give the new coach plenty of players to work with," Connelly said.
Even the Bombers’ non-division schedule is tough. On Monday, they faced Blue Division-leading South River and dropped a hard-fought match 3-2. The Czachor brothers gave the Bombers wins at first singles (7-5, 6-4) and second singles (6-4, 6-4), but South River took third singles and both doubles matches to pull out the win. The loss dropped Sayreville to 1-7, while South River, ranked 10th in the GMC, improved to 6-1.
The Bombers had another tough Red Division match yesterday when they faced an Old Bridge team fresh off its third-place finish in the GMC Tournament. The Knights continued their impressive season in the tournament, advancing two players to the finals on Monday and earning a third-place finish in another flight.
The Bombers will return to the courts tomorrow when they host Woodbridge. From there, they will face a strong South Brunswick team on Monday and Edison on Tuesday.