HHS BOYS’ TRACK PREVIEW
By: Rudy Brandl
Great teams don’t always win championships, but the Hillsborough High boys are primed to change all that on the track and in the field this spring.
Despite fielding a deep, balanced team in recent years, the HHS boys haven’t won a major outdoor title under third-year head coach Jim O’Connor. With most of last year’s key individuals back and the addition of a Meet of Champions place-winner, this could be the year for the Raiders.
"We’ve been successful, but we haven’t won anything," O’Connor said. "I think we’re very good. The girls have been phenomenal, but we just haven’t won any championships."
Hillsborough boasts depth, balance and experience in most areas. Senior Nick Vaccaro, who finished sixth in the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions last June, leads a solid cast of distance runners. Senior cross country standout Mike Klueber should be a force in the 3,200, while juniors Erik Szabocsik and Joe Brennan and freshman Brian Dennis all have the potential to score big.
Vaccaro and Klueber could also run the 800, but the Raiders have several others who can push the two-minute mark. Fred Kain, Roland Lane and Jeff Meltzer all ran very well during the winter and should make an impact outdoors.
The addition of Franklin Andreyko will make the Raiders a more dangerous team in May. Andreyko, who finished sixth in the long jump at last year’s Meet of Champs, must sit out the first 30 days of the season after transferring from Manville. Andreyko increased his personal-best to 23-2 to become Hillsborough’s first individual indoor national medalist. He can also sprint and hurdle.
"He’s frosting on the cake," O’Connor said. "We’re going to be good and solid without him. He’ll give us another shot in the arm when we get to the championship time of the year."
Senior Tony Flores, who’s coming off a solid indoor season, is back as the team’s top hurdler. Flores and senior shot putter Hector Tirado return as defending champs in the Sklyand Conference and Somerset County championship meets. Flores will also long jump and run on the 4×400 relay, while Tirado hopes to make an impact in the discus. Tirado surpassed 50 feet in the shot put several times during the indoor campaign.
The Raiders will cover the hurdles and jumps with some solid returnees. Seniors Mike Barberio, Jim Morley and Nick Confuorto will hurdle, along with juniors Tim Swarc and Kain. Junior Bryan Fox, Morley and senior Dave Minetti will compete in the high jump, while Flores, Fox, Confuorto and Dave Berry will long jump. Morley, Fox, Berry and Andreyko are the top candidates for the triple jump.
Confuorto, who’s cleared 13 feet on several occasions, is the leading pole vaulter. Minetti and sophomores Adam Mallet and Matt Bitten will also contribute in the pole vault. Fox, Berry, Bitten and Mallet will handle the sprinting chores.
Tirado leads the HHS weight team, which includes several other guys who have the potential to do damage. Senior Joe Gutschmidt and junior Chris Drake will throw the shot and discus, while sophomore Chris Berezansky will try all three weight events. Junior Ryan Miles (discus) will be joined by senior javelin specialists Jared Goldstein, Jon Carnes, Tim Pultorak and junior Frank Livelli.
"The team has gotten better and steadily improved," O’Connor said. "If that can continue, we’ll be even better this year. We have quality kids in almost every event. I think they’ll do well."