Long jump star can’t compete until May 6
By: Rudy Brandl
Franklin Andreyko knew he’d be sitting out the first 30 days of the spring track and field season. That’s the rule applying to all varsity letter winning athletes who transfer from one school to another while maintaining the same residence.
Andreyko, who still lives in Manville, figured he’d be eligible to compete May 1. That would have given him the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Bernards Invitational, the Skyland Conference and Somerset County championship meets and the sectional, state team and individual state championship meets in late May and early June.
What Andreyko didn’t expect was the horrific weather that extended his waiting period until beyond the Bernards Invitational. The NJSIAA rule on the 30-day waiting period states that athletes cannot compete until 30 days after their team’s season has started. It doesn’t account for bad weather or postponed meets.
So, since Hillsborough High’s April 1 home dual meet vs. Phillipsburg was postponed due to rain, Andreyko’s 30 days began with the Skyland Conference Relays on April 5. With heavy rain forecast for that day, the Raiders were fortunate to get that one in, especially since all of last week’s activity was postponed due to the April 7 snowstorm.
"If we didn’t get the conference meet in, we would’ve been looking at the 15th (of May)," said HHS boys’ head coach Jim O’Connor, who taught Andreyko at Manville and now coaches him at Hillsborough. "The difficult thing is that he can’t compete in the Penn Relays (Apr. 24-26) and now the Bernards Invitational."
The NJSIAA rule wasn’t devised for people like Andreyko, who made a simple transfer from one school to another in a neighboring community. It was formed to control the heavy recruiting by parochial schools in sports like football and basketball. Nevertheless, all athletes have to abide by the regulation.
"It’s real tough not being able to compete," said Andreyko, who finished sixth in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions long jump last June. "I want to be out there. I won’t be doing any meets, but I can train harder. I’ll be more eager to compete."
Andreyko also had to sit out the first 30 days of the football season last fall, but was eligible for the entire indoor track and field campaign since Manville doesn’t offer a winter track program. He made quite an impact on the already-loaded HHS team during the winter and became the school’s first indoor individual to place at a national meet.
After jumping 22-6 to win his first Meet of Champs medal last spring, Andreyko began his quest of the coveted 23-foot mark. The HHS junior finally hit that plateau at the Nike national meet in March. Andreyko gained All-America status by finishing fourth with a personal-best leap of 23-2.
"It felt real good," Andreyko said. "I wasn’t expecting 23, but I got real excited when the official measured it."
While Andreyko obviously will be missed in the Manville High program this spring, he’ll make a big impact for the Raiders when things get serious in May. Andreyko’s ability to score big in the long jump and contribute in other jumping, hurdling and sprinting events could propel the Raiders into contention for the Central Jersey Group 4 title.
Andreyko ruled the dual meets in his sophomore season at Manville and broke into the championship swing with some big performances at the Mountain Valley, Central Jersey Group 1 and State Group 1 meets. Now, he’ll be doing the same things in a different uniform against a tougher brand of competition.
"He would have dominated our league," Manville head coach Tony Treonze said. "He’s definitely going to help Hillsborough, but Hillsborough doesn’t need as much help because of their numbers. We’re definitely going to miss him."
Right now, the Raiders are missing him too, but not for long. In the meantime, O’Connor is looking on the bright side. Andreyko isn’t missing meets because of an injury. He’s simply abiding by a state rule, one that the weather has made a bit more difficult.
"He can practice and he’s healthy," O’Connor said. "I know he wants to compete, but he’s still a big part of the team. This first month will be the toughest."
Andreyko will be eligible to compete in his first outdoor meet as a Hillsborough track and field athlete at the Skyland Conference Championships at HHS on May 6.

