Monroe’s streak of division titles came to an end in girls track

By: Carolyn M. Hartko
   For the first time in several years, the Monroe Township High School girls’ track team does not have a division title at the head of its accomplishments for the 2003 season. The Lady Falcons moved up into the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division this spring, and ended up being second in the White, behind Bishop Ahr. That one divisional loss was the only blight on Monroe’s 8-1 dual meet record.
   "We hadn’t lost since 1998 in our division," Lady Falcon coach Lew Stonaker said. "A lot of teams would have packed it in after they took a loss. But we actually ran very well after our loss throughout the rest of the season. We wiped off the seat of our pants, got back on our feet and really competed hard. So, in some ways it was a disappointing season, but we fought through a lot of adversity, and I’m really proud of the kids."
   Just a few days after losing to Bishop Ahr, Monroe bounced back and won the White Division title at the GMC Relay Championships. It is the Falcons eighth consecutive divisional relay title. Monroe went on to have some success at the state level, sending a 4×400 meter squad to the Meet of Champions for the first time in the school’s history.
   "We’ve never been known as a sprint school," Stonaker said. "We’ve always been known more as a distance program for a long time."
   A mainstay of that distance program, Nova Roman, is one of the seven seniors who graduated last week. Roman played soccer every fall, but switched to track for winter and spring, earning eight varsity letters in the latter sport. She set the standard for distance runners coming up, breaking school records in both the 1600 and 3200 this year.
   Sports played a huge part in Roman’s life during high school, and she will continue at the next level. She is majoring in biology at Rutgers, and plans on going out for cross country, winter and spring track.
   "For me, (sports) built a lot of confidence," Roman said. "You’re forced to make friends, and that’s always good. It helps you grow a lot, and it’s kind of a lesson for life: if you work hard, you’ll improve."
   Four of the seniors plan on continuing track in college. Javelin thrower Lindsay Jones is headed to Montclair State, and middle distance runner Ashley Maguire will run for Yale. Maguire, who is taking a pre-law major, is the MTHS school record holder in the 800 and 400. She was named to both the all-White Division, and the all-GMC teams this spring.
   Meghan Farrell, who ran mostly distances during her high school career, will concentrate on the 400 and 800 at Ramapo next year. She’s also planning on playing soccer there. She’s taking a lot of good memories of the friends she’s made along with her to college.
   "Track is such a unique sport," Farrell said. "You train harder than any other sport, but when you go to compete, you’re only doing it for a small portion of the time that you’re at the meets. And the rest of the time, you’re just hanging out with your teammates, and your friends. It’s just all the times you’re having fun over there, and running around for hours in a park with each other. That’s what I’ll always remember – hanging out with everybody on the team, and having a lot of fun."
   Also graduating are top hurdler Bernadette Moke, sprinter Liz Bartley and sprinter/thrower Michelle Jodon.
   Monroe will have the hardest time recovering from graduation in the distances and hurdles. Junior Christina Vasquez, who also long jumps, is the only experienced hurdler returning. In the distances, junior Kristi Motyka provides experience, but Monroe does have some talented youngsters coming up. Freshman Liz Segarra made the all-White Division team this year, and classmates Megan Allen and Stephanie Harris earned varsity letters.
   The throwing squad should be pretty solid, led by junior co-captain Asya Perry. Sophomore Allison Baumlin was another all-division pick for the discus. Sophomore Sarah Bartley and freshman Megan Boyce also lettered this year.
   Junior Ashley Theinert, who does a sub-60 400, will be back at the head of the sprinters. She will be joined by classmates Stephanie Makris, Diana Mazurek and Anika Potter. Sophomore Debbie Stelmaszczyk ran on Monroe’s relay at the MOC. Rounding out the sprint squad this spring are sophomores Jessica Byrne and Najla Williams, and freshman Sasha Potter.
   The Lady Falcons closed out their season with a team dinner in conjunction with the boys’ squad. It has become a tradition to show highlight videos of the seniors four years of track, courtesy of several parents. At the dinner, Stonaker gave out team awards to Theinert (Top Point-Scorer), M. Allen and April Funicelli (Most Improved). In addition, the team participated in the Gatorade Challenge during the season. Roman was the Gatorade MVP, and Maguire got the Will-to-Win award. Segarra was named Rookie-of-the-Year.
   As they leave, at least one senior had a final thought for the teammates left behind.
   "I think we’re still growing as a team," Roman said. "Hopefully, next year they’ll get the division title."
   FOOTPRINTS: Theinert, Farrell and Roman were also named to the All-White Division team … Segarra and a few other Falcons are competing in the Junior Olympics over the summer with a local track club. They have already made it through the state competition, and have moved on to regionals.