By: Carolyn M. Hartko
It can be scary for a new coach taking over a successful high school sports program. But at Monroe Township High School this winter, the girls’ winter track team came through for first year coach Jim Cox, and continued the Lady Falcon tradition of winning division titles in both the relay and individual championships. This was the 10th relay championship in a row for the Monroe girls.
"I know that winning (the division title) is a team goal every year," Cox said. "It’s one of those goals you don’t even need to say. It’s just one of those things that we strive for."
Appropriately, the division winners placed several girls on the all-White Division team. Senior captain Debbie Stelmaszczyk made it for the open 400 meters. The Demaris sisters, both outstanding distance runners, were nominated for the 3200 (Eli, a junior) and the 1600 (Demaris, a freshman). Monroe’s 4×400 squad, consisting of Stelmaszczyk, sophomores Kelly Campbell and Katie Mazzio, and freshman Nicole Ragucci, got a nod. Junior shot putter Christina Leili, the school’s record holder for indoor track, got an at-large spot.
One of the best team showings came at the Coca-Cola Classic, a big invitational held at the 168th Street Armory in New York City.
"That was a big highlight," Cox said. "We aim for the girls to run their best race at the end of the year, and everybody seemed to have done that."
In addition to a new coach, the Lady Falcons also had to adjust to a new format. The Greater Middlesex Conference did away with mandated outdoor dual meets this year, but allowed schools to schedule outdoor meets on their own. This put more emphasis on the county and state meets, and other indoor invitationals. Although this was his first year coaching in the GMC, Cox was familiar with the old format as a runner for St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen.
"I liked (the new format) in some aspects," the coach said. "Because of the weather, you don’t know what you’re going to get from week to week. Having actual dual meets scheduled really wasn’t good for teams. All it did was disappoint. But I view indoors as just a prep for the outdoor season, and that’s what we used it for."
The girls’ squad was slightly smaller than it’s been in recent years, but there is still a good core of varsity athletes who are expected to move on to the spring season. In addition to the people mentioned above, juniors Megan Allen (800/high jump), Megan Boyce (shot put/hurdles), Allie Push (800/1600), Stephanie Harris (800) and Jenna Hetzell (3200) lettered. The sophomores on varsity included Marie Nemeth (hurdles) and Sara Beth Moke (hurdles). Ragucci and D. Segarra were the only ninth graders who earned varsity letters for the 2004-2005 season.
"I think the kids ran exceptionally well, considering all the changes that occurred from one year to another," Cox said. "The girls adjusted to those changes quickly and the end result showed what kind of team this could be. The fact that they were able to run well at the end of the year, and that they were able to keep getting better as the season went on showed their heart and their talent."
The carry-over of the varsity runners and throwers, plus the addition of several girls who did other sports in the winter, should make for a very strong spring team. And there will be continuity in coaching as well, as Cox was hired as the head coach for the girls’ spring program in February.
"I think we’re right on the edge of having a very good team this spring," the coach said.
