Mongillo brings old tradition to Mustangs
By: Mary Ellen Zangara
The Manville High School track and field athletes began their season by gathering for a team dinner at the ABIS cafeteria on the night before the opening meet at Bound Brook. The dinner of spaghetti, meatballs and salad gave the team some fun and encouragement for the upcoming season.
"I started it last year and thought it would be a team unity thing," said second-year head coach Michelle Mongillo, who put together the dinner. "I want the team to stick together. I wanted last year to do two dinners but last year we didn’t get to do the second dinner. We have more teams, so I am going to try to do the second dinner before the last meet at the end of the season."
As the team was enjoying the pasta, Mongillo gave them some words of encouragement.
"Some of you who aren’t in the meet, tomorrow, everybody is still dressing, we’re cheering in each other and things may change the lineup," she said. "You have to be prepared for anything. You guys worked hard up until this point so let’s go out and get them."
She also reminded everyone about the no jewelry policy and that everyone would be dressed and ready to go.
Matt Golen thought this idea was great.
"It pulls the team together, some more than others," he said. "We did it last year and it makes sure they eat before the meets."
Gabriela Firak added that the dinner "is a way to set up and celebrate the season." Other team members agreed that it was a great way to get the team together.
Mongillo had a personal meaning behind choosing a pasta dinner.
"I always went out to dinner with my friend in high school and we always had pasta the night before a track meet, so it was always a big thing," she said.
Mongillo took the idea and brought it to her coaching days.
"I was just trying to think of something that would be good for the kids to get together," she said.
Mongillo organized the event but didn’t do the cooking.
"I don’t cook. I wish I did but I don’t have the time to cook all that food. I ordered all of it. We have an account for track under student activities."
One thing that Mongillo will note for the pasta dinner before this year’s last meet is to order more food. The team members really enjoyed it and finished it all.
The coach is excited for the season, which has started with the Mustangs winning one of their first four meets.
"I want to do well," Mongillo said. "We have a lot of talent on our team and they have been working hard. Hopefully, that will transfer into a few Ws."