Falcons coach and players embrace chance to make history

By: Rich Fisher
   As Monroe Township High School dives into the world of boys varsity lacrosse, head coach Joe Yannone not only looks at it as a challenge, but as a chance to make history.
   "It’s a privilege to be the (program’s) first coach and for the kids to be the first players," Yannone said. "You can only go up. We can win the first game in school history, score the first goal in school history."
   There are a lot of things the Falcons can do, but first and foremost, they just want to learn the intricacies of lacrosse. Although Monroe Township has started running lacrosse clinics, Yannone said that "I only have a few players coming in with any experience, who might have played rec lacrosse in East Brunswick.
   "It’s been challenging, but the kids are working really hard. They’re enthusiastic about it. They’re motivated to do well and the administration has really supported us."
   Yannone, who is also the Falcons’ freshman boys soccer coach, has lacrosse coaching experience. He spent the previous eight years coaching the Rumson-Fairhaven JV girls team, and has also coached boys clinics. Rumson has one of the better programs in the state, so Yannone knows what makes a winning lacrosse formula.
   "With a feeder system in town, that will make a big difference," the coach said. "That’s why Rumson was so successful, because the girls were coming in already playing club lacrosse. We had freshmen going right to varsity. If kids can come in their freshman year with experience, that makes all the difference."
   And while Monroe does not have that luxury just yet, the Falcons may still have a shot at some victories. MTHS is going to play nine varsity games and 16 JV contests. The varsity tilts will be against first- and second-year programs, which makes the playing field a bit more level.
   "Hopefully, we’ll meet what we set out to do as far as competitiveness, being in every game," Yannone said. "We want to be as competitive as we can be for a first year program, and the schedule is conducive to that. Hopefully we’ll use that to build on for next year."
   This year’s roster includes seniors Kyle Bocchieri (defense), Colin Fitzgerald (attack), William Kelly (A), Steve Martynuk (midfield) and Christian Ventriello (goalie), juniors Matt Krause (MF, Chris Lopez (A), Ed Junquet (MF) and Zach Wismer (MF), sophomores Brian Rudowitz (A), Corey Sussman (MF) and Arthur Thompson (D), and freshmen Shiv Kanwar (MF), Michael Valiant (D) and Nick Waszkielewicz (G).
   "Steve Martynuk and Matt Krause will probably be our go-to players," Yannone said. "Our midfield is pretty strong, so hopefully, those guys can kind of carry the team."
   The coach is not expecting miracles this year, just hustling play and a desire to improve.
   "Let’s just get the basics," he said. "We want to make an impact in the Greater Middlesex Conference as far as being competitive, staying in every game. Coming from a successful program at Rumson, and with the success of our soccer program at Monroe, my natural inclination as a coach is to try to win. So even though we’re a first-year program, I still want to b successful.
   "We try to measure each game, as far as setting realistic goals for that game. (Such as) just knowing the fundamentals, where to set up offensively and defensively, keeping the games close. I told the guys, since we’re playing schools with newer programs like ourself, let’s try and win some games."