Two generations of great MHS athletes
By: Rudy Brandl
Manville High senior Mike Knitowski enjoyed quite an impressive athletic career. In fact, it even surpassed the one his father, Mike, produced during his MHS days in the early 1970s.
Both Knitowski men starred on the football and track and field teams during their scholastic careers. Young Mike, who will graduate later this month with 11 varsity letters, also stood out on the basketball court for the last four years.
If not for a few near-misses, young Mike’s scholastic resume would be even more prolific. He came within one jump of advancing to the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in track and field earlier this month. During the winter, he finished a solid four years on the basketball court with 975 points, just shy of the coveted 1,000 mark. In the fall, Knitowski led the MHS football team to its first-ever state playoff game.
The elder Knitowski was no slouch. While his individual feats may not have been quite as impressive, big Mike played on some great teams. He ran a leg on the school record setting 4×400 relay team (3:29.3) for the Mustangs and was a big part of the 1972 Central Jersey Group 1 team title under head coach Tony Treonze.
How do father and son compare?
"He’s a much better athlete," the elder Knitowski said. "I was fast and strong, but I couldn’t jump. Mike can do a lot of things."
But young Mike can’t do everything as well as his father. Big Mike ran the 440-yard sprint, which is equivalent to the 400 meters, in a time of 51.9. Young Mike’s personal best in that event is 56.1.
The elder Knitowski’s biggest edge in track and field comes in the javelin, where he once unleashed a monster throw of 186 feet. Young Mike, who has been the school’s starting quarterback the past two years, can’t get one to fly.
"He would smoke me in the 400," young Mike admitted. "And I can’t throw a javelin for some reason. I can throw a football 55-60 yards, but I just don’t throw a javelin. Whenever I try it, it just goes crooked and sideways."
Even if young Mike learned how to throw a javelin, he may not have participated because of the sport’s four-event maximum. He’s become such a standout in the three jumping events, winning Central Jersey Group 1 titles in the long jump and high jump as a junior. He also won Mountain Valley Conference crowns in the high jump and triple jump last spring.
Young Mike will graduate with the school record in the triple jump (40-7) and impressive personal records in the long jump (20-11¾) and high jump (6-0). He won numerous coaches and MVP awards in basketball, where he averaged 16.4 points per game in his last two seasons. He also had 11 touchdown passes and five rushing scores on the gridiron last fall.
Big Mike, a standout running back in his playing days, often used breakaway speed to reach the end zone. In one game vs. Metuchen in 1972, he scored on a 49-yard run and 60-yard pass reception.
A little more than 20 years later, he started catching passes from his son. Father and son played a myriad of sports together back in those days. Basketball quickly became young Mike’s favorite.
"I remember playing catch in the yard with the football a lot," young Mike said. "That’s what made me want to become a quarterback. Once I picked up a basketball, I never put it down. I’d always shoot hoops in the driveway with him."
Big Mike didn’t take it easy on his son. Even when Mike was very young, his dad threw baseballs to him overhand.
"I pitched to him all the time," big Mike said. "I didn’t pitch underhand, but he used one of those big fat bats."
Young Mike played organized baseball until the age of 13. He also played roller hockey on the youth level. He came up through the Pop Warner football system and was the quarterback for the Manville Colts team that won 20 straight games.
As he approached high school, it became apparent that he’d become a three-sport standout. His dad coached him in baseball and football and knew his son had the tools to be a successful athlete.
"I always tell him to keep his head in the game," the elder Knitowski said. "Sometimes, your natural instincts take over."
Young Mike has accomplished a lot in the last four years as one of the school’s most accomplished athletes. Last week, he was recognized as Manville High’s top male senior athlete.
"Everything he’s done has been a highlight," his father said. "He’s given me a lot of highlights."
If young Mike could see some footage of his dad in action 35 years ago, he’d feel the same way.

