Cagers, wrestlers with plenty on tap
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Manville High’s winter athletic teams are competing in more events than usual before the new year.
The early start of the winter season left more days to play games before the end of December and the Mustangs are taking full advantage.
Both MHS basketball teams and the Manville wrestlers opened their 2007-2008 campaigns last weekend. Each club has multiple December dates remaining, which hasn’t always been the case in the world of Manville sports.
There have been many seasons in recent years in which the MHS wrestling team only had two tournaments on its December docket. The Mustangs always begin with an invitational tournament and then compete in the Somerset County Championships between the holidays. This year, they’ve added dual meets vs. Pingry and Princeton to make it a very busy December.
First-year head coach Pat Gorbatuk was eagerly anticipating Wednesday night’s opener vs. Pingry. He liked the way his team matched up with the Big Blue and was hoping to give the home fans an early Christmas present.
Gorbatuk’s grapplers were slated to get another tune-up for the county tourney Saturday morning in Princeton. Imagine the Mustangs taking a 2-0 record into 2008.
The young Mustangs certainly will be tournament tested. After battling some beasts in the Matawan Icebreaker Tournament last weekend, they’ll have their hands full against the bigger schools in the county. This year’s SCT event will be a one-day affair at Hillsborough on Dec. 27.
Action begins at 10 a.m. and runs throughout the day in a single-elimination format. The Mustangs don’t have any returning place-winners, so they figure to get some tough draws. Look for Bridgewater-Raritan and Watchung Hills to battle for the team title.
Manville’s basketball teams typically play four December games, two in the regular season and two in the holiday tournament. This year, barring some inclement weather and postponements, each MHS hoop squad will have six December contests.
Each club was scheduled to play three times in four nights this week. The MHS boys are the early beneficiaries of the home floor, continuing their season opening three-game homestand with games vs. North Plainfield and Gill St. Bernards Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
The Manville girls are scheduled to play their first home game Thursday in the first half of a doubleheader at 5:15 p.m. For fans that rarely get a chance to see both teams play, the doubleheader vs. Gill provides a great opportunity. The Lady Mustangs host North Warren Friday night, which will mark the first road trip for the MHS boys.
Manville joins Dunellen, Middlesex and Princeton Day School in the boys’ tourney, while the girls’ bracket includes Manville, Dunellen, Middlesex and Notre Dame. This year’s event will run Dec. 27 and Dec. 29.
The MHS girls begin with a 3:00 p.m. battle vs. Dunellen on Dec. 27, with the Manville boys to follow vs. Middlesex and 5:30 p.m. Winning teams will play in the Dec. 29 finals at 5:30 (girls) and 7:00 (boys), while losing clubs will square off in the consolation contests on the same day at 1:00 (girls) and 3:00 (boys).
By the time these teams get to 2008, they’ll be in mid-season form.

