South cross country hopeful for new season

By John E. Powers, Sports Writer
   WEST AMWELL — Winning does a lot to spark interest in the hallways of any school.
   And South Hunterdon Regional High School is no different.
   Last season, the Eagles boys cross country team went 6-5 in dual meets and just missed making the State Group I race by placing sixth in the Central Jersey Group I meet at Thompson Park.
   Those goals are very much in reach for the Eagles.
   ”We just did a phenomenal job (last year),” said coach John Zidzik. “It sounds strange for a small school like South to have five kids under 20 minutes. We’d like to see our top five group closer to Danny (Marley).”
   Senior Marley, a 22nd-place finisher at the sectional meet, returns along with senior Melvyn Peters, senior Wyatt Riggs and junior Gabe Stephens. Stephens was 48th at the sectional meet, Peters 50th and Riggs 58th.
   Zidzik said Marley would like to consistently break 18 minutes for the 5K courses cross country teams run.
   ”That’s his goal,” Zidzik said. “The best he’s done is 18:10, and I think Melvyn is ready to push Danny.”
   The key to reaching their goal, of course, isn’t about one runner. It’s about having depth, and that’s something that has the team encouraged.
   ”My numbers are looking really good,” Zidzik said. “I have 16 boys practicing and two girls, and another girl and boy are interested in coming out.”
   Junior Jay Hertz, who left the team midway through last season to work on his studies, has returned. Also running are junior Joe Michalchuk, sophomore Tom Hendricks, junior Matt Ruzicka, sophomore Sean Piscetelli, Peters’ brother, Matt, a sophomore, and sophomore Kiyle Osgood, who played football last year.
   ”He’s a quick kid,” Zidzik said.
   Sophomore Phil Wig, freshman Jack Immordino, juniors T.J. Tan and Owen Sapath and sophomore Evan Davis will supply depth. The girls are sophomores Shannon Brush, who ran last year, and Zidzik’s daughter Jennifer, another returnee.
   The team graduated just three seniors in June, including captain Matthew Schwab.
   The season was scheduled to begin Wednesday at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung with the Eagles running against North Warren and Bound Brook.
   The team runs again a week from Wednesday in Bernardsville against Bernards, Somerville and Mount St. Mary. The team will run a dual meet a week from Saturday at Pennington at noon before hosting Hackettstown, North Plainfield and Mount St. Mary Oct. 1.
   ”We’re looking to do better than last year, and our goals are to have a winning season and make the Group I meet; it’s doable,” Zidzik said.