In just his fourth year on the job, North Brunswick Township High School boys’ winter track boss Kevin DiPane was named Coach of the Year by his colleagues in the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division. DiPane led the Raiders to titles in the GMC White Division championships and Relays — the first time they’ve won both county crowns.
“I was taken aback,” DiPane says of the honor. “I didn’t see myself as having done anything great. It was the kids who did it — you’re only as good as your athletes. They did an outstanding job.”
DiPane, a former NBTHS trackster who teaches at the John Adams School, had a fairly young team this winter, and says his squad performed better than he’d expected.
“I knew we’d be all right, but the way we finished was a very nice surprise,” he says.
The Raiders had one star senior this season in Michael Emmanuel, who captured the Central Jersey Group IV championship in the 55 meters, winning the race in a meet record 6.7 seconds.
“Michael ran track as a freshman, then dropped out for a couple of years,” says Di- Pane. “I know he wishes he had run as a sophomore and junior, but I’m glad to have him now going into the spring season.”
On the distance team, North Brunswick featured sophomore twins Cullen and Kyle Davis, both of whom were outstanding, with Cullen winning the White Division title in the 3200 meters with a 10:02 clocking. The Raiders teams in the GMC Relays included the 4×200 contingent of Emmanuel, juniors Sean Davis and Colin Rooney and sophomore Karim Sawyer.
In the 4×400, it was Emmanuel, Sean Davis and Rooney again, along with sophomore Chris Pagan.
The coach wasn’t the only one who picked up some honors at season’s end. Emmanuel and Cullen Davis made the all-conference squad, while the all-White Division group included those two runners along with teammates Sean Davis, Rooney, Sawyer, Pagan and Kyle Davis. On top of that, NBTHS took home the divisional sportsmanship award.
DiPane, it should be noted, didn’t do it alone. He had help from volunteer assistant Ken Riley, a local police officer who handles the distance men.
“Ken has been volunteering for 20 years and he loves the sport,” DiPane says. “He’s a tremendous asset.”