By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Andrew Kurzeja has been there for every step of the growth of the Robbinsville High School boys cross country team.
The senior enjoyed another step for the Ravens as they captured their first Patriot Division championship in the Colonial Valley Conference with a sweep last week of Hopewell Valley, Lawrence, Ewing and Allentown.
”It really did mean a lot,” said Kurzeja, the Ravens senior captain. “We already had our sectional title and state title. Now that we got this, it kind of tops all three of them we’ve done.
”That we won this,” Kurzeja added, “proves we’re probably better than any year before.”
The Ravens had seen steady progress in their first three years of having a varsity team. Last year, they stepped up to win the Group I state title, but lost seven of their top 12 runners from that team. The division crown was a big step for the Ravens.
”It’s definitely a huge confidence booster,” Kurzeja said. “Even though we lost a lot of people, our team still has a lot.”
Robbinsville has gotten an influx of good young runners to replace its graduates. Their development has keyed the early success this season.
”We’ve been very lucky,” Kurzeja said. “Every year we’ve brought in new guys that could run up with the top guys. In our top, we have sophomores through seniors. The sophomore runners are getting the experience they need. It’ll help the team get better as time goes on.”
In fact, it would have been easier to see the Ravens breaking through next year, even though they will graduate top runner Brian O’Toole, who took individual honors in last week’s division race.
”For our guys, I’m kind of surprised for the division,” said Robbinsville head coach Mike Walker. “Even though it was one of the goals, we just didn’t have any experience. We lost a lot to graduation. We’re kind of new to this. They did put in a lot of work over the summer, even for the young guys that are sophomores and juniors. All they know is to run hard. It kind of worked out in our favor that day.”
The title didn’t look to be the Ravens halfway through the race at Mercer County Park.
”By the second mile,” Kurzeja said, “we were still down. The third mile, we picked it up and ended up pulling ahead.”
Said Walker: “They’re a great team and well coached. They were ahead of us at the halfway point. Our guys stuck to the game plan and ran strong and came back in the second half. The score didn’t indicate how close it was with the final result.”
Kurzeja is in the top 12 for the Ravens. This is his fourth year running for Robbinsville, and was voted the team’s captain by his peers.
”When I first went out, I didn’t know what to expect,” Kurzeja said. “I was just doing it because did it in middle school. I didn’t expect to be on a state winning team. I didn’t know enough about it at the time. It’s been cool to see us grow from being top five in the state to winning it last year.”
This year, Kurzeja gets to play a lead role as a leader for the team.
”He’s a guy who from the beginning, from freshman year, the little things he works on have paid off,” Walker said. “He’s well respected. He does everything you ask. He works hard. Even though he might not have the times other guys have, the other guys look up to him for advice and how to approach the race.
”It’s good to have these guys around who are like an assistant coach. They can tell you the vibe of the team and if they’re tired or need to be pushed more. The past few years, we’ve been lucky to have good leaders. Andrew fits right in that long line that we’ve had the past few years.”
Kurzeja was thrilled to be able to captain the Ravens to a historic win. Their first Patriot championship came with his help.
”It’s really, really cool,” he said. “You get to be the head of it and shape the way it is. You’re one of the main forces that pushes the team toward winning. It’s an honor.”
He is making sure that the Ravens aren’t satisfied with it. After Tuesday’s final scheduled dual meet against Trenton and Nottingham, Robbinsville will shift focus to the Mercer County Championships on Oct. 29 at Washington Crossing Park, then look to defending their sectionals and Group I state meet titles. And beyond this year, the Patriot crown only raises the stakes.
”Now that we have won it, the expectations will be there,” Kurzeja said. “The expectations have grown to winning sectionals, states and divisionals.”

