By Maria Riegel, Special Writer
South Brunswick High School’s 2011 spring sports season was unbelievably successful according to Athletic Director Elaine McGrath.
”I think everyone worked extremely hard all year with a culmination of strength and conditioning and practice,” Ms. McGrath said.
This season was the girls’ lacrosse and boys’ tennis third consecutive Greater Middlesex Conference championship. The boys’ lacrosse team was a GMC finalist and ranked eighth in Group IV.
Baseball took the title as the GMC Red Division Champion, and girls’ track and field became the GMC Coaches Relay champions, GMC champions and NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV sectional champions.
The 2011 season also brought girls’ golf team its fourth consecutive GMC Championship and boys’ track and field the GMC Red Division championship.
Ms. McGrath said that she is proud of all of the spring sports team achievements this season. She said that all of the teams showed hard work and commitment which is the perfect combination for a successful season.
”We definitely reached all of our goals, and hard work and commitment really paid off for us,” Ms. McGrath said.
This spring sports season, South Brunswick was the prominent school, according to Ms. McGrath.
In many of the sports, South Brunswick was viewed as ‘the team to beat,’ Ms. McGrath said. South Brunswick dominated in the county competition allowing it to be tough competition, she said.
The high school focuses on strength and conditioning and always being prepared for the upcoming season which results in South Brunswick standing out among other high schools in the county Ms. McGrath said.
During the 2011 spring sports season, Ms. McGrath said that she was amazed and very proud of many of the outstanding individual performances of the student athletes, such as senior Mariah Browne, currently the state champion in the long jump for girls’ varsity track. She also praised the boys tennis team for having a complete GMC sweep.
Although Ms. McGrath is extremely happy with the results of the spring sports season, she feels that there is always room for improvement.
Each year, she and the coaches must reflect on the season and push the envelope even more.
”We have set the bar very high and we will continue to get better and better if we stay focused,” Ms. McGrath said.
Despite the newly implemented pay-to-participate policy which requires any student wishing to play a sport to pay a fee of $75 to play has not hindered the amount of students playing sports this past season, according to Ms. McGrath.
Ms. McGrath said that the amount of students participating in the sports programs has remained consistent.
According to Ms. McGrath, the SB Police Athletic League created a $5,000 scholarship that contributes to any student wishing to play a South Brunswick sport, but who cannot afford the fee.
”I think it speaks volumes when a community helps when others are in need,” Ms. McGrath said.

