St. Joseph High School of Metuchen’s Brendan Wash (20) leaps high over the net as he spikes the ball against East Brunswick High School during the Greater Middlesex Conference Volleyball Tournament finals May 16 at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison. East Brunswick beat the Falcons in three sets, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20. MATT DENTON After failing to advance in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public A tournament May 11, the St. Joseph High School of Metuchen golf team could have mailed in its final effort of the season.
Instead, the Falcons captured the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) May 14 at the Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course in Plainsboro, edging East Brunswick High School by two strokes. Although St. Joseph’s season comes to an end, winning the title against a traditional rival that did qualify to move on to the Tournament of Champions was a satisfying conclusion to the campaign.
The Falcons started in April by dropping three dual matches to South Brunswick High School (twice) and J.P. Stevens High School. However, as the season progressed, St. Joe’s bounced back with nine straight victories to end with an 11-3 mark.
“We improved our record over last year, which was one of our goals,” St. Joe’s coach Ryan Lechner said. “After our slow start, we talked about how to fix it during the spring break. Senior Gabe Rivera told me the team was not going to lose again, and that was our mindset moving forward.”
Rivera did his job in helping the Falcons during their late-season run. He was the team’s top player and punctuated the spring by finishing first in the GMC Tournament with a 1-over-par 71. The other St. Joe’s golfers who contributed to the victory were Chris Taraska (78), Josh Singer (81) and Tom Summers (86).
“Gabe was the heart and soul to our team this year, and I could write a book about how proud I am that he left our program by winning the GMCs. He’s a quiet leader and a very plain-spoken individual but knows how to close out a match.”
Lechner believes Summers will become one of the best players in the conference, as will Taraska. They both are underclassmen.
Other area golfers to finish in the standings were Rohit Iyer of J.P. Stevens, who placed 12th (79); Matt Biacomano of Metuchen High School, who finished 16th (82); and Tommy McArthur from Bishop George Ahr High School, who placed 21st (86).
Boys volleyball
In boys volleyball, St. Joe’s lost the GMC Tournament final to East Brunswick, 2-1, on May 15. The season, however, is not over for the Falcons (28-10), with the state Central Jersey sectional underway. No. 2- seed St. Joe’s hosted No. 15-seed John F. Kennedy Memorial High School May 19, with the winner moving on to the next round May 21.
Boys lacrosse
The Falcons’ lacrosse team, which captured the GMC Tournament championship by defeating top-seed Monroe Township High School, 13-6, May 12, saw their season come to an end when they were defeated by Notre Dame High School, 9-7, May 16 in state tournament action. St. Joe’s ends the campaign at 12-7.
Baseball
In area baseball, the top seed in the GMC Tournament, J.P. Stevens, was eliminated by No. 8-seed Sayreville War Memorial High School, 6-5 (eight innings), and No. 5-seed St. Joe’s lost to the Bombers, 4- 3 (11 innings).
In the state tournament, top-seed St. Joe’s plays the winner of No. 8-seed Holy Cross High School vs. No. 9-seed Immaculata High School May 21, and No. 10-seed Bishop Ahr visits No. 7-seed Notre Dame May 21 in South Jersey Non-Public A games. No. 8-seed J.P. Stevens hosted No. 9-seed Edison High School in North Jersey II Group IV action May 18, and No. 5-seed Metuchen hosted No. 12-seed Keyport High School in Central Jersey Group I, May 18.
Softball
In the GMC Softball Tournament, No. 3- seed J.P. Stevens faces No. 20-seed Woodbridge High School and No. 4-seed Bishop Ahr meets No. 13-seed Old Bridge High School May 20. The winners move on to play the quarterfinals the following day. The semifinals are scheduled for May 23 at South Plainfield High School and the finals at the same site May 25.
In state tournament softball games, No. 1-seed J.P. Stevens advanced to a secondround contest against No. 8-seed Elizabeth High School May 18 in North Jersey II Group IV action after disposing of Linden High School, 10-0. No. 7-seed Metuchen advanced to the second round in Central Jersey Group I after defeating No. 10-seed Perth Amboy Technical High School, 10-0, and travels to No. 2 Florence Township Memorial High School May 20.
No. 6-seed Bishop Ahr saw its first state tournament action May 19 when it hosted No. 11-seed Union Catholic High School in South Jersey Non-Public A. The winner moved on to play No. 3-seed Donavan Catholic May 26.
Boys tennis
After an impressive regular season that ended with a GMC Tournament championship and Red Division title, the top-seed J.P. Stevens boys tennis team hoped to capture the state North Jersey II Group IV title May 18 when it met No. 2-seed Westfield High School. The Hawks’ only loss during the season was to Livingston High School, which was playing for the sectional title in North Jersey I Group IV.