Despite the loss of five of its top runners from a team that won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship a year ago, South Brunswick High School boys cross-country coach Wilfredo Rivera is confident his team will be strong once again.
Last fall, the Vikings went undefeated in dual meets to win the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division, then placed six runners in the top nine to dominate the GMC championship meet while setting a team record with an average time of 16:19. Matt Zamorski, who graduated in June, won the individual title.
“Last year was a great experience, but it doesn’t matter right now,” Rivera said. “We’re not going to worry about who’s not here. We have plenty of good runners, and there’s no reason why they can’t be as good or better than last year. They want to live up to the high standard that team set.”
Two of the Vikings’ top seven runners are back in the lineup: seniors Ryan Budhu and Nick Cauley, who came in sixth- and seventh-place, respectively, at the GMC championship last season. Rivera is counting on the two veterans to lead his team in its quest to repeat as division and conference champion.
The return of senior Tyler Sanders, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, will help as well. As a sophomore, Sanders turned in a time of 16:35 running the course at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Seniors Jared Fisher, Justin Hansman, Patrick Landrieu and Jeremy Savlov and junior Victor Porcelli will all be competing for top-seven spots. In addition, sophomores Harrison Chiu and Ethan Febinger are looking to earn spots in the lineup. Freshmen Brandon Diaz has been impressive in the early going, according to Rivera, and could make an impact this season.
The Vikings were scheduled to open the season Sept. 16 with a tri-meet against Sayreville War Memorial High School and J.P. Stevens High School.
The GMC has implemented a new format this fall. Although division teams will run against each other in meets, there will be a division meet for all teams Sept. 21 at Thompson Park, with the winner taking the crown. The overall GMC championship is set for Oct. 24, also at Thompson Park.
While South Brunswick’s boys have high expectations, the Lady Vikings are coming off a season that saw them win the division and take third place in the GMC.
Rivera’s girls return six of seven starters, led by junior Natalie Ginez. Seniors Cailee Oliver, Desiree Oxley and Annalyse Varlow return, along with sophomores Nicole Fenske and Isha Thapar. Juniors Gina Cosgrove and Gabrielle Trapani give South Brunswick good depth. Two freshmen, Chantel Osley and Rebecca Hartmann, have started strong and are vying for spots in the lineup.
“The girls have all been working hard and their times are getting better,” Rivera said. “I’m very excited about what they can do this year.”
Like the boys, the girls Red Division and GMC meets are set for Sept. 21 and Oct. 24, both at Thompson Park.