January is upon us, and the weather is chilly. So warm up by visiting a local high school gym, indoor pool or ice arena.
The boys’ basketball slate has a ton of hot games …
On Jan. 12, Mater Dei Prep — one of the strongest teams in the region — will be home in Middletown to face another quality foe in Ranney School for a 5:30 p.m. showdown.
Colts Neck High School will welcome local rival Freehold High School for a 6:30 p.m. start.
Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen will travel to take on South Brunswick High School at 6 p.m.
Over at Old Bridge High School, the Knights will serve as the host to Monroe Township High School for another 6 p.m. contest.
The Jan. 13 schedule features three Shore Conference games.
Red Bank Catholic High School invades Middletown High School South at 5:15 p.m., while Freehold Township High School is home to Marlboro High School at 5:30 p.m. and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School pays a call to Shore Regional High School for a 6:30 p.m. game in West Long Branch.
On Jan. 14, the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) offers two league games.
East Brunswick High School hosts Monroe at 1 p.m., while later that day at 8 p.m., Woodbridge High School is home to North Brunswick Township High School.
The girls’ basketball schedule is also sizzling …
Two key GMC games Jan. 12 pit South Brunswick against host Edison High School and Monroe against host Old Bridge. Both games will tip off at 7 p.m.
Another game of interest that day will be Colts Neck at Freehold at 3:45 p.m.
The Shore Conference heats up Jan. 13.
In a matinee game, Manalapan High School will entertain Howell High School at 3:45 p.m.
Also, Rumson-Fair Haven is home to Shore Regional at 5 p.m., Ocean Township High School pays a call to Tinton Falls to play Monmouth Regional High School at 5:15 p.m. and Matawan Regional High School will serve as the host to Holmdel High School at 5:30 p.m.
The action shifts to the GMC Jan. 14.
At 11:30 a.m., South Brunswick will be home to Perth Amboy High School.
There will be two intriguing games slated to go at 1 p.m. East Brunswick visits Monroe and Edison is home to Old Bridge.
On the wrestling mats …
Two premier matches highlight the schedule Jan. 11.
Howell, which is regarded as one of the top teams in New Jersey and the 2015 NJSIAA Group V finalist, will make the journey to Allentown High School, where the Redbirds hope to spring the upset in a 6 p.m. duel.
Raritan High School, which is also one of the top teams in the area, will be at home in Halzet to wrestle Long Branch High School, which is a long-time power, in a meet also slated to start at 6 p.m.
On Jan. 12, Christian Brothers Academy will wait in Lincroft for visiting Freehold Township for a 6 p.m. meet. On Jan. 13, Monroe hosts Woodbridge for a 6 p.m. encounter.
Howell has another key match this week when the Rebels meet Colts Neck on Friday, Jan. 13, in Howell.The match will start at 6 p.m.
Teams will gather for some entertaining tri and quad meets Jan. 14.
Marlboro will be the venue for a quad meet that gets underway at 9 a.m. Joining Marlboro in this field are Long Branch, St. John Vianney High School and Lacey Township High School.
Another quad meet scheduled to launch at 10 a.m. will be at Toms River High School East. The host team will compete with Manalapan, Sayreville War Memorial High School and Paulsboro High School — one of the iconic wrestling programs in New Jersey history.
Matawan will serve as the host to a tri meet that has attracted Ocean Township and Allentown. Action will begin at 9 a.m.
County indoor track championships are at stake …
On Jan. 13, the Monmouth County Championships will be contested at 4:30 p.m. for both boys and girls at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.
Boys and girls will strive for GMC titles Jan. 14 at 4 p.m., which will also be at the Bennett complex.
The swimming scene will be featured at local collegiate pools …
On Jan. 11, the boys’ and girls’ swim teams from Colts Neck and Red Bank Catholic will compete at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. The meet begins at 3:45 p.m.
Princeton University’s Dylan Pool will be the venue Jan. 13, when the Marlboro and South Brunswick boys and girls swim at 3:30 p.m.
Hitting the ice …
Christian Brothers Academy, which is one of the strongest teams in New Jersey, will skate against St. John Vianney Jan. 12 at 4 p.m. They will meet at the Jersey Shore Arena in Wall.
On Jan. 13, the Howell Ice World will be the site where Jackson Memorial High School goes against Middletown South at 8:15 p.m.
Jersey Shore Arena will also the host to the Edison vs. Ocean Township game at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, and the Red Bank Regional High School vs. Monroe contest Jan. 13 at 3:45 p.m.
If fencing is your sport …
The Santelli and Cetrullo fencing championships will be held Jan. 14 and 15 at Drew University in Madison. The meets begin each day at 8 a.m.