WRESTLING: Coach Mike Andrusiewicz has brought the Vikings from the GMC cellar to the middle of the pack.
By: Redd E. Patrick
When teams set goals before the season, sometimes it’s a division championship they will strive for, perhaps a county championship and if confidence is running high, nothing less than a state title will do.
For fourth-year South Brunswick High School boys bowling coach Mike Andrusiewicz and his Vikings, the goal for the 2000-01 season was simple respectability.
After dwelling near the cellar of the Greater Middlesex Conference when he took over, Andrusiewicz and the Vikings certainly achieved their goal.
"When I took over, other teams would use their JV players against South Brunswick," said Andrusiewicz. "It was like ‘Oh, we’re bowling South Brunswick today, that’s an easy win.’ But by the end of this year, teams knew they were in for a tough match against. I think we earned the respect of the county."
If that wasn’t the case, it certainly was when the Vikings beat perennial GMC and state power St. Joseph’s of Metuchen in a late regular-season contest in the GMC.
"That was one of our season highlights," said Andrusiewicz. "That set the tone of how we finished the season and I think teams started looking at us different. That was a real confidence booster."
The Vikings finished 8-9 in the GMC, which is arguably the most competitive conference in the state. They also placed a very respectable 18th at the Central Jersey Winter Classic, a more than respectable 11th in the Central Jersey Championship and had one bowler senior Nick DiCicco advance to the NJSIAA State Championship. DiCicco finished 44th. South Brunswick averaged 920 per match as a team and had a high score of 3015.
"Another one of our goals was to finish .500," said Andrusiewicz. "I feel we met that goal at 8-9. I really don’t think our record was indicative of how well we bowled."
DiCicco was Mr. Consistency as he finished with an average of 187.7. Senior Rob Orchard averaged 178.8, sophomore Ross Winiarz 174.4, senior Chester Eronico 169.2, junior Nick Rocco 168.7, freshman Matt Lenza 168.0, freshman John Schulter 137.6, sophomore Prat Patel 128.4, freshman Deep Phatia 105.3, freshman Corey Weiss 104.8 and freshman Brian Hirsh 102.0.
"The kids tasted what it’s like to win," said Andrusiewicz. "When you’re in the basement, it’s easy to just go out, have fun and just bowl, but when you start to win, it changes your perspective. It makes you hungry for more and that’s what these kids did. I think the future looks very good."
Andrusiewicz also noted how people in the school took notice.
"Coaches would come up to me in school and make a positive comment about the team," said Andrusiewicz. "I think we showed that we’re serious about our bowling here. Also, there were a lot of good bowlers who didn’t come out for the team because they thought we were a joke. Now those kids have expressed an interest and we will get some of them next year.
"We’re looking forward to next year already. Now it’s up to the kids to work on their games, playing hard in their leagues and getting instruction. If they do that, we should do very well next year."
And maybe next year, the Vikings’ goal will be to win a division title. And the year after that, perhaps a county title and the year after that…well, who knows?