RUDE AWAKENING
By: Rudy Brandl
The winter athletic season at Manville High wasn’t one of the greatest in terms of wins and losses. Yet, the three MHS teams all generated some excitement to keep the fans cheering in January and February.
No MHS squads or individual athletes advanced to March activity like the previous year when both basketball teams qualified for the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. The Manville boys advanced all the way to the sectional finals in 2003.
All three Manville teams finished under .500 this winter, with the girls’ basketball squad (9-12) coming closest to making it to March Madness. The MHS boys (5-15) and wrestlers (3-16) both struggled due to youth and inexperience but managed to enjoy some big moments.
The spring teams are already running laps around the track and taking batting practice. Before we take a closer look at those sports, let’s spend a few minutes checking out the best and brightest of the winter campaign in my Manville High Winter Sports Awards.
Best Team Girls’ basketball. Not only did the Lady Mustangs sport the best record in the school this winter, but they also came very close to making the state playoffs. They won a bunch of close ones early in the campaign and actually boasted an 8-5 record at one point. Unfortunately, a few tight losses helped cause a four-game skid that knocked the team out of the state playoff picture.
Best Athlete Glen Liszczak, boys’ basketball. The senior center was the team’s constant all season, averaging a double-double over 20 games. Liszczak posted 12 points and 12 rebounds per game. His best stretch came during the team’s only two-game win streak when he collected 32 points and 33 rebounds.
Best Coach Kyle Rehrig, girls’ basketball. The first-year head coach took a young group and nearly guided them to the state playoffs. Rehrig would tell you his team should have made the states and he’s right. Only a heart-breaking loss to Bound Brook a team the Lady Mustangs had beaten twice kept Manville out of the playoffs. Rehrig made sure his team always played hard.
Rookies of the Year First-year wrestlers Mike Zala and Greg Babich turned into their team’s top performers this winter. Zala, a junior 152-pounder, posted a 10-8 record against some tough competition. Only a late season injury kept him from likely placing in the District 18 Championships.
Babich went 13-6 as the team’s heavyweight, losing only three times in dual meets. The junior came through with some huge pins and led the team with nine falls.
Honorable mention here goes to junior basketball player Kamil Kolodziej, who emerged as a go-to guy on the hardwood this winter.
Most Exciting Moments Amy Cutler cruised in for a layup with 30 seconds remaining to lift the girls’ basketball team to a 46-44 triumph over Bound Brook … teammate Dana Delesky, the leading scorer for the Lady Mustangs this season, nailed a clutch 3-pointer to ignite the team to a 39-35 win over Bound Brook to complete a regular season sweep … the Manville boys held on for a thrilling 49-47 victory over Bound Brook … Greg Babich pinned Sussex Tech’s Rob Riffeo in 1:39 to make the difference in a 42-33 victory … and the wrestling team produced three straight falls in the middle weights against Newark Central to bring back memories of the good old days before dropping a tough match.
Best Game Performances Glen Liszczak scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a monster game when the Mustangs rolled past Sussex Tech … Liszczak posted 15 points and 22 boards in a victory over Wardlaw-Hartridge … Dana Delesky scored a season-high 21 points in a tough loss to New Providence … Stefanie Bocchino netted a season-high 17 points to lead the MHS girls to a 45-42 win over Technology early in the season … Greg Babich pinned Bound Brook’s Richie Perry in a January dual meet two weeks after Perry had placed third at the Somerset County Championships … and Kamil Kolodziej showed his offensive ability in a 26-point outburst in a tough hoops loss to undefeated Sky Division champ David Brearley Regional of Kenilworth.
Toughest Losses No setback was more devastating than the girls’ basketball team’s loss to Bound Brook in the first round of the Somerset County Tournament the Lady Mustangs wasted a 24-12 lead and the 39-36 loss also stopped them from qualifying for the state playoffs … and the wrestling team staged a huge comeback with 24 consecutive points only to lose in the decisive 160-pound bout vs. Newark Central.
Freshman Phenoms Wrestler Jamie Makowski won four bouts by fall this winter and will be someone to watch in the future; basketball player Mike Knitowski made some noise in the backcourt in his first scholastic campaign.
Junior Jewels Dana Delesky led a young girls’ basketball team along with classmates Amy Walinchus, Katy Walinchus and Sarah Ortman; cagers Kamil Kolodziej, Brian Hahn and Steve Anderson also have another year on the hardwood; wrestlers Mike Zala, Nate Bott and Greg Babich will be leaders on the mat next winter.
Senior Stars Basketball players Glen Liszczak, Stefanie Bocchino and Alicia Weaver; wrestlers Ed Ferraro, Jason Lebedz and Nghi Nguyen.