By: Redd E. Patrick
The 2006 season was a very satisfying one for Monroe High School boys track coach Frank Bonich.
He had one eye on the present and another on the future.
The present featured a 6-1 dual meet mark, a series of school records and a boasting of five individuals and one relay team advancing to the Group III State Championship.
"We had a great season," said Bonich, who is 26-8 in six years at the helm. "We had so many kids really step up. Some kids we knew had talent really improved, then we had a lot of surprises as well."
The ’06 Falcons were led by junior Zach Theinert, who broke his own school record in the 800 twice this season before settling for 1:58.04. Theinert finished third in Central Jersey Group III and was looking to place even higher with a faster time in the overall Group III state meet, but it never happened. Sitting right with the leaders with about 150 meters remaining, Theinert got tangled up and fell to the ground, ending his season in disappointment. Theinert had a big-time season, though, as he also set the school record in the 1600 with a time of 4:31.
Senior Scott Roman capped a very consistent four-year career in the distance events. He wound up with the GMC’s fifth fastest time in the 3200 (9:48.08). He finished third at the GMC’s.
Theinert and Roman were two athletes who qualified for the state group meet. Junior Billy Phillips placed sixth in the 200 (23.39) and the 400 (50.93) at the sectionals to move on, while Mike Barszcz made it by taking sixth in the intermediate hurdles in a school-record 58.53. Barszcz wound up 17th at the group meet, lowering his record time to 58.34. Matt Sussman came from nowhere to place third in the javelin with a school record 168-3. The 4×400 team of Theinert, Phillips, Adam Modzelewski and Barszcz also qualified by finishing third in a time of 3:28.22, another school record.
"The sectional meet was definitely a highlight," Bonich said. "The kids really came through in a big way."
Senior J.J. Ferrito was also a big contributor for the Falcons in the pole vault.
With everyone returning with the exception of Roman, Bonich is already looking forward to next year.
"The strength of our team was our junior class," Bonich said. "Theinert, Barszcz, Phillips, Modzelewski and Adan Farrah (sprints/jumps) were five of our top six point scorers. They cover everything from the 100 to the 1600, including the hurdles. We’re losing Scott Roman, but we think Ryan Brown (sophomore) and Nate Smith (sophomore) will be able fill his shoes. We’re losing Sussman in the weights, but we have three 40-foot shot putters back in Ed Niedzielski, Dan Santalla and Godfrey Blackman. So we’re excited about the future."
