Stephen J. deWolfe, Chamberlain Drive
Congratulations to the boys and girls track teams on a very successful season.
A few years ago, at Hackettstown, during a dual Hillsborough boys’ and girls’ conference champs victory lap, the first for Hillsborough, Coach Refi’s mentor, and then assistant coach, Coach McLuskie, turned to him and said “You know what we have here? A crimson avalanche!”
This season, at Ridge for the county relay champs, a group in the bleachers behind me was talking about Hillsborough, and one man joked about the team colors as “ketchup and mustard”. I turned around, chuckled, and said “Watch out for these guys, they’re very messy. They’ll be leaving ketchup and mustard all over the medal platform before the day is out”. A few hours later, after victories for both the girls’ and boys’ teams, as that group left, the man gave me a long look and … just nodded.
Guys and gals, I pass that nod on to you.
You combine the talent of the athletes with the wisdom and dedication of the coaches, the trust of the parents and guardians, and the support of the A.D. and the school administration. You should give each other a hand. You make a great team.
It’s been said that there’s no “I” in “Team” I disagree. Think about writing the word “Team,” and I’ll bet that most of you will start with a capital “I” and then put a lid on it, almost like putting a lid on the ego of any one person.
Actually, there’s many “I’s” on a track and field team, all placed and angled to enable the team to do well. There are:
Two “I’s” in T: 3200 and 1600.
Four “I’s” in E: (horizontal) long jump, broad jump, high jump; (vertical) pole vault.
Three “I’s” in A: javelin, shot put, and discus.
Four “I’s” in M: high & intermediate hurdles, 100’s and 200’s, 400’s and 800’s .. . and relays for all.
Here are some, and only some, of the examples of “Team” this season:
Mark Ksiezopolski. and Mike Lunemann, helping each other at Watchung Hills until Mark set a school record at 14’ 2” and then Mark, having an off-day at conference champs, helping Mike to a P.R. of 14 feet to take the gold at that meet and move on to the Meet of Championships.
Multi-talented Ebony Young and Matt Carnes, asking what events they should enter at each meet.
Former HHS thrower James Jenkins helping his younger brother, Jason. Imagine two gentle giants playing catch or Frisbee in their yard, except the ball is a 12 lb. shot and the Frisbee a 3 lb., 9 oz. discus; I live two houses away, and when the ground shakes, I figure that one of them didn’t catch what was thrown.
Taryn O’Connor coming back to encourage Angela Davia and the other throwers at the county champs, and then Angela and her teammates thanking Taryn in person, in print and by their performances.
Ashley Smolinka taking on tough 1600/3200 doubles; others doubling or even tripling when needed.
Mike Brower, an alternate at Penn Relays for the 4×800, “all dressed up and nowhere to run”; the same Mike who joined the 4×400 relay at county champs when Jason Walton pulled up after winning the 1600 and teamed with Alex Szela, Alex Brown, and Rob Marley, in the chill and under the lights, in one of the most exciting races of the season, and took first by a whisker.
Everyone striving, even for the 4th, 5th, and 6th place finishes, not only gaining points for the team and preventing other teams from scoring those points, but also setting the foundation for medal finishes in subsequent seasons; this creates the depth which enables you to do well in, or even sweep, the relay championships.
All athletes taking pride in the accomplishments of Mike Lunemann, Ashley Smolinka, Jason Walton, and Ebony Young at the Meet of Champions.
All individuals showing talent, effort, attitude, and mettle, building team character and a tradition that has legendary coaches like Bob O’Rourke drawn here, a great coach becoming legendary in Rich Refi glad to be here, and who knows what the future holds for two standards of HHS Track & Field performance, Tierra Hicks and Dave deWolfe, who have come back here to coach with, so far, excellent results.
”Team” doesn’t have to mean “Throw egos away, man”; instead, as this team has proved over and over, it stands for “Together, everyone achieves more.”
For the team to win, individuals have to perform in all events. Vaulters must soar, jumpers must fly, throwers must launch, hurdlers must .. . skim, and runners must run, and you have; Sports Editor Rudy Brandl must keep us well-informed, and he has; Hillsborough parents and fans must cheer and we do.
