Huskies Athletics: Another Strong School Year

Matawan Regional High School has a rich tradition of athletic achievement, and from the diamond to the eight-lane track, the Huskies delivered the goods this past school year. And with several standouts across many sports returning next season, local fans can expect more of the same from the Maroon and Grey.

TRACK AND FIELD

While the Huskies' powerful football team garnered much of the attention throughout the year, it wasn't the only successful program.

The boys track and field team captured its third straight Central Jersey Group II title by holding off Long Branch, 80-77. Hodge led the Huskies with wins in the discus (176-7) and shot put (50-7.25), while Michael Sefack won the javelin with a throw of 164-8. Solomon Simpkins won the long jump with a leap of 22-5.25 and senior pole vaulter Dylan Spadaccini cleared 13 feet to win the sectional title. Spadaccini was among the top pole vaulters in the state this season as he captured the Meet of Champions pole vault title during the indoor season with a personal-best jump of 14-6. Spadaccini cleared 14 feet to win the Group II title in early June and cleared 14-6 again to place third in the outdoor Meet of Champions. He routinely competed in four events for the Huskies – pole vault, high jump, 400 hurdles and 110 hurdles -  and was also third in the 400 hurdles at the Monmouth County Championships.

On the girls side, Gaynelle Boham had a solid season as a hurdler and jumper, and captured first place in the triple jump at the Monmouth County Championships with a mark of 36-1.5. Boham also placed fifth in the long jump and third in the triple jump at the Group II meet. Junior Sarah Issacson finished second in the county pole vault, but came back to win the sectional title over Monmouth Regional's Stephanie Skove and place second at the Group II meet. Junior Anna Johnson placed fifth in the high jump in Group II.

WRESTLING

The wrestling team experienced its best season ever in 2010, but despite graduating some of the best wrestlers the program has ever seen, the Huskies were able to keep the program running strong in 2011. Matawan finished with a 13-10 record and 4-2 division mark behind state-ranked Raritan and a strong St. John Vianney team in Class A Central. Six wrestlers won at least 15 matches, led by senior Tommy Dillon (32-5), junior Francis Palumbo (29-12), senior Patrick O'Donnell (24-10) and sophomore Glenn Cross (24-10). Cross captured a District 21 title at 171 pounds while Chris Hartigan (152), Palumbo (215) and Hodge (Hwt) placed second. Dillon was third at District 21. Dillon and Hodge were each winners at the East Brunswick Tournament while Cross won the season-opening Matawan Icebreaker Tournament. Dillon also led the team with 19 pins. He and O'Donnell were the only senior starters, so the Huskies should be in position to compete for a division title next year behind rising sophomore Hartigan, rising senior Steve Varsanyi, Cross and Palumbo.

BOY'S SOCCER

The boys soccer team endured a trying 4-15 season, but the toughest blow was dealt in January when beloved senior Chris Dhume, 17, the program's all-time leading scorer, died suddenly from complications due to Bacterial Meningitis. He contracted the illness suddenly and tragically passed away 24 hours later. His 13 goals this year are the most in a season for a Matawan player. Dhume had expressed interest in continuing his career at Brookdale Community College in Middletown.

BOY'S BASKETBALL

Junior forward Larry Alston III helped the boys basketball team to a 16-11 record and was selected as a second-team all-division player in Class A Central.

SOFTBALL

The Huskies' softball team competed in the extremely tough Class A Central division with softball powers Red Bank Catholic and St. John Vianney, but were able to finish over .500 and capture the Monmouth County Tournament Blue Division title. Danielle Panizzi hit a three-run home run and Montana Bertoli drove in the go-ahead run when Matawan topped Manalapan, 4-3, to win the tournament title.

BASEBALL

The baseball team finished with a 7-15 record and was led by senior pitcher Vinny Manzella, who was an All-A Central selection.