Gray, Ventura, Diercksen, Forys top All-District track
TePaske has Performance of the Year
By tim morris
Staff Writer

JERRY WOLKOWITZ Marlboro’s Earl Gray (r) established himself as one of the up-and-coming sprinters in the state this year, and earned a spot on the News Transcript’s All-District Track and Field Team.

It was a season of transition in the Freehold District with several underclassmen stepping up and establishing themselves as both the present and the future in the District.

Leading the underclass assault was Marlboro sophomore Earl Gray, who literally came out of nowhere to takeover the sprints. A year ago, convinced he wasn’t very fast, he took up high jumping. In the winter, the Mustang coaching staff convinced him to take up sprinting and the result was both an extraordinary season and a glimpse of the future. He could be the best sprinter the District has seen since the great Joe Henderson of Freehold Borough. Certainly, his ability to run the 100-200-400 at championship levels separates him from everyone else.

Howell’s Matt Forys has dominated distance running in the District, starting with cross country, and continuing with the 3,200 this year.

Colts Neck’s David Gaines carried over his breakthrough season indoors at 800 meters to outdoors, while Manalapan thrower Chris Brandlein served notice that he will be a force in the discus.

The old guard had their moments as well, as Colts Neck’s Jorge Ventura concluded the finest track and field career in Cougar history by returning to the Meet of Champions.

Freehold Borough’s Jonas TePaske looked to have a lock on the top athlete spot this year when he torched the area’s pole vault record with his 15-6 in a dual meet. The 2001 state champion raised the standard by a foot and looked to jump to the national level. But an injury at the Penn Relays (torn ligaments to his right ankle) ended up costing him the rest of the season. Still, he had the Performance of the Year with his 15-6 and picked up an athletic scholarship to the University of Connecticut.

A very balanced Freehold Township team captured the District title, relying on a strong sprint corps and its depth in the throwing events.

Gray dominates the News Transcript’s 2002 All-Freehold Regional District Boys’ Track and Field Team. Gray holds down three spots, 100-200-400. Joining him are Gaines (800), Ventura (1,600), Forys (3,200), Colts Neck’s Craig Stivala (110-meter high hurdles, long jump), Freehold Borough’s Anthony Pena (400-meter intermediate hurdles), Freehold Township’s 1,600-meter relay team, Marlboro’s Andrew Salomon (high jump), Manalapan’s Chris Brandlein (discus), Freehold Township’s Mike Mounter (shot put), Ken Horton (javelin) and Paul Diercksen (pole vault).

Gray made it difficult to find room for anyone else in the three sprinting events because he beat everyone all the time.

His unprecedented sweep of the 100-200-400 at the Freehold District Championships made him the Most Outstanding Performer at the meet. But it wasn’t the only time he tripled. At the Central Jersey Group IV meet, the sophomore was fifth in the 100 (11.3), sixth in the 200 (22.9) and second in the 400 (49.7). At the county championships, he was sixth in the century and second in the 400 (50.08). He broke 50 seconds for the first time, running third in the conference (49.49). At the Group IV state championships, Gray punched his ticket to the MOC by running fifth in the 400 (49.88). He completed his season of learning with a 12th place in the one-lapper (49.54). The sky is the limit for this Mustang.

Ventura and Gaines owned the 800 and the middle distances this spring.

Colts Neck is just four years old as a school; however, in that time Ventura has established himself as the runner all future Cougars will be measured against. He left a legacy that includes multiple state championships in Central Jersey and State Group I. Illness prevented him from reaching the championship form of previous years, but he was the only runner in the area to make the MOC. He was equally effective at both the 800 and 1,600.

In the 800, he was second in the county, fourth in the conference (1:57.19), second in Central Jersey, and fifth in Group II. In the 1,600, he was eighth in the county (4:28.11) and defeated Marlboro’s James Coomber to win the Freehold District title. Ventura has helped the Cougars establish a distance running tradition in a very short time and has left behind records and titles for future Cougars to chase.

Gaines stuck to the 800 where he was the Freehold District champion (1:59.5), sixth in the county, and third in Central Jersey. The junior figures to carry this momentum over to next year. He is Ventura’s heir apparent.

Forys remained the area’s top distance runner all season, from cross country to indoor track to outdoor. The Rebel junior easily captured the Freehold District title at 3,200 meters. He was fifth in the county (9;36.44) after being the only runner to go after state champion Craig Segal of Holmdel. He was sixth in the conference. A bad day in Central Jersey cost him a spot in the Group championships, but hardly diminished his season. If anything, it has given him added incentive for next year.

The Pats didn’t have the outstanding sprinter in the District, but they did have the best collection of talent. Rich Castaldi, Stephen Blenderman, Greg Hartlein and Chris Reed ruled the 1,600-meter relay, contending at all of the major meets. Individually each had his strength on the track, but collectively they were the area’s best. They won the Freehold District title, were third in the county (3:25.56), fifth in the conference, and fourth in Central Jersey.

Stivala confirmed he was the area’s top high hurdler by claiming the District title over his rival, Chris Franzoni of Manalapan (14.9-15.3). He was sixth in the county and third in CJ II. The senior, who competed in the pentathlon at the indoor national championships, was a standout long jumper as well. He was consistently over 20 feet and highlighted his season with a meet record 21-4 1/2 at the District championships. He was third in the county, fourth in Central Jersey, and sixth in Group II.

When the season began, the sprints appeared to be Pena’s strongest event, but starting with a third place at the county championships, the 400-intermediate hurdles quickly became his event. He would take fifth in the conference in a school-record 55.26 and then wrap things up with his 55.4 triumph at the Freehold District championships. Ironically, he qualified for the Group II championships in the 400 meters, placing sixth.

Brandlein had one of the best seasons a discus thrower has had in some time. In a year dominated by the 200+ throws of Monmouth Regional senior Adam Kuehl, Brandlein’s consistency was overshadowed. The junior made it to the MOC, where he finished ninth. The Brave was a model of consistency throughout the season.

He won the Freehold District title, and he was fourth in the county, second in Central Jersey and fifth in Group IV in a personal best 158-3. He has a chance to be an MOC contender in 2003.

Mounter proved to be the best of a solid group of throwers in the shot put. The Patriot senior saved his best for the District meet, however, unleashing his best throw of the season, 50-5 1/4. During the campaign, he was sixth in the county and third in Central Jersey.

The Pats’ Ken Horton emerged as the area’s best in the javelin. In addition to winning the District crown (157-10), the sophomore was sixth in Central Jersey IV. He is another of the young guns who made their mark this spring.

Salomon was without peer in the high jump. He distanced himself from indoor rival Justin Haug of Howell by medaling at the major meets and winning the Freehold District title (6-3). The junior was third in Central Jersey and seventh at the Group IV state championships.

The absence of TePaske certainly opened things up in the pole vault. However, Diercksen didn’t get the nod for All-District by default. He earned it by winning the county championship (13-0) on a rainy day and taking the District title in a personal best 13-6 over his prime challenger, Josh James of Freehold Borough.

The sophomore was second in Central Jersey, fourth in the SC, and seventh in Group IV.

Those earning honorable mention in 2002 were: Israel Payan and Matt Parisi of Colts Neck; Josh James, Bret Jones and John Renne of Freehold Borough; Ryan Donohue, Joe Florio and Chris Bachofen of Freehold Township; Chris Ehlers, Tony Ilarraza and Justin Haug of Howell: Chris Franzoni, Mike Morgan, Andrew Levy, David Ridore, Scott Glatstien and Joe Kricher of Manalapan; T.J. Meather, James Coomber and Bill Fore of Marlboro.