For State Champs SPF Boys Swimming, Victory is a Long Time Coming

Scotch Plains Fanwood junior Greg Baliko was not sure of the exact score when he entered the pool for the 100-yard breaststroke. He only knew it was a huge race that could decide whether the Raiders would hold off Princeton and win their first state title.

So Baliko did what he has been doing all season, and when he touched first in 59.93, he helped bring Scotch Plains to the necessary 86 points to clinch a the victory as the Raiders defeated Princeton 90-80 on Sunday, February 27th in the NJSIAA Public B Final at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Scotch Plains, winless in six previous appearances in a state championship meet, was making its first state final appearance since 2001.

“I was too busy warming down after the 200 freestyle relay to even know the score,” Baliko said. “I just knew we were getting close and that I needed to win that race. When I finished the race and looked at the time I was very pleased. Then I looked over to the side of the pool where I saw Joe Dunn give a fist pump and yell ‘STATE CHAMPS BABY’ in my direction. This is when I gave my own fist pump and went wild.”

“It was great to have the meet in hand before the final relay,” Scotch Plains Fanwood Swim Coach Jessica Hulnik said. “Princeton still had all of their top guys for that last relay, and while I am sure our guys would have won it if they had to, it was nice that we didn't have to worry about it.”

“Finally, after three years of anticipation for the 2010-2011 year it had all worked out in our favor. The training that went in was intense, but in the end it was all worth it,” added Baliko, who also celebrated his 17th birthday the day of the meet.

“Truthfully I kept forgetting that it was my birthday” Baliko said. “All I was focusing on was the meet. When the 27th would come up I would always say ‘oh yea state finals right?’ Sometimes people would have to correct me about my birthday instead. I really could not have asked for more on that day. The victory was the best present I could have ever thought of. We knew this year was our best shot at the title and we took it.”

“It was actually brought up after the Mountain Lakes meet that we would be swimming on Greg's birthday,” Hulnik said. “We all told him Happy Birthday before the meet. I don't know about further motivation, but it seemed like a great coincidence to win a state title on your birthday. Kind of a really cool present.”

For Hulnik, it was as if time had stood still. The victory came almost exactly six years to the day she had coached the Raider girls to the school’s first state title by defeating Princeton 95-75 in the NJSIAA/Public B championship, also at The College of New Jersey. And just like 2011, their semi final victory was 93-77 over Mountain Lakes.

“It’s a little freaky isn't it? It is interesting that the same programs which were strong back then are still strong now. It says a lot about the success of those programs. Princeton and Mountain. Lakes are top notch programs and they seem to be in the mix every year,” said Hulnik, who joins a shortlist of coaches who have won both a boys and girls state title.

“This one is not much different from the girls. Both teams swam really well and came into the meet ready to swim fast and win,” she added.

The Raiders broke the meet open with a 1-2 finish from sophomore Ryan Gadjzisz (4:45.55, No. 4 in the state) and Mike Napolitano (4:45.64, No. 5) in the 500 freestyle and a 1-3 Scotch Plains finish in the 200 freestyle relay. Baliko (22.04), Dan Napolitano (22.07), Gadjzisz (22.83) and Joe Dunn (21.57) won the relay in 1:28.51 and helped Scotch Plains claim a commanding 70-54 lead. Gadjzisz has added another elite swimmer to the lineup and become dominant in the 200 and 500 yard free style.

“Ryan has swum the two longest events every big meet and has been so consistent,” Hulnik said. “He also has been great on relays. He gets right out of the 500 and goes right into the 200 free relay and is still fast. He is swimming with so much confidence this year and has become one of the go to guys on the team.”

In addition to winning the 100-yard breaststroke, Baliko also took first in the 200 yard individual medley. Not only is Baliko a great swimmer, but the junior is the unquestioned team leader and sometimes like a second coach—factors not lost on an appreciative Hulnik.

“Greg is extremely versatile and always puts the needs of his team before his own,” Hilnik said. “He is excellent with our younger swimmers and is always giving technique advice and race strategy to help out. He is truly a student of swimming. Like many of our guys, he can handle multiple events with short rest.”

“I always try to help out my team mates with stroke technique as much as I can because I know it is so simple and extremely beneficial,” Baliko said. “Coming from a swimming family, my dad has helped me a lot with technique since I was young and it is something that has stuck with me through the years. The least I can do for the coaches is be an extra pair of eyes, underwater as well, and try and help out the team.”

Baliko broke a long streak of outstanding local swimmers who had attended St Joe’s of Metuchen in order to attend SPF.

“St. Joes didn't do much recruiting to get me,” he said. “I met the coach at a family friend's party and he asked me if I was thinking about coming. I had it set in my mind that I did not want to go, so politely I told him I wanted to stay in public school and that I liked SPF. One of my good friends, who swims on FSPY with me would always tell me how amazing we could be if I came and the Napolitanos stayed, but I had my heart set on SPF the entire time.”

In addition to seniors Mike and Dan Napolitano, the Raiders will also have to replace free stylers Mike Pesin and Jason Shaub, and versatile Mike Rizzo.

“While Mike and Dan account for a lot of first place points and will be greatly missed, we don't win a state or county title without those other three seniors,” Hulnik said. “All of these guys have been a huge part of this team for the past several years. In addition to their swimming talents, they are great role models for our younger swimmers and they really get into the team competition. So much so that instead of doing homework or class work, they are also researching rivals and trying to come up with line-ups to beat our opponents. It’s like having several coaches sometimes. These guys really just get into it. They all will be missed next season.”

Hulnik, who teaches Physical Education at a K-8 parochial school in South Brunswick, completed her 16th year as swim coach at Scotch Plains. A completive swimmer since 8th grade, she swam collegiately at Lock Haven University in PA for four years.

“I wasn't very good,” she said. “But I eventually found a role as someone who could pick up those 4th and 5th place points, and I loved just training and being a part of the team. I started coaching at a summer swim club [Springwood in Colonia] back in 1990. They were very patient with me as a first time coach and I learned a lot from my years there.”

The Raiders completed a perfect season against other public schools. Their one loss this season to Pingry, a private school, penalized the Raiders in the state rankings and dropped them from second to fifth, where they currently reside. Despite defeating Bridgewater at their home pool, the Raiders fell behind them after the Pingry loss. While the Raiders would have liked a chance to repeat their earlier success, Baliko and his team can relish a great victory.

“Swimming against Bridgewater is always extremely fun because of the fast and intense atmosphere,” Baliko said. “Bridgewater is fast every year and is recognized for that. When we swam them this year I think that it showed a lot of people that they aren't the only ones who have a fast team. We are happy to be recognized as a team that competes with Bridgewater and always love to race them. I am sure next year will be just as close and fast.”

Baliko, unlike last year, will savor the end of this season and hesitates talking about next year for a short time.

“Of course all of the juniors and younger athletes have begun thinking about next season and if we have a chance to win again,” he said. “The conversation comes up, but we always remind ourselves that we need to live in the moment, right now, and cherish the victory as we have it.”

Leader of the Pack : Fanwood resident David Bell will serve as Grand Marshal of Union County's St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.

When Fanwood resident David Bell kicks off the 15th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday as its Grand Marshal, he will do so nearly 50 years to the day after his grandfather, George Bell, served as Grand Marshal of the Newark St. Patrick's Day Parade. But continuing a family legacy and representing Fanwood are only two of the many reasons that Bell will be beaming with pride as he leads the parade along a 1.5-mile walk through the streets of Union. Bell, a New Jersey State Police detective sergeant for the past 22 years, will be walking at the head of a large contingent of state troopers.

“I am a proud representative of my fellow troopers at the parade,” Bell said. “They, too, feel the honor. We will have the largest contingency of troopers at the parade yet.”

This year’s parade is dedicated to the New Jersey State Police, which is celebrating its 90thanniversary. The event is also dedicated to the memory of Trooper Tommy Hanratty, who was struck and killed by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on Route 78 in Union County in April 1992.

Bell was a childhood friend of Hanratty, whom he described as “like a brother to me.” He said he named his first son after the fallen trooper.

“Tommy fought to achieve the job of trooper for the sole purpose of helping people. He sacrificed his life doing this,” Bell said. “I am so proud of the parade for recognizing and honoring his life.”

Bell said he was stunned to be selected as Grand Marshal of what has become the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Jersey. “When my grandfather was Grand Marshal, it was, basically, the only parade in the State of New Jersey at the time,” he said.”

Bell grew up in Elizabeth, but his family traces its roots to Counties Mayo and Roscommon in western Ireland. He said he has been of a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick (FSOSP) for 20 years.

“The FSOSP are a group of Irishmen joined from all walks of life and banded together for the betterment of Union County youth and families in need of aid,” Bell explained. “Our President is Robert Coloney, president of the Center for Hope Hospice. This should give you an indication of the men that represent this fine organization.”

Bell will be joined in the parade by numerous members of his family, including his wife, Kathie, and his children: Tommy, a senior at St. Joseph’s Prep in Metuchen, Jenny, a junior at Union Catholic High School, and Ryan, an eighth-grader at St. Agnes Grammar School in Clark.

“Aside from my children being born, this is one of the truly great honors of my life. I am proud and humbled to lead the tribute to St. Patrick here in Union County,” Bell said.

The day starts with a Thornstick Mass at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Elizabeth, followed by a welcoming reception. The celebration starts at noon with pre-parade festivities at Morris and Suyvesant Avenues in Union, proceeded by the start of the parade at 1 p.m. sharp.

The parade will begin at Morris Avenue, then proceed east along Morris Avenue and end at Roosevelt Avenue. For more information about the parade and the day’s events,

Big Fish: SPF Boys' Swimming Sits Atop State

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School has the top swimming team in the state among public schools. The phrase bears repeating because it doesn’t quite sound right. What about the usual suspects like Westfield, Bridgewater, the Cherry Hill schools and Mountain Lakes?

They are all looking up to the Raiders, whose latest impressive 87-83 victory at previously second ranked Bridgewater on Wednesday January 19 vaulted them from fifth to just behind state number one Christian Brothers Academy.

“Being considered the best public school in the state is truly incredible,” Scotch Plains junior Greg Baliko said. “Coming from freshman year, where we didn't make it more than a few meets into states, to last year losing to Mountain Lakes in the semi- finals, and finally coming to now, I feel like we really built up. We knew we were going to be strong this year, but we knew that everyone else would be as well. I simply want to hold that [state] title and keep on winning meets.”

In December, Scotch Plains dusted-off long-time nemesis Westfield, once the perennially-acknowledged king of New Jersey swimming, 109-61 and now sets its sights on the Union County championships next Saturday at Rutgers. The Raiders will be heavily favored to wrest the title from Westfield, which claimed its 11th straight team title last year with 442 points and has won 48 of the last 49 championships. And as previous experience has demonstrated, Scotch Plains’ defeat of Westfield during the regular season does not guarantee a win at counties.

“Our guys are too smart to ever overlook a strong program like Westfield or any other team for that matter or take the opportunity to win a county for granted,” said Scotch Plains Coach Jessica Hulnik, who coached the Raider girls to the state titles in 2005 and 2006. “They know they have to earn it.”

Baliko agreed. “Beating Westfield like we did was huge but we also beat them last year and did not win the counties,” he said. “Westfield is not going to give up their title without a fight and Summit is good, too.”

Baliko has won four county individual titles in two years, and he holds the county record in the 200-yard individual medley. In the team’s meet against Bridgewater Wednesday, Baliko won two thrilling duels against Victor Luo, first in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:08.43 – just 1.28 seconds ahead of Luo – and then in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.65, only 0.33 seconds faster than Luo.

Baliko’s signature event, the medley, underscores his strength across all four competitive strokes. “What makes Greg such a good medley swimmer is that he does not have an off stroke and he can stay with an opponent in their best stroke,” Hulnik said. “Also, his back half of the IM is so strong.”

That ability likely stems from Baliko’s long experience swimming the medley. “The individual medley has always been a part of my swimming career,” Baliko said. “When I started swimming the medley, I realized that it was my favorite event because I got the chance to do each of the strokes, which I liked. It really is hard to train for because there is a focus on all of the strokes, but once you get a feel for the IM, it’s hard not to love it.”

Joining Baliko as a two-time winner against Bridgewater was rapidly-improving junior Joe Dunn, who swept the 50- and 100-yard free style. A fine individual and relay swimmer his first two years, Dunn is now a threat to win his specialties at the county meet.

“Joe has been solid for us in the sprint events this year,” Hulnik said. “He has really come into his own and has been a great influence on all of our swimmers with his work ethic and attitude.”

The Raiders also earned victories from senior Dan Pesin in the backstroke and Ryan Gajdzisj in the 500-yard freestyle. But the key to their victory was their depth in picking up key fourth, fifth and sixth places.

“Nick Sorace [breaststroke], Ryan Henkels [sprint freestyles], Austin Englehardt [breaststroke], Jeff Peart [distance free], Jason Shaub [sprint free], Mike Pesin [200-free, 100-backstroke], Mike Rizzo [fly and IM], Dan Pesin [backstroke and IM] and Keith Montiero [fly and backstroke],” Hulnik said. “Many teams would kill to have any of these guys as their top lane swimmers. They have been so consistent and so strong for us this year. When you win a meet by four points it is a full team effort. No one's performance can be overlooked or understated.”

Baliko added that much of the team’s focus also stems from his teammates’ mental determination. “Our practices this year are not so much different then other years, but the focus at them from the swimmers is,” he said. “We have always trained hard, but the focus this year is like none other. I feel that the loss to Mountain Lakes last year truly made everyone put their heads down and figure out what they have to do better in order to win. I really believe that the team's focus has brought us to new heights that we have never experienced before.”

One of the more impressive aspects of the Bridgewater win was that the Raiders brought home the victory without first-place finishes from either Mike Napolitano or his brother, Dan, arguably the two fastest swimmers on the team. The brothers, twins in their senior year of school, battled Brian Barr, one of the top swimmers in the state.

“They both did a great job and continue to be two of the finest swimmers we have ever had,” Hulnik said. “Mike was most swimming back to back, from the butterfly and pretty much right into the 500. Not an easy thing to do especially when it’s against one of the top teams in the state.”

The Napolitanos transferred from St. Joseph’s of Metuchen three years ago, which tipped the swimming balance of power to Scotch Plains and ended a long trend of top SPF club swimmers taking their talents elsewhere. While always taking the attitude that you cannot make excuses for swimmers who decide to compete elsewhere, Hulnik is clearly happy that Scotch Plains is holding on to their talented young swimmers.

“The last few years, we have been successful,” she said. “Most people want to be a part of that.”

Baliko added that the team has been on a mission all season since its heartbreaking 85.5-84.5 decision to Mountain Lakes in the state semifinals. The Raiders had rolled to their first sectional title since 2003 with a 95-75 victory over Summit, but the Raiders clearly do not want to stop until they win the elusive state title.

“Last year was obviously a crushing defeat late into the season against Mountain Lakes. On the bus ride home we decided that next year we would redeem our previous loss,” Baliko said. “This year it really does seem like we are on a mission to get back at what we left last year. Our goals have been simple; win one meet at a time. Of course in the backs of our minds we are all thinking about the state Championship, but we try to focus on each meet as they come.”

He added that he’s not worried about “peaking” too early. “Our coaches know exactly what they’re doing with our training,” he said. “They have all of the time for rest and taper scheduled out. Since we keep training through the meets, we know we haven't peaked yet since we haven't been rested. I have full confidence that our coaches have all of our taper and rest fit and scheduled perfectly.”

Hulnik also expressed confidence. “As a coach you are always concerned both when they swim too fast and too slow,” she said. “The important thing is that they don't seem too worried about it. Everyone top to bottom seems to be swimming well right now.”

The article has been revised to reflect the following clarification made Jan. 24:

A previous version of this article stated that Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is in second place in New Jersey. It is in second place among both public and private schools, but in first place among public schools. The lead and headline were amended to reflect this clarification.

One Year After Earthquake, Haitian Family Finds Hope in Scotch Plains

The six inches of snow that fell Tuesday night did not make Jan. 12, 2011 a day to savor, especially for those used to tropical temperatures. But for the Blanc family of Scotch Plains, it marked a vast improvement over what they experienced exactly a year ago, when they lost all their possessions in the earthquake that destroyed much of their hometown in Haiti.

As they experience their first northeast winter amid a relentless parade of cold and snow, the three Blanc children and their mother said they consider themselves lucky. They were among the few to escape Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, which still has not recovered from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 people, injured another 300,000 and left more than one million homeless.

“It is a very sad day for us because so much of what we knew is lost forever,” said Judeling Blanc, 21, the eldest Blanc child. She said she was in a classroom at her college when the building collapsed.

At their modest Scotch Plains apartment, Blanc looked out her window at the furious storm. “It was late in the afternoon and all of a sudden the building shook and the next thing you knew we were all in rubble, fighting for our lives,” she said. She was extricated by classmates and teachers. Today, she is taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Union County College’s Cranford campus, and said she hopes to enter the school’s nursing program next year.

Stephan, now 17 and a senior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, said he was at home at the time of the earthquake and managed to run outside just before their home collapsed into rubble. His mother, Guegheling and younger brother, Jonathan, were on their way home and had to dodge falling debris, Stephan said.

Having lost their father in October of 2009 to cancer, the family was left homeless and slept on the ground in a park with thousands of other families. Fortunately for the Blancs, their uncle, Winchell Alce, had left Haiti several years ago and settled in Scotch Plains. When the earthquake struck, Alce worked with the Red Cross and Haitian Embassy to bring the Blancs to the United States.

Because of their visitor’s status, they did not qualify for any governmental assistance. Alce, who has a wife and two young daughters and works three jobs, was able to temporarily house the Blancs in his small apartment. He said, however, that his landlord told him the living arrangement was untenable. It was at this desperate time that Alce’s church, St. Bartholomew’s of Scotch Plains came to his assistance. The small parish elicited a church-wide donation of food, clothes and money, which has helped the family with rent and utilities for a small apartment in which they now reside. Guegheling has been volunteering at St. Bartholomew Academy since last fall, and has applied for a green card for her and her two sons that would allow them to stay in the country.

“Our faith calls us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless,” said Father John Paladino, St. Bart's pastor. “We have a family within walking distance of our church that has suffered greatly and is in desperate need. The people of St. Bartholomew parish have done much to assist the Blancs during their immediate crisis but, much is still needed to sustain this wonderful family.”

Paladino added that he and the family are working with an immigration expert and an attorney to expedite the green card application. “It remains slow and arduous, to say the least,” he said.

Nevertheless, Stephan has made an impressive adjustment to New Jersey life. Last spring, he made the honor roll and completed an Advanced Placement French class. He currently plays on the junior varsity basketball team and this summer, attended the Junior Academy for Law Enforcement Explorers. He attends regular training meetings with the Explorers at the Scotch Plains Police Department. He said his ambition is become a medical doctor and return to Haiti to help his countrymen.

“Everybody has been great to me since I have come here. I have been made to feel welcome at my high school, church and around town,” said Stephan Blanc.

Jonathan, the youngest at 9 years old, is attending St. Bartholomew’s Academy for free, where he is in the fourth grade. A gifted math student, he is receiving special assistance with language. Like most other nine year olds, Jonathan loves to play baseball, soccer and ride his bike. This summer, he joined Stephan at the Scotch Plains Police Junior Academy and received his first communion at St. Bartholomew’s this past spring.

The Blancs said they realize that a year later, things still remain extremely grim for those still in Haiti. About one million Haitians remain homeless or stranded in camps of varying conditions. Jobs remain sparse, violence is on the rise and rubble still litters city streets. Few buildings have been rebuilt, including the presidential palace.

“It is hard to reach many of the people we know,” Judeling said. “Communication is not easy and many of them have moved.”

Paladino expressed concern about the Judeling’s green card application. “It's really a big commitment on the part of a parish community to ‘adopt’ an entire family,” he said. “So much of what we take for granted is an expense. The parish has been generous thus far, however if they don't get [the immigration documents needed] to find employment, I am concerned that we will not be able to continue to support them as we are now. Any help from the community would be appreciated.”

The Blancs marked the anniversary with a combination of sadness for the past and hope for the future. But there is at least one thing about the northeast that Stephan can live without.

“I don’t like the snow,” he said. “I wish it would get warmer.”

Meredith Heads to MLS Scouting Combine

If anything has typified Bryan Meredith's career until now it has been his ability to ascend seamlessly to the next level of competition. From becoming the first freshman to start at goalie at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, to leading the nation in lowest goals against average at Monmouth University, Meredith has conquered every challenge in his path.

Having just completed his final year of college eligibility, Meredith now faces a gargantuan leap in upward mobility: a professional career. Meredith was one of only five college goalies chosen to the Major League Soccer Combine: a showcase for MLS prospects prior to the league's draft.

The initial player list of 54 college seniors was chosen by a panel of Division I college coaches, representing all conferences, who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. The players, plus those from the Generation Adidas Program, Division II and III schools, and NAIA schools, will be added in the coming weeks and will participate in the 2011 Adidas MLS Player Combine at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 7-11. The Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day on Jan. 8, 10 and 11.

Although he did not play at one of the marquee names in NCAA soccer, Meredith had some of his finest efforts against teams like UConn, West Virginia and Seton Hall and never lost to a Big East team during his career.

"It's always a plus to have a good record against teams from powerhouse conferences, especially when we are from a small league like the Northeast Conference," said Meredith, who led Monmouth to a 14-2-4 record this season and a top-20 ranking.

His college coach, Rob McCourt, a former professional player, is confident that the 6'2" 175-pound Meredith, who had 11 shutouts this season and 36 for his career, has the proper combination of talent and intelligence to ascend to the highest level.

"Bryan has the perfect size for a keeper and he is extremely quick," McCourt said. "He also anticipates what the opponent wants to do and works very well with his defense." McCourt added that perhaps Meredith's finest skill is his overall soccer ability.

"Bryan was used in the field in high school and that is quite apparent when you see how accurate he is with his punts or goal kicks and how well he handles pass backs," he said. "Many of our best counterattacks over the last three years were started by Bryan."

Meredith's high school coach, Tom Breznitsky, said he felt torn between moving Meredith out of a position he dominated to supplying the Raiders with needed offense.

"Bryan was so good with his feet and such an offensive threat that in certain games we thought he could help us more on offense," Breznitsky said. "I had another good keeper and Bryan's attitude and ability made the move easy."

Breznitsky said he became aware of Meredith's potential in middle school. "We had seen him play some club games, and we had no experienced returning goalies, so it was an easy decision to move him in as a freshman" he recalled.

Breznitsky never started a freshman in the high-pressure goalie position. But Meredith responded immediately. He did not allow a goal until his eighth game and took command of a veteran team, leading the Raiders to what would be the first of three straight section crowns. He was a four time selection to all county and was all state his senior year.

"He is the best goalie we have ever had at Scotch Plains," Breznitsky said. "We have had many good ones, but Bryan was great for four years."

At Monmouth, Meredith made some saves "that had to be seen to be believed," McCourt said. Perhaps most memorably, he stopped All-American Mike Pezza, of UConn, in a penalty-kick shootout in 2009.

"I am confident Bryan has everything needed to make it at the next level and will outwork everyone like he always has," McCourt said. "He wants to totally master his position."

For Meredith, a superb athlete who eschewed other sports for soccer while in high school, the invite to the combine is the culmination of a lifelong dream fashioned from countless hours of practice with club and school soccer teams. A good student who will graduate with a communications degree, Meredith said he has no immediate plans to work a normal 9-to-5 occupation.

"It has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to play professional soccer," he said, "so I am going to try everything I can to play professional soccer."

SPF Players Past and Present Reflect on Brez, Union County's Soccer Coach of the Year

If it had been one of those formula Disney sports movies, then the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School's boys' soccer team would have won the Group 3 State Final in dramatic fashion, and carried its emotional coach off the field with his 600th career victory. But the Raiders' Cinderella run through the state tournament ended in a Sectional Finals loss to Chatham, and Thomas Breznitsky will return for a 37th season in 2011 just four wins shy of becoming the fourth coach in New Jersey history to reach the 600 mark.

Ironically enough, in a season where the Raiders finished with a pedestrian 10-8-7 record, there were many that thought Breznitsky did one of his finest jobs. He took a team that had only three experienced players, and molded it into a squad that nearly won the county title – it lost in overtime in the finals – and won three road games to make the section finals. Last Friday, The Star-Ledger named Breznitsky its Union County Coach of the Year.

"It's hard to say if it was the best coaching job or not," said Joe Mortarulo a former player in the 1980s who has been an assistant coach the past 17 years. "The way it turned around was dramatic, but every year just as much work goes into the job. He is incredibly passionate about the program and spends all his time thinking about the team and what he can do to help improve it. He is without a doubt the most dedicated high school coach I have ever known."

Breznitsky said that he is not motivated by career wins numbers, but by the challenge and enjoyment of molding a new group of young men into a successful unit. "This season I could not be happier for the boys," he said. "They did a great job all year and were an absolute pleasure to coach." He added that he has no plans to retire.

Breznitsky's biggest challenge this season may have been getting his young team to believe that they were good enough to win. "We had a very young and inexperienced team," Mortarulo said. "We had been working so hard in the first half of the season, and each game we found a way to give away a positive result. We never took our eye off the next opponent. And that kept the entire group focused."

Breznitsky coached his first varsity soccer game in September 1975. Amazing as it may seem today, he thought he would coach soccer only until he could become head baseball coach, a sport he said he was much more knowledgeable about.

"I figured I would keep coaching junior varsity baseball and eventually take

over as head coach, but the coach never left," said Breznitsky with a chuckle.

While seemingly as intense as ever, Breznitsky seems to have his imminent achievement in the right perspective. "600 wins tells you have had some longevity and you've been lucky enough to have had some great players," he said.

It took Breznitsky some time to build the soccer program into the dynasty it is today. He credits an exceptional group of players led by three-time all-state player Lino DiCuollo, who Breznitsky considers his best student-athlete.

In addition to DiCuollo, who was a college All American at Rutgers, other key members of his first state finalist team in 1985 were such Scotch Plains legends as Victor and Alex Passucci as well as Mortarulo. In their first game of the 1985 season, they made a major statement by winning 3-1 at Wall, one of the state's top soccer powers, before a packed house.

"Coach told us that we had nothing to fear and we played with a lot of confidence," Mortarulo recalled.

Although DiCuollo was an exceptional talent, it was still considered a novelty when he started as a freshman. "[Breznitsky] was ahead of his time," said DiCuollo, who now works as a Player Personnel/International Business Director for Major League Soccer (MLS) in New York. "Nobody put freshmen on varsity at that time but he was not afraid to play his best players not matter how old they were."

After playing professionally in Germany, DiCuollo enrolled in law school and practiced at a private law firm in Newark before being hired by Champions World. At SPF, he was the first three-time member of the Star-Ledger All-State First Team and led his team to the 1987 Group III title.

DiCuollo was recognized as one of the nation's premier forwards during his career at Rutgers. He was a 1989 All-America choice following a year where he was also named Atlantic 10 East Division Player of the Year. In his four years, he led Rutgers to a 71-15-8 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He stands third on the Rutgers career points list with 122, fourth on the goals scored list with 48 and fourth on the assist list with 26.

"We had a great time in high school and a big part of it was the coach letting us play and realizing that we could use our individual skills within a disciplined system," DiCuollo said. "It is not surprising to see what the program has become over the last 25 years.

The sophomore-dominated team would lose to West Deptford in the state finals. Breznitsky considers the 1986 team perhaps his best ever, but that squad was upset by Randolph in the sectional finals. Finally in 1987, Breznitsky broke through, defeating Wall 4-0 for the first of his seven group championships. That team outscored its opposition by an astounding 120-6, and nine of the 11 starters wound up playing at Division I universities.

If DiCuollo is the Number 1 player in SPF history, then Todd Moser (1995-8) may be Number 1A. His most impressive feat was playing in four consecutive Group III championship games, losing only in the finals his sophomore year.

As a freshman in 1995, the Raiders shared the title and won in 1997 and 1998. The 1998 team set a still-standing school record of 24 wins. Moser was named all state junior and senior years and was voted the NJ State Player of the year. He was also voted as one of the top ten players of the 1990's decade by the Star Ledger.

Like DiCuollo, Moser also went on to play college soccer at Rutgers from 99-03. He was team captain for three years and was voted All Big East and All American in 2001.

Moser currently work in logistics for Dotcom Distribution as a Sales Manager and also coach youth soccer at the Players Development Academy (PDA) in Zarepath, N.J. His wife, Amanda teaches at SPFHS and he is the father of a nine month old son.

"[Breznitsky's] pride in SPF soccer continues to resonate through generations of players," Moser said. "I attended a game recently and there were former players there to watch who had graduated over the past four decades, this is because of him and what he has built. When I was younger I watched my brother's teams and dreamed of playing for the Raiders one day. 15-20 years later you still see younger kids as ball boys with that same dream. It's called tradition, and I do not see it or Coach Brez slowing down anytime soon."

Moser also recalled his contentious relationship with Breznitsky his senior year. "He was pretty tough on me that year," said Moser. "We had a very young team and he wanted me to set an example. He set the bar for me at a very high level and I wasn't always able to reach it, but it made me a better player and made us a better team," Moser said.

He added that he still vividly remembers a rousing halftime speech that Breznitsky gave in the 1997 finals, with the Raiders trailing 1-0. "We were losing and spirits were down," Moser said. "Guys who had played together for 10 years started questioning each other. Brez looked us in the eye and rallied us. We came out, scored two goals, and won the first state title outright since 92."

Moser continued, "Personally, I never had a coach in my entire career that, made sure I gave everything I could. He pushed me, not just physically but mentally too. Since I graduated SPFHS he has been there for me during the good and bad times, came to my wedding, and is now a good friend.

The new millennium could not slow the Raider soccer express. The 2000 season was the debut of Breznitsky's son Ryan, who would become a three-time all-county player, and a two-time all-state selection, and followed DiCuollo and Moser to Rutgers.

Ryan's' final two games in 2003 were truly special. First, he led the Raiders to the section title in a dramatic double-overtime battle with Middletown South. It gave his father his 11th section title and first since 1998, a major drought for Scotch Plains. Then, in the state semi-finals against Ramapo, Ryan scored two goals to lead the team back from a two-goal deficit in the second half, only to lose in a heartbreaking penalty kick shootout.

"Coaching my son was a great treat. It was much better than people had said it was going to be," said Breznitsky.

Ryan did not merely survive the pressure of playing for both a high-profile team and for his father, but truly thrived

"It was fun, but also challenging," said Ryan. "I was never given any special treatment by him during training or games. We both knew the microscope we were under and that made it competitive, which made it fun for me. I enjoyed the challenge of being the son of 'Brez,' and having to live up to the expectations."

When it came to choosing a college, Ryan said the choice was easy. "Rutgers was where I was going to end up from the beginning I think," he said. "I had spoken with guys like Todd and Lino about it quite often, and liked what they had to say. I had known Coach Reasso for a long time and knew that he was competitive and wanted to win like I did. Also being a "Jersey guy" I wanted to stay close to home and be able to have my family and friends come to games."

Ryan has followed in his father's footsteps, and now works as an assistant coach at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). At the age of 24, he already has two Division 1 coaching seasons behind him.

"As for my coaching, I don't know if it gives me a head start, but having my father be as successful a coach as he is gives me motivation to hopefully achieve that same success one day," Ryan said.

Another key player on those teams was Michael Hessemer, whose younger brother, Brian, would also make his mark in SPF history. Hessemer anchored the defense for three years and had an outstanding college career at Lehigh. After starting in several games as a freshmen and sophomore, Hessemer was the captain and started every game his junior and senior years.

"Playing at Lehigh would not have been possible if it weren't for the time I spent playing for and learning from Coach Brez and Joe Mortarulo," Hessemer said. "Coach Brez knows how to push young high school athletes to reach their potential."

Hessemer has remained actively involved in soccer by coaching the U8-U10 teams at PDA, and he plays in the Garden State Soccer League on a team that draws players from Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Westfield, and Cranford, including many former Raiders. Hessemer has worked for the past three years at the Louis Berger Group, a Civil Engineering Consulting firm based in Morristown. Currently, he works in the New York office doing Construction Management for the World Trade Center.

The goalie on the 2003 section champions was freshman Bryan Meredith, who has just completed a remarkable career at Monmouth University and has a very good chance of playing professionally in the Major League Soccer (MLS). Breznitsky had never started a freshman in the high pressure goalie position but Breznitsky was able to look beyond Meredith's youth and relied on what he saw on the field.

Meredith did not allow a goal until his eighth game and led the Raiders to three sectional titles including finals appearances in 2004 and 2005 and was a four time selection to all county and was all state his senior year, But Meredith was even better in college.

As a junior he led the nation in goals-against average, allowing .306 goals-per-game, and he stopped a penalty shot in an NCAA tournament victory over UConn. Meredith was just as good this year, finishing with 11 shutouts and 36 for his career.

From the Passuccis to the Mosers to the Hessemers, Breznitsky has always attracted multiple players from the same family. Sophomore Andrew Leischner, who calmly scored twice in a penalty kick shootout victory in the county semi-finals this year, is the third member of his family to play for Breznitsky. Freshman Christian Zazzali, who showed flashes of brilliance, is followed his older brother, Ed, who graduated in 2004. Their father, also named Ed, played for Breznitsky on the 1974 Junior Varsity baseball team, and was a member of Breznitsky's first soccer team. Ed Senior has a unique perspective on his and his son's coach.

"I guarantee the baseball program would have had all the accolades if Brez had coached baseball," he said. "Kids and parents come and go, but the expectations remain very high, and Brez wants it that way. "

Basketball for Breakfast: Former SPF Hoops Star Plays in ESPN Basketball 'Marathon'

Scotch Plains-native Bryan Dougher, a junior at Stony Brook University in New York, does not normally wake-up at 3:45 a.m. But when his phone rang early Tuesday morning, Dougher, was more than ready to leave the comfort of his bed. A starting guard for the Stony Brook Sea Wolves basketball team, he and his team played the 6 a.m. slot of ESPN's 24-hour college basketball marathon.

"We had 6 a.m. practices to get ready for this one," Dougher said in a telephone interview. "We were ready. It didn't have an effect. There isn't much we can do physically to prepare for the game. Resting the day before and trying to be mentally prepared to execute the game-plan is the main preparation we did."

Stony Brook was not among ESPN's top choices for its basketball marathon, which started at midnight on Tuesday. But the network found itself needing two teams to fill that most unwelcome time-slot at 6 a.m. Stony Brook and Monmouth University, Division I teams eager for national attention, proved happy to take the slot.

"Once the game starts and the ball goes up, it's just like a 7 p.m. game," Dougher said. And his team won in typical college-ball fashion. Playing on the road at Monmouth, Stony Brook won by a single basket, 51-49. The team improved to 2-1 on the season.

Since the 2008-2009 season, Dougher has been answering the call for Stony Brook – although not necessarily so early in the morning. An All-State player at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in winter 2008, Dougher chose the up-and-coming program at Stony Brook over more established basketball programs. That choice, he said, was the correct one.

"I couldn't be happier with my decision to go to Stony Brook," he said. "We have a great coaching staff and a talented team. We've made huge strides in my time here and the program is definitely on the upswing. We have a good chance of achieving our goal of an NCAA tournament appearance."

Dougher was an integral part of the Sea Wolves's season last year, helping them to 22 wins and the America East regular-season title. The team ultimately lost to Illinois in the NIT, but it was nevertheless the team's best season in Division I. They were set to be picked to win the league this season, but then lost forward Tommy Brenton for what looks like the season because of a knee injury.

"Tommy being injured is certainly a setback," said head coach Steve Pikiell, who was also named the American East's Coach of the Year last season. "He has been the leading rebounder in the conference for the last two years. But, I also feel that we have a lot of depth up front."

Dougher said that without Brenton, he and senior guard Chris Martin will be expected to bear more of the load while freshmen Anthony Mayo and Al Rapier acclimate to the college game. Nevertheless, Mayor and Rapier were assets in the game against Monmouth.

"It was great to see other guys step up," Dougher said. "Mayo has a huge upside and Rapier will help us a lot with Brenton out for a while. Chris stepped up big today down the stretch and we need him to play well to win."

Dougher, himself, struggled against Monmoouth's sticky defense. "Monmouth did a good job shading me all over the court and not giving me an open look for most of the game," he said. "The biggest difference between the college game and high school is the talent level. In college, every player on every team is a Division I talent. There's a lot of competition in practices and games, and you can't take days off or you will get beat."

The Sea Wolves' only loss this season came in its season-opener against the University of Connecticut, a perennial powerhouse. The loss, however, came with some upsides, Dougher said.

"Opening up at Connecticut was a great experience and great exposure for the school," he said. "We played them tough in the first half but their size was too much for us in the second half. They're a young, talented team that will be very competitive in the Big East if they can all mesh together and their freshman mature quickly" said Dougher who left an indelible mark on SPF.

Had the 2008 state basketball tournament never happened, Dougher might have been best remembered for what is known around Scotch Plains and Fanwood as "The Shot." In a January 2007 game against archrival Westfield, Dougher, off-balance and falling out of bounds, chucked a three-point Hail Mary at the buzzer that turned what would have been a loss into a spectacular win.

But the following year, after scoring 145 points in five games, and leading the Raiders to their first state championship, Dougher became the player who put Scotch Plains-Fanwood on the basketball map. Dougher saved his best game for the biggest stage, scoring 27 of his 35 points in the second half in a 60-53 championship victory over Timber Creek at Rutgers Athletic Center.

It completed a magical two-week run, in which Dougher seemed to play better as the stakes got higher. He started modestly enough, with a 10-point effort in a 49-37 first-round victory over Emerson. That tally enabled him to become the school's all-time leading scorer in his final home game.

Dougher then racked-up 31 points as the Raiders tamed second seeded Mendham 54-38. In the sectional final, his 26 points paced the Raiders to a 59-39 win over Colonia, their first Section title since 1960.

But he was just warming up. In the Group 3 State semifinals, he hit five three-pointers, was 10-of-10 from the foul line, and poured in a game-high 33 points as the Raiders defeated Wayne Valley 71-56. His tour de force against Timber Creek was the culmination of a four-year journey that began when he started the first game of his freshman year.

"I'm extremely happy the way my high school career turned out," Dougher said. "My freshman year was more of a learning year for me. I got to play valuable minutes and learn what varsity basketball was like. The Watchung Conference has produced so many great players and I'm fortunate to have been able to play four years against great competition."

But for Dougher, high school is a memory moving further into the past. "I don't think about high school too much anymore, except when people bring it up to me," he said. "It's always good to reminisce about great memories in the past and I'll never forget that state championship run. I'm focused on helping Stony Brook win a championship now."

A former teammate of Dougher's at Terrill Middle School, Ashton Gibbs, is also focused on winning an NCAA title at the University of Pittsburgh as one of the nation's top guards. Dougher said he still follows his former teammate.

"We keep in touch throughout the season with text messages, wishing each other good luck," Dougher said. "I watch his games whenever they're on TV. When we're both back in Scotch Plains we get together and workout. It's great to see he's doing so well and I'm hoping he does make to the NBA soon."

"Playing with Ashton in middle school was great. He's a tremendous player. Being on his team and going against him in practice made me a much better player." said Dougher.

Dan Doherty, Dougher's high school coach, discussed his former player's talent. "People just don't understand how good this guy is," Doherty said. "Bryan's game is much more than shows up in the box score. He is a great student of the game and knows how to make winning plays and also make his teammates better." Doherty is now coaching Dougher's younger brother, Patrick, a senior captain at Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

"I usually only get to see Patrick play, like, once a year but I'm hoping to see a little more this year since it's his senior season," Dougher said. "He keeps getting better every time I see him play. Hopefully he keeps growing and getting stronger so he can play in college."

As Dougher's college career continues to evolve, his success on the court demonstrates that he will remain ready to play and win – no matter what time the game starts.