Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 29, 2006 10:09:52 GMT -5
Cougars were the aces on area tennis courts
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Acing their way through the A North Division without a loss more than proved that Colts Neck’s girls’ tennis team belonged.
When the season opened back in September, one of the biggest question was how well the Cougars would adjust to the move up to A North.
Coach Ron Bruh had a veteran squad, but were they ready for A North?
Scoring an early win over perennial division champion Marlboro, and traditional winners Manalapan and Freehold Township, left no doubt that they belonged.
The second time around proved to be no different, as Colts Neck marched to the division title unscathed in its first year.
The Cougars were powered by the one-two singles tandem of Victoria Sharwarko and Maria Kaczmarczyk, both seniors.
While the Cougars were the only team in the area to collect championship hardware, four other Freehold Regional District teams qualified for the postseason.
Old reliables Marlboro and Freehold Township fielded teams that made the Shore Conference Tournament and state playoffs. The big surprise out of A North was the emergence of the Howell Rebels as a state playoff team.
Freehold Borough was the fifth team that qualified for the postseason. Coach Laura Ackerman’s Colonials made a run at the B North title.
The Cougars’ Sharwarko and Kaczmarczyk head the News Transcript’s 2006 All-Freehold Regional District Girls’ Tennis Team. Joining them at singles are Marlboro’s Danielle Dellaccio, Manalapan’s Sheila Murugan, Freehold Township’s Alexandra Petcu and Freehold Borough’s Jennifer Nguyen.
The doubles teams are Jenn Mongiorno and Annie Masterson of Colts Neck, and Hillary Levin and Jessica Barofsky of Freehold Township.
Sharwarko and Kaczmarczyk swapped positions this fall with Sharwarko moving up to first singles from second. Sharwarko earned the top spot in the offseason by improving her game in all phases.
Kaczmarczyk, a counter-puncher on the court, took some time to adjust to second singles, but eventually gave the Cougars a consistent winner.
Marlboro has been the program by which all others are judged, and although the Mustangs went through a major rebuilding season in ’06, it was a season most would welcome. Sophomore Dellaccio played her way from doubles last fall to the first singles this season by putting the time in during the offseason and improving her game to the point that she was a solid No. 1 player. She scored some big wins during the season.
Manalapan, which had been Colts Neck’s greatest rival recently, also went through a rebuilding season in ’06. Murugan remained the team’s steady force
Petcu, a sophomore, got stronger as the season went on. She made a big splash as a freshman last year and finished the season strongly. The Pats were a young team this fall and will be back to contend for division honors next year.
Nguyen was a four-year starter at Freehold Borough and brought leadership and steady play as the captain to a team that made a run at the B Central title and qualified for the postseason.
Balance was the key to the Cougars’ success and it’s no surprise that they were equally effective at doubles. The tandem of Bongiorno and Masterson dominated the position locally and played a big role in the team’s division title.
Levin and Barofsky were one of the most successful teams in the Shore this year and brought balance to the Patriot lineup. Doubles play helped the Patriots win 3-2 matches.
Those earning Honorable Mention in 2006 are: Britney DuPius, Colts Neck; Erika Yih, Freehold Borough; Lisa Goldman and Shriya Patel, Freehold Township; Amanda Roselli and Jessalyn Lambert, Howell; and Rachel Ger, Marlboro.
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Acing their way through the A North Division without a loss more than proved that Colts Neck’s girls’ tennis team belonged.
When the season opened back in September, one of the biggest question was how well the Cougars would adjust to the move up to A North.
Coach Ron Bruh had a veteran squad, but were they ready for A North?
Scoring an early win over perennial division champion Marlboro, and traditional winners Manalapan and Freehold Township, left no doubt that they belonged.
The second time around proved to be no different, as Colts Neck marched to the division title unscathed in its first year.
The Cougars were powered by the one-two singles tandem of Victoria Sharwarko and Maria Kaczmarczyk, both seniors.
While the Cougars were the only team in the area to collect championship hardware, four other Freehold Regional District teams qualified for the postseason.
Old reliables Marlboro and Freehold Township fielded teams that made the Shore Conference Tournament and state playoffs. The big surprise out of A North was the emergence of the Howell Rebels as a state playoff team.
Freehold Borough was the fifth team that qualified for the postseason. Coach Laura Ackerman’s Colonials made a run at the B North title.
The Cougars’ Sharwarko and Kaczmarczyk head the News Transcript’s 2006 All-Freehold Regional District Girls’ Tennis Team. Joining them at singles are Marlboro’s Danielle Dellaccio, Manalapan’s Sheila Murugan, Freehold Township’s Alexandra Petcu and Freehold Borough’s Jennifer Nguyen.
The doubles teams are Jenn Mongiorno and Annie Masterson of Colts Neck, and Hillary Levin and Jessica Barofsky of Freehold Township.
Sharwarko and Kaczmarczyk swapped positions this fall with Sharwarko moving up to first singles from second. Sharwarko earned the top spot in the offseason by improving her game in all phases.
Kaczmarczyk, a counter-puncher on the court, took some time to adjust to second singles, but eventually gave the Cougars a consistent winner.
Marlboro has been the program by which all others are judged, and although the Mustangs went through a major rebuilding season in ’06, it was a season most would welcome. Sophomore Dellaccio played her way from doubles last fall to the first singles this season by putting the time in during the offseason and improving her game to the point that she was a solid No. 1 player. She scored some big wins during the season.
Manalapan, which had been Colts Neck’s greatest rival recently, also went through a rebuilding season in ’06. Murugan remained the team’s steady force
Petcu, a sophomore, got stronger as the season went on. She made a big splash as a freshman last year and finished the season strongly. The Pats were a young team this fall and will be back to contend for division honors next year.
Nguyen was a four-year starter at Freehold Borough and brought leadership and steady play as the captain to a team that made a run at the B Central title and qualified for the postseason.
Balance was the key to the Cougars’ success and it’s no surprise that they were equally effective at doubles. The tandem of Bongiorno and Masterson dominated the position locally and played a big role in the team’s division title.
Levin and Barofsky were one of the most successful teams in the Shore this year and brought balance to the Patriot lineup. Doubles play helped the Patriots win 3-2 matches.
Those earning Honorable Mention in 2006 are: Britney DuPius, Colts Neck; Erika Yih, Freehold Borough; Lisa Goldman and Shriya Patel, Freehold Township; Amanda Roselli and Jessalyn Lambert, Howell; and Rachel Ger, Marlboro.