2005 Scotch Plains Boys Outdoor Track Preview

The ability of coaches Jeff Koegel and Rich McGriff to develop new talent to replace graduation losses goes a long way to explain why the Scotch Plains Boy’s track team begins the 2005 season with a gaudy 22 year unbeaten streak in dual meets.

Sean Smith, one half of the Raiders’ dynamic duo last year returns to lead the team where the biggest challenge will be how to replace graduated distance star Brian Kopnicki.

Kopnicki was the top runner in the distance events and in an unusual twist, the triple jump, where he was conference champion and placed in almost every meet. Smith was the county champ in the high jump, second in the 400 intermediate hurdles and was also the Raiders’ best high hurdler, javelin thrower and 400 meter runner. They won six events between them, pacing the Raiders to their 13th conference title in the last 14 years.

“You can't just replace someone who has run 1:57 and 4:17. He was the fastest kid I have ever coached from 800 through 3200,” said Koegel of Kopnicki , who now runs for college of New Jersey. Koegel is hoping that junior Josh (JZ) Zinman can follow through on a strong indoor season.

“JZ really started to develop this winter, running 4:44 indoors, which was a PR
for him ,” said Koegel. Sophomore Adam Biner, currently injured, and sophomore swimming star Mike Miller should give the Raiders a strong threesome. Miller was the top cross country runner last fall and Koegel is hoping he can run under 2:00 in the 800 and 4:30 in the 1600.

Koegel is hoping that sophomore middle distance runner Kyle Rowbotham
can duplicate Kopnicki’s triple jump success this year.

“Rich (McGriff) taught Kyle how to triple jump this winter, and he has already jumped as far as Kopnicki,” said Koegel.

“The triple jump is a place we feel we can get a lot of points, as most teams don't have a
coach who is as knowledgeable in the event.”

Smith, while again specializing in the hurdles, high jump and javelin, will have his relay schedule curtailed by injuries to hurdler James Alfano and jumper Iceberg Bryant.

In addition to Smith in the javelin, the Raiders will also be deep and talented in the other weight events with senior Ted Acosta, sophomore John Badala and freshman Mike Alleman, who combined to win the Union County Shot Put Relay title indoors. The trio will compete with football and wrestling standout Marc Fabiano, who returns to defend his conference title in the discus.

The Raiders should excel in the pole vault with junior Max Carow and sophomore Tom Pennella ,who both jumped over 12 feet last spring and should both comfortably clear 13 feet.

“I think our pole vault program has come a long way in the past year, and Pete Kane (SPFHS '98, 15'0" vaulter at TCNJ) has done a phenomenal job with them ,” said Koegel.

The four by 400 relay should also be improved with Rowbotham, Smith and twins Tom and Rob Ventura, who are also the leading sprinters.

Koegel is hoping there is enough depth to enable the Raiders to extend the dual meet streak another year.

“Westfield and Cranford are strong teams, and we have a crossover meet at home against Union this year. It will be a test, but our boys have a lot of pride,” said Koegel.

“It has always been important to the boys that have been on the team in the past that they have graduated without ending the streak. “.


“He is, however, very competitive in the conference in that event, so if we're going to take him out of the javelin, we have to find someone else who can fill the points we'll lose there in the dual meets and the conference meet. We know he'll definitely be hurdling and high jumping, but everything else is up in the air ,” added Koegel.