NB: Suk kept same approach when approaching milestone

(Pub May 17)
Last spring Williamstown ended its streak of 14 winning seasons by going 2-4. Had a couple contests gone in the Braves' favor, coach Mark Suk would've celebrated more than just the 15th-season milestone.
The head coach entered his 19th season stuck on 99 wins and remained stuck after losing to Delsea and Kingsway.
But on April 21 against Clearview, Williamstown -- fueled by a decent distance group led by senior Mike Esperanzate -- helped Suk reach the mark with a win.
The significance of the team's first win was rumored before the season, but Esperanzate and his teammates were made sure of it by Suk himself.
"He said, 'You guys have the chance to beat them and that would be my 100th win,'" Esperanzate said.
After losing to Highland and beating Cumberland, Suk has a career record of 101-55 and a season record of 2-3.
Some of Suk's career highlights include watching 1998 grad Aaron Pedrick win the Group 3 state title in the pole vault (14-6) and 2001 grad Kevin Fitzpatrick bring home the Group 3 state title in the javelin (192-11).
During his career's rougher patches, Suk finds escape in the remembrance of Fitzpatrick and of that 2001 team – the only Braves crew that's won the Gloucester County meet.
"It was pleasure and joy working with him[Fitzpatrick]," Suk said. "He did a lot for the school that year. "Those memories stick together for a lifetime and when things don't go well, I look back on that season."
Suk hopes his Braves can stop the losing streak at one season with a win over Deptford Monday. No matter the Braves' ups and downs, Esperanzate needs to only look at his coach for consistency.
"His attitude never changes. He's always positive," the captain said. "He has faith in us. He always says no matter how tough a team is, if we do our best we couldn't go down being happier, at the least. And if we do well we have a chance to beat them. Always."

Johnson aims high
Before the season, Ocean City coach Matt Purdue handed each of his athletes a questionnaire asking "What do you want to do for the season?"
The answer was easy for runner Brett Johnson.
"For every record I put a second below," said Johnson, fully aware of 2003 grad John Richardson's 1:51 half mile and 4:09 mile marks, adding "except for the mile – there I'm shooting for 4:02 or 4:03. That's obviously up there and I don't know if that's achievable, but I'm my biggest critic. I'm always shooting for the stars."
As the season winds down, Johnson and his North Jersey rivals, namely Manalapan's Robby Andrews and Hillsborough's Jason Walton (1:51.8 split in 800), are expected to go toe-to-toe-to-toe in a race that has the makings of a record breaker. Johnson can't wait.
"South Jersey has great competition," Johnson said. "But I always feel though I can't consider myself the best until I've gone up and beaten the best.
"If me, Walton and Andrews get to run in the 800 and possibly the mile, well, I'm not going to lie, I'm excited. But for now, I just want to take it one race at a time. Hopefully it will match the hype that everyone is pumping it up to be."

Roomies
Two of South Jersey's fastest long-distance runners will be flying down Hawk Hill next fall as both teammates and roommates.
Following the winter footsteps of Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier, Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell has also committed to Saint Joseph University.
The duo has a few things in common going in; each runner has experienced dazzling personal bests and devastating injuries during his senior campaign; both sharpened their kicks into assets; both reside seaside during the summer, McDonnell as a lifeguard.
This reporter also heard Birchmeier – who is out for the spring with a torn hamstring – can cook more than just Top Ramen and Pop Tarts.
The tandem will learn under Paul VI coaching legend Mike Glavin and run alongside South Jersey alum Justin Heinze of Haddonfield and Stephen Young of Holy Cross, both college seniors for the 2008-09 season.

Army/Navy tough
Holy Cross seniors Mike Sheehan and Frank Allen are teammates today and they'll fight for the same team after graduation, in every way outside of collegiate rivalries, at least.
An elite distance runner, Sheehan will be at the Annapolis Naval Academy by late July. A maturing thrower, Allen is headed to West Point Acamedy to fight for his country, continue a family tradition and possibly play some offensive line for Army's football team.
Both enlisted in the military, both committed to continuing track, both Allen and Sheehan should be saluted.
As for Sheehan's status at states or any point this spring: doubtful. As fierce a competitor as there is, Sheehan, who injured himself while running a 3,200 two weeks ago, is resting up to make sure he passes the military's July physical.

The Pole-sters
The Boys' Indoor Athlete of the Year suddenly does not look as dominate.
Although West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf has not taken second to anyone this spring, that could change given the progress made by some state vaulters.
Toms River North senior Rick Villanova has cleared 15-0 this spring and Highland junior Eddie Zubrzycki set the Tri-County Conference meet record when he cleared a personal-best 14-6.5 Thursday.
Batdorf beat runner-up Villanova by a foot at the Indoor Meet of Champions when he arched a personal-best 15-6. Zubrzycki is the last in-state vaulter to top Batdorf, having done so in the beginning of the indoor season when Batdorf was still nursing a sprained right ankle.

Throwing up
While Washington Township shot putter Kwabena Keene scratches his way to the 60 feet milestone, other throwers from South Jersey – even from his own school – are closing in to his.
Keene won the Olympic Conference meet shot put (58-1) Wednesday pretty easily, but gone are the days where 50 feet would win it.
Pennsauken's Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 54-3 and Washington Township senior David Helterbrand took third with a hurl of 51-7.

Notables
In an 86-54 loss to Vineland, Absegami senior Geoff Navarro won the 100 (10.7), 200 (21.8) and 400 (48.6).
Winslow Township senior Barry Cephas needed to split 48.2 on the final lap to keep the Eagles' varsity 4x400 relay team undefeated in the state.
Cinnaminson junior Todd Campbell looked strong at the Burlington League Division meet last Saturday, winning the Liberty Division's 3,200 convincingly in a personal-best 9:48.6.
Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker had a nice double at the Camden County meet, winning the Division 1 1,600 in 4:25.5 and finishing second to teammate Boo Vitez (9:43.7) in the 3,200 in 9:55.9.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jason Howitt
Highland
Senior
Events: Hurdles/Sprints/Jumps/Pole vault

Achievements: Howitt, a nine-event athlete, has stepped up time and time again for the No.1 ranked Tartans, winners of the Royal Division champs after beating Kingsway 84-56 Tuesday. Howitt scored 20 points and won three events in the clincher, including the 110 high hurdles (14.7), the 400 intermediate hurdles (56.4) and the hard-fought triple jump (42-9). Last Saturday in Division 2 of the Camden County Championship, the co-captain racked up three bronzes -- one off a personal-best 55.3 performance in the intermediate hurdles – and placed fourth in the high jump to help the Tartans win Division 2 with 108 points. At the Tri-County meet Thursday, the Temple University-bound senior won silvers in both hurdle events and the 4x400 relay, the latter anchored by Howitt in 50.2.

Comment: "I knew once I saw my first track meet [while in middle school] that I wanted to do it all," Howitt said. "I pride myself on being an all-around athlete. I take after my dad. And I absolutely love the sport. I love my teammates and coaches. I love making them proud." Said coach Bob Wagner: "He was just Superman again. He just does so much and I don't know if anyone knows who he is. We never know in a meet where we're putting him."