Edison boys XC team among county's best
Eagles hope to compete with Old Bridge for top spot
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Despite losing some key harriers from last year's team, the Edison Eagles return some strong runners, like senior Stephen Mennitt, who came on very strong at the end of last season.

EDISON - First-year head coach Mark DiGiovacchino was pleased with his team's fourth-place finish at the county meet in 2005, but expects the township high school boys cross country team to reach greater heights in 2006.

"We'd like to be in competition with Old Bridge for the top spot in the county," DiGiovacchino said. "They are the returning favorite to win the county again this season, but I think we can give them a run for their money. We have nothing but respect for Old Bridge and what they have consistently accomplished, and we want to be in a position to challenge them."

Last year's Eagle team ended the season with a 5-2 mark in dual-meet competition and placed fourth in the county. DiGiovacchino and the Eagles have their sights set on a Top 3 finish at the county meet and an invitation to the state championship.

Unfortunately, Edison suffered some key losses, most notably the transfer of 2005's No. 1 runner Julius Thompson to Jackson. In addition to the loss of Thompson, Edison suffered the loss of three other Top 7 runners from last season in Nick Tiereth, Will Eichert and Ramnath Brahma.

"Losing Julius was a big blow," DiGiovacchino said. "I'm hoping he's running for Jackson because he's such a weapon. Jackson has a strong team and Julius could definitely add to their depth."

Senior Stephen Mennitt will pick up right where he left off last season and lead the 2006 Eagles. Mennitt turned in the team's best performance at the Central Jersey Group IV sectionals last season in a time of 17:12.

"We lost Stephen during summer training last year because of an injury," DiGiovacchino said. "He rejoined the team in the second week of October and he did very well. I think he benefited at the end of the season from having less races under his belt and having fresher legs. He looks to be 100 percent and he's working hard."

Rich Yuhas returns to the lineup for his second and final season with the Eagles and joins Mennitt and Steven Chick as team captain.

"Rich ran really well at the beginning of last season, but went out a little too hard at times," DiGiovacchino said. "With a little more experience, he's learned the importance of pacing and how to approach certain races. He worked hard over the summer alongside Mennitt and Chick. Together they put in between 400-500 miles over the summer. They're hungry this season."

Sophomore Joe Cruz and junior Venkatesh Brahma are new to the varsity team but look poised to crack the Top 5.

"Venkatesh is a testament to what you can do in this sport," DiGiovacchino said. "He and Joe saw how hard the older guys worked and they put in the miles this summer and are much improved."

Senior Eric Ubl, juniors Ted Bales, Jonuel Veras and Dan Mercado, and sophomore Rajas Kane should be in the running to cross the tape as the team's sixth and seventh runners this fall.

"These guys run in a tight pack and should all contend for the sixth and seventh spots," DiGiovacchino said. "We should be ready to open the season come next week."

The Eagles will open with a dual meet at 3:45 p.m. Sept. 19 in Thompson Park against St. Joseph and Piscataway.