With the passing of yet another scholastic sports season, it is time once again to recognize the area’s top athletes from the spring season.

FILE PHOTO East Brunswick’s Dara Gadziala was one of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s top pitchers this season, and was recognized by the conference’s coaches with her selection to the All-GMC First Team.

This year, a number of local athletes distinguished themselves, and were rewarded for their excellence by earning spots on the All-Greater Middlesex Conference and All-Division teams, which were selected by the conference’s coaches.

In baseball, a pair of local products earned All-GMC recognition, starting with Spotswood senior catcher Kevin Brown. Brown batted .486 (34-for-70) this year with four doubles, three triples, three homers, and 25 RBIs. But he was just as brilliant in the field, where he established himself as the GMC’s top defensive catcher, wreaking havoc on would-be base stealers throughout the campaign. Brown will continue his baseball career at Middlesex County College, Edison, next year.

South River’s Mike Feaster also earned First Team All-GMC honors, after hitting .419 this past season. The stand-out, three-sport star was one of the top offensive threats in the conference this year, hitting three doubles, two triples and four homers, while knocking in 27 RBIs. Remarkably, Feaster only struck out twice in 84 plate appearances.

South Brunswick’s Dan Rodriguez was selected as an at-large addition to the team after batting .390 (30-77) with four doubles, one homer, 21 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He also pitched to a 6-2 record, with a 1.39 ERA. His outstanding play helped lead the Vikings to their first-ever GMC championship, and provided a fitting cap to one of the GMC’s most established careers in recent history. The Montclair State-bound Rodriguez was a three-time First Team All-GMC player for the Vikings.

JERRY WOLKOWITZ East Brunswick sophomore Vivek Subramanian was the top singles player in the Greater Middlesex Conference this season, earning a spot on the All-GMC First Team for a second year in a row.

His teammate, Brian Sock was also an at-large selection, after going 7-2 with a 1.27 ERA. The junior right-hander led the GMC in strikeouts with 74, and was instrumental in the Vikings’ playoff run, winning a pair of games in the GMC Tournament, including a 12-strikeout effort in a win over Bishop Ahr of Edison, and a complete-game win in the nine-inning thriller with Piscataway in the final.

The Vikings’ coach, Leo Danik, was named the GMC’s Coach of the Year, after leading the Vikes to the conference title in his first year at the helm. The story of Danik’s controversial hiring is a well-documented one, but any questions regarding the move were quickly brushed aside as he helped the team overcome a 4-5-1 start to reel off 11 straight wins.

Old Bridge’s Gerard Haran was also named as an at-large All-GMC player, after leading the Knights’ offense this season. The junior catcher was instrumental in helping the Knights to another solid season, and should be one of the GMC’s top offensive threats next year.

A number of other local players were named to their respective all-division teams. Both Brown and Feaster were named to the All-Blue Division team, as were South Rivers infielder Steve Zdep, Spotswood outfielder Peter Forte and Monroe outfielder Tom Woolfolk. Spotswood’s Colin Feneis and Monroe’s Steve Romulo were at-large selections.

Sayreville infielder Jeff Toth and North Brunswick infielder Anthony Alfonzo were All-White Division selections, while Alfonzo’s teammate, Aaron Teitelbaum, was an at-large selection.

Four South Brunswick players, Rodriguez, Sock, infielder Nick Clemente and outfielder Kyle Cleffi, were All-Red Division selections, while Danik was the division’s coach of the year.

Softball

The contingent of local softball players who earned All-GMC honors is led by East Brunswick junior Dara Gadziala, who faced the unenviable task of replacing All-State phenom Marissa Busch this year, and did so admirably. Gadziala won 17 games, including 10 shutouts, and had an ERA of just 0.59 on the year. She recorded 175 strikeouts in 155 1/3 innings, while also batting .319 with 11 RBIs.

Gadziala is joined on the All-GMC team by her teammate Ashley Stapleton, a senior outfielder who had 30 hits in 25 games this year for a .353 average. A brilliant outfielder, Stapleton is the perfect lead-off hitter, mixing her excellent speed with her ability to put the ball in play consistently. She will continue to set the table next year at Philadelphia University.

South Brunswick’s Jen Luis is the GMC’s top second baseman this year, after having a tremendous year as the Vikings’ lead-off hitter. Luis hit .386 with 15 runs scored and 10 RBIs to go along with 12 stolen bases. Luis, who was an outfielder before this season, is an excellent defensive player, who contributed to many Vikings’ wins this year with both her bat and her glove.

Monroe’s Vicky Blevins is at at-large selection to the All-GMC team this year after hitting .398 with 28 RBIs and seven doubles. Blevins has been one of the GMC’s top offensive forces over the past three years, and will leave the school with quite a few batting records.

A number of other local players were named to their respective all-division teams. Gadziala, Luis and Stapleton all made the First Team All-Red Division, as did East Brunswick’s junior third baseman Valerie Staub and senior outfielder Michelle Baiera, Old Bridge’s junior pitcher Andrea Meatto, and South Brunswick’s senior pitcher Colleen Cresci.

Blevins leads the list of local All-Blue Division players, and is joined by teammates Kim Mackiewicz, a senior pitcher, and Danielle Cocuzza, a sophomore second baseman. South River had a trio of All-Blue Division players as well, with junior outfielders Tammy Wood and Jen Yong Yow and senior designated hitter Kate Servon. The South River trio were among the GMC’s leading hitters this year, batting .450, .464 and .464, respectively.

Among the at-large selections to the All-Blue Division team were Spotswood senior shortstop Meghan Koppel (.407 batting average), and a trio of Monroe players, sophomore third baseman Jackie Varacallo, junior infielder Danielle Payne, and sophomore center fielder Laura Gibbons.

Among the at-large selections to the All-White Division team were Sayreville senior outfielder Sarah Dovidauskas and North Brunswick senior center fielder Laura Kelnhofer.

Tennis

On the tennis courts, the East Brunswick boys’ team was dominant this year, which opened the door for numerous All-GMC selections for the Bears.

Sophomore VivekLocal stars honored with All-GMC, division selections

By doug mckenzie

Staff Writer Subramanian was the obvious choice at first singles, after rolling through the regular season, winning the GMC Tournament for a second year in a row, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the state individual tournament, where he lost to eventual runner-up Gordie Milchutsky of Holmdel, 6-4, 6-4.

His teammate, Ilya Kazakin-Kateyev, was the top third singles player in the GMC, as selected by the coaches, after dominating the position throughout the year for the Bears.

Ross Cohn and Ross Switkes got the nod at first doubles after winning the GMCT and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA doubles tournament.

The Bears’ second doubles team of Jonathon Cohen and David Liu were also named All-GMC, after dominating the GMC at second doubles.

Old Bridge’s Jason Lefkowitz and South Brunswick’s Shangril Shah received at-large honors.

South River’s first doubles team of Bryan Floodman and Dmitry Petrov received First Team All-Blue Division honors, while their teammates, Adam Torge, Mario Maltez and Mike Huneke, received at-large honors.

North Brunswick’s Pavan Wunnava was a First Team All-White Division selection, as were the Raiders’ first doubles team of Brian Wolfson and Tom Weiman. Monroe’s Ariel Stern was an at-large selection.

The All-Red Division team was a carbon copy of the All-GMC team, with the same players appearing on each. However, Old Bridge head coach Bob Brander was named Red Division Coach of the Year.

Golf

The All-GMC golf team featured several local players, including Old Bridge’s Dave Scalamonti, the GMC individual winner, and Tim Daily; South Brunswick’s Tom Poorten, and Tony McCracken; East Brunswick’s Jon Kaczmarek, who qualified for the Tournament of Champions; Spotswood’s Carl Allen, who also qualified for the Tournament of Champions; North Brunswick’s Chris Osborne; and Monroe’s Anthony Barbato. In addition, South Brunswick’s Mark Kraft was named Coach of the Year.

Poorten, McCracken, Scalamonti, Daily, and Kaczmarek were also named to the All-Red Division team, as were South Brunswick’s Chris Ardolina and Paul Kauders.

Osborne and teammate Steve Wayne received All-White Division honors, while North Brunswick head coach Ed Breheney was named Coach of the Year.

And Allen joined teammate Greg Zohovetz and Monroe’s Justin Rohrig and Barbato on the All-Blue Division team. Monroe’s Pete LoPresti was named Coach of the Year.