BY MICHAYLA SMITH
This winter, four freshman athletes performed at a high level while playing for varsity teams. Gregory Moreno, Mason Sorrentino, Marilyn Togun, and Gavin Young showcased their skills across four different sports.
Sorrentino helped the boys bowling team reach the Central Jersey Group 4 Finals. “[Playing varsity as a freshman] is very exciting, but stressful at the same time,” said Sorrentino said, who rolled a 215 to help the team win in the quarterfinals against South Brunswick, who had swept Old Bridge in both regular season matches. “I enjoyed it a lot.”
Sorrentino quickly adjusted to the varsity level with the support and guidance he received from his team of upperclassmen. “They are very resourceful,” stated Sorrentino.
Although he began to bowl just a few months ago, Sorrentino acclimated quickly. “I went from picking up a bowling ball (bowling two handed for the first time) and then four months later, I’m two pins away from a 300,” stated Sorrentino. “My biggest accomplishment in bowling this year was my 298 game.”
Gregory Moreno, a member of the boys’ ice hockey team, scored nine goals and earned one assist this season. “It’s fun, especially seeing fans come and learning from kids more experienced than me,” stated Moreno, whom NJ.com nominated as one of the top high school freshmen in Ice Hockey.
At first, the varsity opponents intimidated Moreno, but the more he played, the more comfortable he became. “Some of the kids are bigger and faster than me,” stated Moreno. “After a while of practicing with varsity, I got used to the pace of the game.”
Moreno had a significant moment in his season when he scored his first varsity goal during a match against East Brunswick. “It was really a special moment for me,” said Moreno, who also celebrated “two goals against Freehold Township as his biggest accomplishment.
The sole freshman varsity player on the girls basketball team, Marilyn Togun, had quite the season. She held her own and showed great skill by bringing in the third most rebounds on the team with 103. “[Playing varsity] challenges me to do more than what I think I could do,” stated Togun, who regarded it as an overall “great experience.”
“My biggest accomplishment in this year’s season is getting a double-double in our first [post-season] game,” said Togun. In the preliminary round of GMCs against Timothy Christian, Togun scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Gavin Young started on the boys wrestling team. He has already made history after taking first place in the GMC Tournament, one of the only freshmen in school history to do so. “It made me feel that there are many more accomplishments to come,” stated Young, the GMC Boys Freshman of the Year.
Young ended the season with a 20-9 record. “After spending extra time in practice in the offseason, it feels amazing that all of that hard work has paid off,” said Young, who earned a selection to the All-Red Division and All-Conference teams.
Students can look forward to watching these athletes as they advance further in their sports.
Posted on 3/15/24
Photos by Lors Photography
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