Sectionals

It really is amazing what our boys team was able to accomplish in four years.  It has required a great deal of hard work, but I hope that it has taught us what it takes to be successful.  Again, I congratulate all of the athletes who placed including the seniors who sacrificed a chance to break school records in order to run in the relay races and give our team a chance to win.

We knew going into the meet that we needed to be perfect in order to win a sectional championship and we finished 22 points away.  We know that we left some points on the board, perhaps some points that may have helped us win - so is life.  We also know that we gave our best effort, that we were prepared and just fell short.  It has been a great ride this year.  I just want to thank everybody.

Elvis shared some photos with us

Carl Lewis Relays

Reminder:  Bus Leaves at 2:15 today.  You need to go to 9th period class and will be called out at 2:00.  Good Luck to All!

 

Bus list boys

Malik Snead
Pierre Laguerre
Thurmon Leach
Devon Mendoza
Derycs Miranda
Tyquan Gibson
Marvin Ashmore
Pascal Maignan
Sebastian Cwalina
Davidson Celidor
Nnamdi Nnaijafor
Austin Jenkins
Efrain Garcia
Deonte Noncent
Jeff Meckel
Joe Miscascio
Ben Cheriser
Darius Colon
Daryl Hardee
Tyree Adams
Bashawn Smith
Moe Manuel
Malik Craig
Stevan Garcia
Marcus Hall
Conor Brown
Bashshawn Smith
Vi\jesh Jadoo
Dercys Miranda
Freddie Simmons
Christian Charleston

Bus List Girls

Girls
Claudia Olsen
Mercedes Mendoza-Dye
Marissa Flim
Christina Davermann
Carlee Smith
Jessica Escobar
Gabby Berrios
Gibscious Zarkar
Sibyl Ndeh
Hannah Donker
Tatiana Saffron
Kristine Babyak
Elischa Dessalines
Rachal Desane
Becky Walker
Yohanney Rodriquez
Arleanna Lea

2014 Season

The Boys Team finished off the 2014 Track Season with two more wins.  Take the weekend to relax, heal and enjoy the County Championship.  I remember four years ago standing in front of the team and telling them that I was proud to teach and coach at this school and that I believed in the talent that walked the hallways.  You guys have proved that we do have plenty of talent to compete in any sport.  It is great that our baseball team made the Mercer County Championship game.  I do think that West is Best.

Efrain has been in the program for 4 years

The girls had a rough meet on Wednesday and need to continue to take it in the chin in order to learn their lessons.  We have great girls with a tremendous amount of talent, we all just need to step up to the plate and be more aggressive - get that swagger so you can close out meets.  You have all the ability to compete for a county championship next year.

Saturday is the Freshmen and Sophomore meet for both the boys and girls. (Bus leaves at 7:00)  It will be interesting to see who steps up in the meet to prove that they will be someone we can count on next year.  Talk to the older guys and girls about their medals and times - and try to beat them.

Doubters...there will always be doubters out there.  Many people are genuinely excited for the program and the County victory.  Others tell me that we were lucky and won on what was a down year in the county.  Little do they know that we did not even have our best performance.  At the meet on Wednesday, we improved our performance in the 100, 200, 800, 1600, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Discus.  We continue to get better and will undoubtedly put another performance on the table for the State Sectional Meet next weekend.

Photos from Hopewell/Allentown - Thanks Mr. Jenkins, who has been taking great pictures for 4 years, we will miss running to the site to check them out after meets.  You have been a great supporter of the program.

County Champions

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_fl9RWd4a-gZWRncENRcTBfeXM/edit?usp=sharing

I really am not sure what my expectations were for the two-race finish to the county championship on Monday, but I couldn't have imagined that we would come up as big as we did.  I am so proud of the 4x4 team for putting an exclamation point on "Round 2", breaking the school record and giving the Hamilton West Boys their first Mercer County Championship in a long time.

It was nice to have the girls there to celebrate the victory.  We truly are a family and it was nice that a lot of us were there to cheer our runners on to victory.  It was a lot of fun and the culmination of hard work.  We talked all week about creating "moments" and these are the moments that we remember much more than the hard work.

Keep working hard to achieve our goals.  Stop underestimating how good we can be. And be proud of your accomplishments.

P.S. Congratulations to the seniors.  Especially those who have been there since it all began - boys and girls.  I really appreciate the hard work that you have put in and sticking with the program.

Hamilton West 4x4 relay team comes through big time to win title - Tony Piscotta - Fish4scores
Hamilton Boys set school record in 4x4 to win Mercer County Meet - George O'Gorman - The Trentonian

Schedule

Tuesday - Practice After School
Wednesday - Meet @ Hopewell vs. Hopewell/Allentown (Bus leaves after school)
Thursday - Practice After School
Friday - Girls Frosh/Soph Meet @ Hopewell (cancelled)(no practice all boys - junior senior girls)
Sat - Boys and Girls Frosh/Soph Meet @ Steinert (no practice girls - junior and senior boys), bus leaves @ 7:00 a.m.
Monday - Carl Lewis Relays (bus 2:15) varsity meet, check  back for roster
Tuesday- Varsity Practice (All uniforms should be returned for Frosh/JV)
Wednesday - Practice
Thursday - Practice
Friday - Sectionals @ Monmouth Regional/Bus T.B.D
Saturday - Sectionals @ Monmouth Regional/Bus T.B.D

Wake Up Call

You Better Be Ready

It is easy to just walk into meets and feel like a victory is guaranteed.  I have always wanted to coach a team with that type of swagger.  I have had the opportunity to have been part of teams with that confidence, but I haven't coached one.  Just remember that that swagger does not come from getting off the bus and just expecting to win, but comes from the work that you put in that gives the feeling that if you put your best out there you will not be beaten.  We are blessed to have a group of seniors that have a singular purpose in mind.  They have grown up together and share many moments and memories.  I have said it over-and-over again:  "You only have so many chances to do something special" and if you all buy in and hop on board you will always look back fondly on the accomplishments.  You may forget some of the hard work that got you there, but you will take that work ethic with you in life.  You will always know what it takes to succeed.  We only want people who share that sense of purpose, we don't want anyone to get in our way.  Get ready, there is a lot of competition coming - I hope you are all up to the challenge.

Thanks to Mr. Jenkins for the Pictures

Seniors

Finish What You Started

Yesterday was one of those days where I look around the track and I am sincerely proud of you guys.  On an afternoon where we allowed some of the seniors have some fun and compete in different events.   I saw TONS of healthy competition.  This consistent competition has forced many to step up - and they have.  I have to say it all comes down to a great senior class.  Many years the seniors let outside distractions prevent them from finishing, preventing them from maximizing their potential - but not this year.  Look at our lineup and you will see that we are counting on senior everywhere.  We have Counties in one week and State Sectionals in two weeks.  It is up to these seniors to make this year something special.  It is up to the younger guys to help the seniors on their way out and follow their leadership.  You never know how many times you will have the opportunity.  Stay focused and finish what we have started.

For the girls, we can easily say that they are a year behind.  The girls are loaded with juniors and they need to begin to mature, get focused and take their performance to the next level  - day-in and day-out.  I remember at counties last year the boys had a disappointing day in the rain and let outside influences get in their way.  It was a turning point.  Yesterday, there were some juniors who did not step up.  If the girls want to take it to the next level and compete for a county championship next year, the talent is absolutely there, but we need to see the desire and work ethic to follow if you really have your goals set high.

Thanks to Mr. Jenkins for the Photos

Adams has big day jumping, running in West boys' win - Tony Piscotta - Fish4Scores

Hornet girls fall to Rams but Olsen has impressive day - Tony Piscotta - Fish4scores