Making History
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A sit down with State Champions Bascom, Stolte and Walp by JOEY ROMANCZUK Editor
Coaching the Falcons
Coming off a 30-10 routing of the Middle Town South Eagles, a few Monroe players spoke with the Falcon News to discuss how it feels to win the first State Championship in Monroe football history. Thanks to the strong play from Monroe’s Seniors including: half-back Blake Bascom and right guard Matt Stolte, Monroe only lost once by a field goal. Michael Walp provid-
A sit down with State Champion Head Coach by JOEY ROMANCZUK Editor
While the Falcon December 5 State Championship victory was still fresh in everyone’s minds, the Falcon news sat to talk with Head Coach Chris Beagan on the team’s unprecedented accomplishments.
School celebrates football state win by MICHAEL BAUMANN Editor-in-Chief
Enthused cheers and the enthralling music of the school band fill the gym as staff and students commemorate the football team’s newly won Group III State Championship title on December 11. “We are here to celebrate and recognize a huge, huge accomplishment,” says the host of the event, science teacher Matthew Olszewski, of the team’s victory over the Middle Town South Eagles on December 5. Monroe and Middletown played for the championship game at The College of New Jersey, as Monroe left victorious with the first football state championship title in school history. The chorus led the audience in the national anthem, garnering applause as they finished singing. After the cheerleading squad performed their “Hello” cheer, Olszewski welcomed staff and students and congratulated the football team on its historic win. Special guest, Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton, was also in attendance. “If anything, the win reinforces school spirit and builds up support for a sense of camaraderie,” says Hamilton in a later interview with the Falcon News. “It’s really setting the barometer for how all of the sports will be measured.” After permances by the step and dance teams, cheerleaders fromed an aisle, enthusiastically waving their pom-poms, as Olszewski introduced Head Coach Chris Beagan, Assistant Coaches: Justin Cella, Daniel Lee, Marc Debillis, Joseph Ro-
mano, Zach Morolda and Athletic Trainer Nathan Cogdill. The crowd erupted in applause. The audience cheered as the 13 sophomores, 19 juniors and 20 seniors who comprise the varsity football team were introduced by name in order to receive recognition for their collective achievement. “We’re really excited to be able to accomplish our goal,” says offensive lineman, junior Joseph Isola. “We love the fan support. It always feels like we have the home field advantage even on the road.” Coach Beagan received special recognition, as he was given an enormous yellow poster signed by faculty and students in honor of the team’s win. Special Education teacher, Christine Basile, escorted Principal Robert Goodall to the middle of the gym where seniors Travis Dufner and Jimmy Nemeth waited to shave an “M” into the side of his head, as Goodall previously promised if the team won. “We were excited to see Mr. Goodall be able to fulfill his duties to the team,” laughs Isola. Finally, Olszewski thanked Athletic Director david Kirk for making the Falcon victory a reality, as he gave final congratulations. “I think it was a great victory for not only the school, but also for the community as a whole,” says Romano. Additional reporting by Ali Deitche
What did the team do during the week prior to the game in order to keep nerves down in the locker room and on the field? “We basically prepared the same way and if anything the coaching staff was surprised at how loose the boys were when we got to the field.” “A lot of members of the coaching staff were also a part of a State Championship once. I was the coach of Sayreville in 1997 and 2001 when we went to States. Coach Cella was in the championships in 1994 and again, winning in 1995 playing for Neptune. Coach Debellis played in a state championship in the early 90s. We understood the pressure the boys were under.” Bascom ran for about 210 yards, three touchdowns and 2,000 yards during the season. It’s an understatement to say he was important to the team. What do you think Colleges have in store for him in the future? “Bascom had a lot of success as a part of our defense and especially as a part of our offense. Bascom will have more than a few schools interested in him. His performance at States opened a lot of doors for him.”
ed t h e F a l cons with a clutch touchdown at the end of the first half of the State Championship giving Monroe a 14-10 lead. First Team All- state running back Senior Blake Bascom led Monroe with 2,001 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, while senior Second Team All- State r i g h t guard and tackle. Senior Mat-
Do you believe that returning juniors will expect to return to the team and win States next year? Furthermore, do you believe that arrogance will affect this team after the victory? “Alex Vizcaino has been tremendous all year long and has really developed as a leader of this team. A game can start and end with the Quarterback. Michael Walp caught a huge touchdown against Middle Town South, we knew he had it in him, it was just a matter of time. Like I said, we got where we are because of the hard work and expectations we make for this team, that won’t change.” What was the first thing that came to mind when Chris Geist dove onto the MTS quarterback for the safety late in the second half? “That safety gave us a two possession lead in the late stages of the game giving us what seemed like an insurmountable lead.” Many seniors are leaving this year including the offensive line, with the exception of George Meyers. What expectations do the coaches have for the line next year. “The way we look at it is that the juniors and sophomores of this year practiced against State Champions all season long. Our lofty expectations will not change this season for the line we want to keep up the hard work. We got where we are because of it.” “If you reach for the moon the least you can wind up at is a star.” thew Stolte was a part of the very talented offensive line praised for the successful offense. Junior tight-end and defensive-end Mike Walp caught two of the biggest catches in the State Championship game, one of which gave Monroe a score of 14-10 lead into the second half. “I don’t think it has hit us all yet, yeah we are excited but I think it will hit us at the spirit explosion,” says Walp. However their history making season started from Pop Warner Football; Stolte says, “The whole defense consists of genuine players who have played
together since Pop Warner. We have experience playing together and have trained hard in the weight room and off season.” “The most of help came from our coaching staff which put us in the best position to make big plays. They always believe in us,” he says. Bascom felt very confident in t h e offensive line going into States. He says, “I feel very confident in my offensive line leading into the State Championship. We have this unspoken language where we are all on one heart beat. They trust in me and I trust them.” Prior to the State Championship, assistant Coach Justin Cella prepared a different offensive game plan in order to get the boys mentally prepared. “Cella sat us down in a room, and basically told us people viewed the Eagles as unbeatable and immortal. So he put on the movie 300 and played the scene where Spartans fight off the ‘Immortals’. The ‘Immortals’ were supposed to be gods but once the Spartans made them bleed, they realized they could be beaten. So Cella said as long as we scored once or twice, we would win,” says Bascom. The only problem that emerged this season is that the Falcons will be loosing a lot of seniors. At the end of the interview Bascom turns to Walp and asks, “What do you think winning States this year did for this program?” Walp says, “There was only five or six of us [juniors] on the varsity team that played. So all of us need to work harder, and step it up if we want to repeat.” Walp felt Monroe put the game away after his touchdown at the end of the half, giving them the lead 14-10, whereas Bascom and Stolte both felt that the game was over once the Eagles fumbled in their own 20 yard line, resulting in a one yard touchdown run by Bascom. Many people did not believe Monroe would win or even make it to States. According to Bascom and Stolte , such doubt drove the team to victory. Walp says, “If any team believes they can get the job done, they will. If the team uses the disbelief in them as motivation, they will win.” Photos/ Rob DeBoer, Jackie Push and Haley Strincoski