Group Championships Preview | Picks and Predictions

Nov 11, 2016

	Robert Kellert	Pat Montferrat	Andrew Stranieri

Boys	Boys	Boys	Boys
Group 1	Patrick Walsh South Amboy	James Draney Bogota	Patrick Walsh South Amboy
Group 2	Michael Ungvarsky Cinnaminson	Michael Ungvarsky Cinnaminson	Michael Ungvarsky Cinnaminson
Group 3	Matt Grossman Millburn	Elliot Gindi Ocean Twp	Matt Grossman Millburn
Group 4	Rey Rivera Old Bridge	Billy Byrne Ridgewood	Rey Rivera Old Bridge
NP A	David Rosas Don Bosco Prep	Davis Rosas Don Bosco Prep	David Rosas Don Bosco Prep
NP B	Bill Massey Montclair Kimberley Academy	Bill Massey Montclair Kimberley Academy	Bill Massey Montclair Kimberley Academy

Group 1 Conversation Notes

Kellert | Walsh took fourth last year and is the fastest Group 1 returner from the Group 1 Championship. Given the way he's been running since then including indoor and outdoor I'm going to give the South Amboy star the nod.
Stranieri | I like Patrick Walsh of South Amboy as the individual champ, but expect a tight battle between him and James Draney of Bogota.

Group 2 Conversation Notes

Kellert | Devin Hart of Pt Pleasant Boro made this pick a lot harder with his Sectional win last weekend. Ungvarsky has already gone sub-16 at Holmdel this season, the only Group 2 boy to do so in 2016 (granted most only get one shot at Shore Coaches). The Voorhees boys could also be in this individual race, we know they have big expectations in the team scoring already.
Stranieri | The individual battle will be a close race between Devin Hart of Pt. Pleasant Boro, Michael Ungvarsky of Cinnaminson, and Chris Romero of Voorhees. I think Ungvarksy's experience will help guide him to victory here.

Group 3 Conversation Notes

Kellert | Last August I made my own early pre-season rankings and the sure #1 was Matt Grossman of Millburn. He has continued to show why I picked him so far this fall so I'm sticking to it. That being said when Millburn went from Group 4 to Group 3 I figured Grossman, the defending Group 4 title winner, would have another sure title... well that assumption was tailored back a little, this will be no easy win for anyone. We saw how great of shape Jordan Brannan of Colts Neck was in early on, and then Elliot Gindi of Ocean Twp started burning course times. Add on a long list of capable names from there and some fierce team battles going on pushing the pace even more and Group 3 is a pure battle ground. Will be exciting to see who pops out of the woods first on Saturday.
Stranieri | Perhaps the best individual battle of the day. Matt Grossman of Millburn, Elliot Gindi of Ocean Twp. HS, and Jordan Brannan of Colts Neck will all lock horns. I think they'll push each other to the fastest time of the meet. I'm taking Grossman for the win, but Gindi or Brannan have a chance to pull off the upset if Grossman should falter.

Group 4 Conversation Notes

Kellert | Send our apologies to Thompson Park for not warning it about Rey Rivera last week. Rivera set the course record with a wicked time of 15:21 and we didn't pick him, not making that mistake again. Still there are plenty of great athletes in this race ready to take it coming from up north to down south like Billy Byrne, Billy Hill, Cornetta, Shea it should be a fun race to watch.
Stranieri | I somehow overlooked Rey Rivera of Old Bridge last week, but will not do it again. He is my pick to win.

Non Public A Conversation Notes

Kellert | Rosas is having another great season coming off his Bergen County MOCs win, he is the best returner from last year's NPA title race and my pick for the win.

Non Public B Conversation Notes

Kellert | Defending NPB Champion Bill Massey is running well running strong and running like he's going to take the 2016 NPB title.