April 1, 2010
Prep back for one more run
Alex Cogott and the Marauders have won the NJSIAA North title three straight years.
Click Here for photos from St. Peter's Prep Practice.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – For the St. Peter’s Prep volleyball team, their time is now.
After falling short in the NJSIAA championship game as sophomores and juniors, this senior year represents the chance for this veteran group to achieve the one goal that has eluded them during this recent run of success.
“They’re focused on that,” head coach Don Guide said. “We want to play the best we can and play high-quality ball, but we want to win the state championship this year.”
“I think last year the mindset was it was more of a rebuilding year, just get quality wins and play smart,” senior outside hitter Kenny Walter said. “This year it’s definitely win everything. Take the whole thing home.
“We definitely have that mindset. It was such a thrill making it to the state championship last year. Now I think we’re expected to get there because of our capabilities and what we did last year. With the seniors and the experience, I expect us to be there again.”
Walter is just one of several key players returning from the three-time defending North Jersey champions. Joining Walter (a two-year starter) is a quartet of three-year starters in John Armstrong, Mike Blicharz, Alex Cogott and Parker Kolodka.
It’s a level of experience that is virtually unprecedented in high school and to the Marauders it gives them just another edge over the opposition.
“It’s such a huge advantage having all these players that have played in big games last year,” said Kolodka, feeling it gives the team an added dimension of maturity. “It gives us a huge advantage because we know what those kind of situations are like. We’ve been in them before and we know how to prepare for them. We know exactly what to expect.”
That advantage is most apparent on the offensive end of the court with Blicharz, Kolodka and Walter. Blicharz acts as the quarterback and of the offense from his role as the setter. With Kolodka and Walter among the weapons at his disposal, Blicharz racked up 717 assists a year ago.
“That’s an integral part of any offense is the hitter’s relationship with the setter,” Kolodka said. “I think we have a huge advantage (with Mike). He’s always got good ideas, he’s always keeping us awake (on the court) and he’s always trying to stay one step ahead of us, calling trick plays. He loves running an offense and we love participating in his offense.”
“He can basically set it without looking and he’ll know where I’ll be,” Walter added.
Kolodka was the primary beneficiary of Blicharz’s passing as he registered 295 kills en route to Third Team All-State honors a season ago.
Walter, who according to Kolodka, “has the skills and the technique to be whatever kind of player he wants,” added 189 kills as the friendly competition between the two outside hitters serves as an added motivator for both of them.
“There’s no guy I’d rather have play front row when I’m not, in the state,” Kolodka said. “He’s just a huge competitor. He pushes me to be better all the time. I love playing with him.”
Their presence on the outside makes it impossible for opponents to double-team one of them. Armstrong, who Guide calls “one of the best middles in the state,” and junior Lorenzo Samin adds to Prep’s scary collection of offensive talent. Cogott at libero and Alex Perez anchor the defense as Guide has 12 players he has the confidence to put out on the court.
With this much talent and experience few teams in the state will be under the microscope as much as the Marauders. But rather than be intimidated by the pressure, it’s an opportunity they have embraced.
“We look at it as an opportunity,” said Guide, now in his 13th season as Prep’s coach. “This is probably the best chance that we’ve had to go all the way.”
