If you’re looking for a reminder of why high school sports matter so much in this town, this past week delivered it in full. Wins, losses, overtime drama, breakout performances, and teams that just refuse to quit. This was one of those stretches that parents and kids will remember long after the final buzzer.
🏒 Boys Ice Hockey: Overtime Magic and Pure Grit
East Brunswick pulled off one of the most thrilling wins of the winter with a 7–6 overtime victory over Bayonne, improving to 3–9. This one had everything.
Joseph Hayes put on an all-time performance with 4 goals and 2 assists, accounting for six points and repeatedly pulling the Bears back into the game. Brayden Faley delivered the storybook ending, burying the overtime winner and sending the bench into a frenzy.
In goal, Riley McLean stood tall with 25 saves, holding firm through constant pressure. Bayonne’s Alex Fiermonte matched the intensity with five points of his own, making this a back-and-forth classic that came down to heart and execution when it mattered most.
Not every night goes your way, and later in the week East Brunswick ran into a tough Hopewell Valley squad, falling 7–2. Still, goals from Sean Aronson and Marcello Ferrari showed fight, and the team continues to compete hard despite the record.
This is a group that keeps showing up, and that overtime win is proof of how much belief lives in that locker room.
🎳 Boys Bowling: Battling the Best, Bowling with Pride
Going up against powerhouse St. Joseph (Met.), East Brunswick came up short 4–0, but there were still performances worth celebrating.
Tyler Sultana was outstanding, rolling a 561 series with a 206 high game, setting the tone for a team that refuses to roll over. Against one of the strongest programs in the league, East Brunswick kept grinding frame by frame.
Later in the week, the Bears battled Old Bridge to a 2–2 draw, highlighted by another monster showing from Sultana. He fired a 670 series and a 243 high game, one of the best individual performances of the week across any sport.
This team’s record doesn’t reflect the effort. The work ethic is there, and the pins are starting to fall.
🏀 Girls Basketball: Balanced, Confident, and Clutch
East Brunswick girls basketball continues to roll, picking up two impressive wins.
First came a 63–27 victory over South Brunswick, where the Bears controlled the game from the opening tip. Ava Catanho led the way with 16 points, while Julianna DelosSantos-Branson filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. It was a full-team effort with strong defense and unselfish offense.
Then came the thriller.
Against Piscataway, East Brunswick held on for a 56–54 win in a game that tested nerves and composure. Catanho delivered again with 17 points, and Sophia Tannura knocked down four three-pointers for 14 points. DelosSantos-Branson added big defensive plays late, helping seal a win that could loom large down the stretch.
This team is now 11–3 and playing with confidence, balance, and belief.
🏀 Boys Basketball: Staying Perfect and Staying Focused
The boys continued their dominant run with two convincing wins, pushing their record to 14–1.
A 56–46 win over South Plainfield showcased depth, as Matt Mikulka and Cam Vick each scored 15 points, while the Bears locked in defensively after a slow start.
That momentum carried into a statement win against Gov. Livingston, a 59–27 victory that was never in doubt. Mikulka hit four threes for 12 points, while Vick chipped in 11 as East Brunswick controlled the game from start to finish.
This team isn’t flashy for the sake of it. They’re disciplined, deep, and relentless.
🤼♀️ Girls Wrestling: Power, Precision, and Dominance
Girls wrestling continues to be one of the strongest stories in the program.
East Brunswick defeated Piscataway 41–6, with quick pins from Leilanni Huggins, Olivia Mitchell, Olivia Belen, and Isabella Jiminez, plus a technical fall by Emily Cuomo.
They followed it up with an impressive 37–24 win over Hillsborough, showing depth across weight classes. Huggins, Mitchell, Cuomo, and Emily Valencia Vargas all earned pins, while the team handled adversity in the middle weights to close strong.
At 10–2, this group is setting a standard every time they step on the mat.
🏊♀️🏊♂️ Swimming: Total Team Control
Both swimming programs delivered dominant performances.
The girls overwhelmed J.P. Stevens 124–46, winning event after event with standout swims from Katherine Kennedy, Lainee Su, Victoria Stewart, and multiple relay squads.
The boys were just as commanding, cruising past J.P. Stevens 127–43. Rachit Sakurikar, Andrew Machurov, Cole Eastep, and Alexander Maliev powered a lineup that controlled nearly every race.
Depth, conditioning, and preparation are clearly paying off in the pool.
Final Thought
Some teams are chasing championships. Some are fighting for every win. All of them are showing up, competing, and representing East Brunswick the right way.
Wins matter. Records matter. But heart, effort, and moments like that overtime goal or a clutch three-pointer are what kids and parents remember forever.
And this week? East Brunswick had plenty of those moments.
