East Brunswick families, this is the time of year where everything feels bigger. The games mean more. The crowds are louder. And our Bears are stepping up.
From the hardwood to the lanes, from the mat to the pool, there is a lot to be proud of this week.
🏀 Girls Basketball Is Peaking at the Right Time
The East Brunswick girls’ basketball team continues to show that this could be a special season.
After cruising past North Brunswick 68–30 in the first round, the Bears followed it up with a strong 59–31 quarterfinal win over Monroe.
And this wasn’t just one player carrying the load. This was depth. This was balance. This was confidence.
Julianna DelosSantos-Branson delivered 15 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. That is a complete performance.
Zoey Aleixo knocked down three threes on her way to 14 points.
Ava Catanho added 12 points and 3 blocks.
Ava Krzywdzinski dished out 9 assists and controlled the tempo.
Sophia Tannura chipped in 9 points.
Parents, you can feel it. The chemistry is there. The defense is locked in. The ball movement is sharp. This team appears to be building toward something bigger.
They are on their way.
🏀 Boys Basketball: A Tough Quarterfinal Test
The boys ran into a tough St. Thomas Aquinas team and dropped a hard-fought 74–66 quarterfinal game.
But this group battled.
Matt Mikulka was electric with 26 points, hitting six threes and keeping the Bears within reach.
Cam Vick added 19 points and continues to be the steady presence this team leans on.
Dylan McLean contributed 8.
Andrew Caruso added 5.
It did not go their way this time. But if you watched it, you saw the fight. This is a team that has already shown what it is capable of this season. One tough loss does not define them.
🤼♀️ Girls Wrestling Continues to Dominate
The girls’ wrestling team keeps rolling.
A 57–12 win over Carteret.
A 51–17 win over Plainfield.
Pins came fast and often.
Faith Marie Soto recorded a pin in under a minute.
Adriane Patino secured a fall in just 19 seconds.
Olivia Belen, Anna Kripak, Isabella Jiminez and Emily Valencia Vargas all earned pins.
This team is not just winning. They are overwhelming opponents. The strength, the conditioning, the confidence — it is all there.
🎳 Bowling: Big Performances on the Lanes
The boys bowling team advanced with a 2–0 win over Old Bridge in the quarterfinals, posting 1,823 total pins.
Tyler Sultana rolled a 224 high game and finished with a 418 set.
Francisco Nono added a 402 set.
Evan Balazs contributed 384.
On the girls side, the team dropped a close match to Monroe, but Seoyun Shin led the way with a 328 set and a 169 high game.
There is serious talent in this program.
🏊♀️ Girls Swimming Captures the Title
The girls swim team delivered a 105–65 win over Rancocas Valley in the Central Group A final.
Kaileigh Kennedy, Katherine Kennedy, Lainee Su and Reagan Umbach led the way with multiple first-place finishes.
The 400 free relay team of Kaileigh Kennedy, Reagan Umbach, Lainee Su and Katherine Kennedy closed the meet in dominant fashion.
They are deep. They are fast. And they are peaking at exactly the right time.
🏒 Ice Hockey Keeps Competing
The hockey team fell to Lacey 8–2, but there were bright spots.
James Tomasini found the back of the net.
Sebastian Whyte added a goal.
Leo Lefebvre, Brayden Faley, Conner Williamson and Colin Napp each recorded assists.
This group continues to compete, even against strong opponents.
The Big Picture
Here is what stands out:
The girls’ basketball team looks ready to make a run.
The boys’ basketball team is battle-tested.
Girls’ wrestling is dominant.
Bowling is producing strong individual performances.
Swimming is bringing home championships.
Hockey continues to fight.
This is what a healthy athletic program looks like. Effort. Depth. Leadership. Momentum.
And if this week is any indication, East Brunswick winter sports are far from finished.
