Downey and Houghtaling Recognize Freehold Athletes

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Freehold) presented the Freehold Township High School Varsity Boys Basketball and Girls Bowling Teams with legislative resolutions from the New Jersey State Assembly and State Senate recognizing their athletic accomplishments and remarkable season at a meeting of the Freehold Township Committee this Monday evening.

“We’re really honored to be among so much talent,” said Downey, as she appeared before the Freehold Township Committee to present the resolution to the victorious teams.

On March 4, the Freehold Township Patriots managed to hold onto a one-point lead to defeat Trenton High School 57-56, winning the Central Group IV crown. They then advanced to the semi-final, beating South Jersey Champions Cherokee High School by two points, and were only finally beaten by the heavily favored Newark East Side High School in the Group IV state final at Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway on March 9.

The Boys’ Varsity Basketball sectional title was a major turnaround for the team, which went 9-and-16 in the 2017-18 season with the same players who took the sectional title this year. The team improved its record by 15 wins in the 2018-19 season, a feat the Asbury Park Press described as “one of, if not the biggest turnarounds in the state over the past 12 months.”

On January 16, the Girls Bowling Team won the Group 3 Championship, besting last year’s winner, Warren Hills, with an overall team score of 2,678. The Patriots earned the second seed in the Baker Tournament and proceeded to victory over third-seeded Colts Neck, ending its winning season with an outstanding record of 940-875-863-2, 678.

The team, which had previously won a sectional title in each of its previous two seasons, found its competitive efforts paid off in this year’s season, finishing a stellar run in the upper tier of New Jersey girls’ bowling.

“Both of these outstanding teams have great success stories,” said Downey. “As the mother of two Freehold students, I couldn’t be prouder of these athletes’ incredible hard work and achievements. I am especially happy for basketball coach Brian Golub, whose years of experience and leadership have made possible remarkable things for his players. Bowling coach Brian Whitford, using the experience he previously gained as assistant coach, has clearly also done an outstanding job of inspiring and motivating his players to improve.”

“The drive and dedication of the athletes on both of these teams is remarkable,” said Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune), who serves alongside Downey in the State Assembly. “Their desire to bring their best to each and every game is a quality that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. It’s truly an honor to have young people as dedicated as them as residents of our district.”