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Sports

Coach: Falcon Golf Team Has Some First-Class Athletes

One team member ranked sixteenth in New Jersey.

The Falcons begin their 2011 campaign knowing they have two of the best golfers in the area in Ryan Snouffer and Dan Oliver. As for the rest of the team, well that, according to 22-year head coach John Cinotti, is a big “unknown.”

“I have two real good golfers who are back from last year and then a lot of unknowns. Even though some of these players are juniors and seniors I still use the term ‘unknown’ because it’s their first time getting varsity experience,” said Cinotti.

The 2010 squad posted an impressive 25-2 record last year. They were undefeated (14-0) in the American Division of the NJAC and placed fourth in the Group 2 state tournament. They won the Mt. Olive Classic, placed second at the High Bridge Hills Tournament and placed second in the NJAC tournament behind Delbarton. Their only two loses came at the last match of the season in a tri-meet with West Morris Mendham and West Morris Central.

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According to Cinotti, Snouffer brings a “complete game” to the course every time he shows up.  Only a junior, Snouffer begins his third year as a varsity golfer.

“He is one of the top players to watch in the state. He works on his game all the time. He has really matured into a first-class athlete,” said Cinotti.

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Dan Oliver is another three-year returning golfer for the Falcons. According to Cinotti, Oliver has really stepped it up from last year, playing in many summer and fall tournaments on his own. Cinotti compliments Oliver as being a “real student on the game.”

Cinotti is hoping one or all of his seniors, Nick Dennis, Pat Healy or Mike Monarque emerge from the pack to help the team. He does have six underclassmen who are showing promise despite the weather and who have not yet played a single round of golf this season. 

Five golfers are missing from this year’s squad, none bigger than Pat Donegan, the Falcons' leading scorer in 2010. Donegan placed first twice in tournament play. He was a first-team selection in both the conference and the county. He’s attending County College of Morris played golf in the fall season.

Nick Dwyer was a four-year starter for the Falcons. According to Cinotti he had an outstanding senior year. Three others, Gary Gamble, Chris Sopti and Rich Thompson, all also had a solid showing their senior year.

“I like our work ethic,” said Cinotti. “They work hard, they have a good attitude and they’re all very coachable. We have good chemistry. They all seem to get along well.  Our big key is if the kids can stand up and handle the pressure,” he added.

“Hopefully we’re going to follow up on last’s years performance,” said Dennis. “We have three seniors, two good juniors and a couple of freshmen that look good,” he added.

“We had a lot of momentum going through last season. After beating Pope John that really set us off,” said Snouffer, who is ranked #16 in the Junior PGA in New Jersey. “We have a good group of freshmen and sophomores and we really need people to step up and hopefully have as good a season as last year.”

“Even though we lost some really good golfers from last year I think we have a lot of young golfers who will step up. They want to prove they want to be on varsity. I think they will step up,” said Oliver.

“I’d like to become a lot better this season and if I was ever able to do something for the team that would be awesome,” said Monarque, a stand-out wrestler who joined the golf team last year at the urging of wrestling teammate and fellow golfer Healy. Monarque will be attending and wrestling at Centenary College.

“I think we have the potential to match last year,” said Healy. He will be wrestling at Rhode Island College next year.

Roster

Nick Dennis

Pat Healy

Mike Monarque

Ryan Snouffer

Dan Oliver

Ryan Higgins

Jack Crayne

Mike Staples

Ryan Sylvester

Joe Moretti

Vincent Cannarozzi

CJ Romano

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