Cross country: Shore girls win state title for coach battling cancer
HOLMDEL – When she started hurting on the cross country course, which is inevitable when you’re racing 3.1 miles through the woods, Shore Regional High School senior Megan Donlevie glanced at the inside of her right forearm.
There, written in bold marker, were the initials “MMP.”
That stands for “Make Mel Proud,” a reference to longtime Blue Devils coach Mel Ullmeyer, who is battling stage-four prostate cancer.
“Every time we think it’s hard, we think about how he’s here with us and it’s just amazing,” Donlevie said.
The 66-year-old Ullmeyer was there at Holmdel Park Saturday, watching the program he built into a power over three decades win a sixth NJSIAA Group 1 title, probably the most meaningful of them all. He’s bounced back remarkably from last year at this time, when he received news of the Blue Devils’ state title in a hospital bed.
“Last year I cried when I was laying in bed,” he said, fighting back tears. “I’m probably going to cry later today. Great group of kids – I love them.”
The feeling is mutual.
“This time it’s even more special,” said Donlevie, who led the charge by winning the gold medal. “We just wanted him to see it in person, and I’m so glad we could do that today.”
The Rutgers-bound Donlevie traversed the course in a time of 19 minutes, 36 seconds, crossing the line six seconds ahead of runner-up Meghan Lex of Haddon Township. Also scoring for Shore were junior Jacqueline Gifford (12th place, 21:20), sophomore Lillian Flor (20th, 21:54), freshman Milla Scalise (25h, 22:07) and sophomore Shannon Loehr (28th, 22:21). They tallied 75 points, 22 better than second-place Metuchen.
“I’m super proud of everyone,” Donlevie said. “Nothing is guaranteed, so to be able to do this, it means everything.”
The tradition of inscribing “MMP” on their arms began last year at this meet. It resumed at last week’s sectionals and will continue next Saturday at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, which is also at Holmdel. Last fall, with Ullmeyer sidelined, assistant coach Jack Tarpey guided the program seamlessly. Now Tarpey has taken the lead role, with Ullmeyer providing support.
“You get some coaches who come in to pick up a paycheck – he loves the sport,” Ullmeyer said of Tarpey. “I didn’t want to leave and have someone take over who doesn’t know what’s going on. I feel so comfortable having him take over. With everything that’s happened, this is one thing I didn’t have to worry about. I love the guy.”
Moving forward, Ullmeyer said, he plans to step back into a volunteer coaching role. He wants to travel with his wife and check off some bucket-list items. He certainly was savoring the moment Saturday.
“I feel good,” he said “Some days I feel like crap and some days I feel great. A year ago, death loomed over. It didn’t look good. I came out of rehab in a wheelchair and had to learn how to walk again.”
Coaches like to preach about toughness, resiliency, gumption. Ullmeyer doesn’t have to say a word.
“It’s been a dream come true to coach with someone like Mel,” Tarpey said.
On Saturday, just beyond the finish line, Ullmeyer and Tarpey gathered the girls into a post-race huddle. The teens fell church-quiet as Ullmeyer told them how proud he was. He would have said it no matter the outcome.
The truth is, legacy is not measured by trophies alone.
“Having coaches who care so much about the girls,” Donlevie said, “it makes being on this team great.”
More history for Freehold Township girls
The dream season continues for the Patriots, who captured their first state title in runaway fashion, simply dominating Group 4. It started with junior Emma Zawatski breaking the tape in 18:44, the second-fastest time across all groups and a whopping 44 seconds ahead of the next-closest finisher in the race.
Junior Ava Biemuller (sixth place, 19:53), sophomore Leah Rutledge (24th, 20:39), junior Heather Feinstein (28th, 20:42) and sophomore Sophia Briggs (43rd, 21:14) did the rest of the scoring for the Patriots, who romped the field with 67 points (runner-up Ridgewood tallied 144). Freehold Township’s average time of 20:14 was the fourth-fastest across all groups.
“It’s incredible; as a team we hadn’t won any championships until this year,” Zawatski said. “We always say, whatever we do today, it’s going to be a first in school history.”
The Patriots have captured Monmouth County, Shore Conference, Central Group 4 and now state Group 4 crowns. Where are all these newfound trophies going? Head coach Todd Briggs is stashing them out of sight.
“Every time we win something he says, ‘This trophy is going in the closet,’” Zawatski said. “He hides it from us so we can’t see it. He says, ‘What does this trophy mean if you can’t win the next one?’”
Translation: There’s more work to do. Zawatski understands. Still, she said, “I can’t wait to see them.”
CBA, Barrett win Non-Public A title
The Colts avenged a second-place finish to Union Catholic in 2021 with a dominant showing, scoring 31 points and averaging a blistering 16:06. Union Catholic placed second with 62 points.
CBA sophomore Joe Barrett continued his rapid rise, capturing the gold medal in 15:43, the sixth-fastest time in program history and two seconds faster than runner-up Collin Boler of Delbarton. Also scoring for CBA were senior Nick Sullivan (third place, 15:53), junior Jack Falkowski (seventh, 16:13), senior Lucas Ward (ninth, 16:20) and senior Zach Shroba (11th, 16:21).
Sixth and seventh runners Alex Kemp (12th, 16:28) and Conor Clifford (13th, 16:30) illustrated the Colts’ awesome depth and reinforced why they are the favorite to win the Meet of Champions.
More champions
Red Bank Catholic senior Cate DeSousa defended her Non-Public A girls title with a time of 18:42, finishing 12 seconds ahead of runner-up Lindsay Hausman of Kent Place. DeSousa’s time was the fastest of the day across all groups.
St. Rose senior Tilly O’Connor defender her Non-Public B girls crown in 19:01, 16 seconds ahead of runner-up Emma Bradley of St. Elizabeth.
The St. Rose boys won Non-Public B for the first time since 2001. Senior Tyler Ferlise (third place, 17:46), sophomore Matthew Ern (14th, 18:57), senior Simon Advento (18th, 19:06), senior Jackson Danley (20th, 19:09) and senior Timothy Clayton (23rd, 19:17) did the scoring.
Top Shore Conference times
Top Girls Individuals: 1. Cate DeSousa (Red Bank Catholic) 18:42; 2. Emma Zawatski (Freehold Township) 18:44; 3. Tilly O’Connor (St. Rose) 19:07; 4. Ivy Slavinski (Point Pleasant Borough) 19:23; 5. Jessica Abbott (Toms River North) 19:35; 6. Megan Donlevie (Shore Regional) 19:36; 7. Julie Shanes (Rumson-Fair Haven) 19:39; 8. Ava Bielmuller (Freehold Township) 19:53; 9. Dylan Clancy (Manasquan) 20:00; 10. Emma Luo (Marlboro) 20:04.
Top Boys Individuals: 1. Joe Barrett (CBA) 15:43; 2. Nick Sullivan (CBA) 15:53; 3. Jack Falkowski (CBA) 16:13; 4. Fabian Ramales (Southern) 16:19; 5. Lucas Ward (CBA) 16:20; 6. Zach Shroba (CBA) 16:21; 7. Alex Kemp (CBA) 16:28; 8. Nicholas Loffredo (Manchester) 16:29; 9. Conor Clifford (CBA) 16:30; 10. Andrew Bowker (Southern) 16:38.
Top Girls Teams: 1. Freehold Township 20:14; 2. Red Bank Catholic 20:49; 3. Rumson-Fair Haven 20:54; 4. Point Pleasant Borough 21:22; 5. Shore Regional 21:27.
Top Boys Times: 1. CBA 16:06; 2. Southern 16:59; 3. Colts Neck 17:26; 4. Manalapan 17:27; 5. Rumson-Fair Haven 18:03.
Race for a cause
Runners looking to extend their season and race for a good cause have a unique option in Brick next Saturday. The inaugural “River Rock ‘N Run Relay” will take place Nov. 12, 9 a.m. at the River Rock Restaurant in Brick and raise funds for Fulfill, the food bank of Monmouth and Ocean counties.
This is a two-person relay race, with each partner running a 1.5-mile loop along the Manasquan River. The event is organized by South Brunswick assistant track coach Adam Nalven. Entry fee is $25 per runner for a relay, $20 per student (through 12th grade), and $30 for a solo runner (doing the full 5K course) and includes post-race food, a T-shirt and eligibility for custom-made awards.
For more information or to register, visit raceforum.com/riverrock. Any questions can be sent to runriverrock@gmail.com.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Cross country: Shore girls win state title for coach battling cancer
