"In sports & life you want to be giving it your all at all times. Don't hold back. Never get caught Striking Out Looking" ~ Unknown

(Pictured above is Rod Cocci & Coach Tweed. Rod was coached by Coach Tweed @ Central Regional & Monsignor Donovan High Schools. He went on to have a stellar track & field career @ Fordham University and is currently the throws coach @ Toms River High School North.)


Coach Tweed started coaching track and field in 1994 at Central Regional High School in Bayville, NJ. While at Central, Coach Tweed worked under Hall of Fame coach Steve Healey. His main responsibility was working with the field events, in particular the javelin.

Between 1996-2000, Coach Tweed was a member of the Lakewood High School coaching staff. During his time there he worked with both the boy's and girl's throwers. He was fortunate enough to be on staffs that won one state and conference title, as well as two county championships.

In 2001 Coach Tweed moved to New Egypt High School, where he helped establish the school's track & field program with coach Joe Jerabek. After one year he came to Manalapan to assist Dion Smith. Under the tutelage of Coach Smith, he learned what was needed in order to run a successful program.

Al Perka, Don Shrump, & Charlz Hester were assistants between 2004-2006 and offered valuable insight and had a tremendous impact on the program that is still felt in the program today.

Harry Neill, Nick Bruno, Bob Andrews, & Dave Hunt (Winter), are also part of the Braves Track & Field Family, and have had a profound impact on the program as well.

Some of coach's career highlights include:

2004: 4-2
2005: 4-2
2006: 5-1, A-North Champions
2007: 4-3, 3rd Place - Monmouth County Championships
2008: 5-2
(Winter) A- North Champs, 2nd Place - Monmouth County Championships
(Spring), 3rd Place - Monmouth County Championships

2009: 4-3
2010: 4-3
2011: 4-2
2012: 4-2
(Winter) – 2nd Place Shore Conference Championships
(Spring) – 2nd Place Monmouth County Championships, 2nd Place Shore Conference Championships

51 State Sectional Place Winners

58 County Place Winners

21 State Group Place Winners

18 FRHSD Champions (Joe Kircher – 2x, Steve Bachman – 2x, Mike Goldwassar - 2x, Joe Quintano, Adam Hegel – 2x, Robby Andrews - 3x, Jack Gilburn, Dunnel Ridore, Tom Buffone - 2x, Matt Gabor, KIngsley Prophete)

20 Shore Conference Place Winners

12 County Champs (Shanelle Gilliard, Lakewood Joe Kircher, Steve Bachman, Adam Hegel, Mike Goldwasser, Robby Andrews - 2x, George Catuogno, Anthony Mezna -3x, Jason Dijols Manalapan)

8 NJSIAA State Sectional Champs (Shanelle Gilliard, Lakewood & Robby Andrews - 6x, Anthony Menza Manalapan)

4 NJSIAA Meet of Champions Place Winners

3 NJSIAA State Group Champs (Shanelle Gilliard, Lakewood & Robby Andrews - 2x, Manalapan)

5 Shore Conference Champs

(Shanelle Gilliard @ Lakewood & Adam Hegel, Robby Andrews, Kingsley Prophete, Anthony Menza@, Manalapan)

3 NJSIAA State Champions (Mike Goldwasser, Robby Andrews (2x) – Manalapan)

5 County Relay Champion(s):

(Prophete/Gabor/Sparapani/Andrews)
(Farkas/Prophette/Harrison/Menza – SMR 2x)
(Catuogno/McCarron/Pellicano - Javelin)
(Andrews/Gabor/Propette/Sparapani – 4 x 1600m & 4 x 800m)

1 State Relay Champion(s)(Andrews/Menza/Sparapani/Prophette - DMR)

2 National Champions – Robby Andrews - 2x (2009 Indoor/Outdoor 800m)

2 All-Americans: Adam Hegel, Robby Andrews

Mr. Harold Neill has joined the Manalapan Braves Track & Field coaching staff. Coach Neill, a former head coach at Howell High School, brings a wealth of experience to the staff. At Howell, Coach Neill helped Lindsay Gallo win two state sectional titles and four county championships in the 1600m and 3200m. Miss Gallo would later go on to earn All-American honors twice while attending the University of Michigan.

His experience has added a sense of stability and consistency to those participating in the distance events. Additionally, Coach Neill also works with our hurdlers & jumpers.

Mr. Neill is a teacher in the Science & Engineering Department at Manalapan. His addition to the program has be felt. Under his direction, he has help to create a talented and deep distance corp.

Some of those individuals who have benefitted from his coaching include:

Jesse Eiseman - District Placewinner
Joe Kreppein - District, County, Conference, Section, Group Placewinner
Robby Andrews - District, County, Section, Group Champion

Coach Neill's experience & skill for creating lineups has been a key component of the team's recent success.

(Coach Andrews, Robby Andrews, and Coach Tweed after Robby won the 2009 Millrose Games)

Coach Andrews came on board during the 2006 season and made an immediate and lasting impact. A former athlete at UPenn and former college and high school head coach, his experience is extremely valuable.

During the winter of 2008-2009, he had the opportunity of coaching a Millrose Games Champion, 2x National Champion, and NJ State Champion....his son Robby Andrews.

Coach McLeod came on board in 2009 as a volunteer assistant for the indoor program. In 2010, she took the place of Coach Hunt after he stepped down. Coach McLeod works primarily with the Hurdlers and Jumpers. She helped Jason Dijols (2012) to a Monmouth County Championship in the 400IH and a 4th Place finish in the HH at the 2012 Meet of Champions.

Coach Philhower is responsible for the development of the Girls and Boys throwers. Coach Philhower has had numerous state, conference, and county place winners during his career. Most recently Tom Buffone (2010).

Coach High, a former Brave track athlete himself, currently volunteers his time mentoring and developing our jumpers amd sprinters. He has had two state sectional champions, one Shore Conference champion, a four Monmouth County champions during his brief career.