H.S. athletes honored by N.B. Board of Ed.
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Four student athletes were honored by the Board of Education on Jan. 23.

Michael Cole, a junior, became the first football player at the township high school to be honored on The Associated Press' All-State football team since Michael Roseborough in 2000. He led the team in sacks and tackles on defense, according to a statement read by Superintendent Brian Zychowski.

Cole has been named to the Associated Press' 3rd team All-State, and was also part of the All-White Division, the All-Greater Middlesex Conference, the 1st Team Home News All-Area, the 1st Team All-County, the 1st Team All-State Group 4 and the 3rd Team All-State All Group.

Cole was invited to the U.S. Army All- American Combine in San Antonio at the beginning of the month and is being recruited by numerous Division I colleges including Boston College and the University of Virginia.

He is currently interested in a career in either criminal justice or business.

"When you go to work it is a great day when you are with people who are dedicated and who are positive," said football coach Mark Zielinski.

Senior Pushaun Brown is a three-year varsity letter winner of the Raider Football Program, and had one of the finest seasons in the history of the football team as he led the team to a second place finish in the GMC White Division, according to Zychowski.

On three occasions, he broke the alltime single game rushing record for the high school, finally posting 376 yards versus Old Bridge on Nov. 11. During a victorious Thanksgiving Day game versus South Brunswick, he finished the year by breaking the single season rushing record, finishing with 1,902 yards. His total Raider career record is 2,706 yards.

After the season, Brown was honored in the All-White Division, the All-Greater Middlesex Conference, the 1st Team Home News All-Area, the 1st Team All- County, and the 1st TeamAll-State Group 4.

On Jan. 17 he was named to the New Jersey Super 100 Football Team, which is comprised of the top 100 players in New Jersey, Zychowski said.

Brown accepted a full scholarship to the University of Maine, where he hopes to pursue a career in business.

"Pushaun, for one, has put himself in a position where he is eligible to accept a scholarship," Zielinski said of his academic and athletic achievements.

Ibrahim Kamara, also a senior, moved from Sierra Leone in the spring of 2004 to North Brunswick.

He became a four-year varsity letter winner and was the captain of the 2007 boy's soccer team. He was the 2007 leading scorer with 27 goals and 16 assists.

This year, his team finished with 19 wins and 2 losses, with Kamara scoring 10 game-winning goals.

He became the leading scorer in North Brunswick High School's history with 84 goals and 32 assists for a total of 200 points, and he led his team to the bestever four-year record of 72 wins and 11 losses.

During his four years as a starting varsity player, his teams finished with two Red Division titles, one White Division title, two county championships and a Central Jersey Group IV Sectional Title, Zychowski said.

Kamara has been named four times All-White Division, All-County and 1st Team All-State by the Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey. He also received several Player of the Year honors.

He will be attending Rutgers University in the fall on a full athletic scholarship.

"We're just really proud of how our kids come into our school as young athletes … and get to the point where they can represent us at this high level," coach Stan Williston said. "Look at what North Brunswick can do both on the field and in the classroom."

Rachel Pearce, another senior, bowled a 576 series and placed ninth after the first round of the GMC individual bowling tournament. The top 40 athletes returned for the second round, where Pearce bowled a 676 series to give her a two-day total of 1,252 points, moving her into second place overall, Zychowski said.

The top five girls then competed in a head to head stepladder battle, the superintendent continued. Pearce had to win two games to win the championship: in the first game she beat the fifth-place finisher with a 204 to 164 score; against the no. 1 seed, she had her best game of the tournament and won with a 247 to 184 score.

Zychowski said the girls team is in the middle of its most successful season, and that Pearce is a large part of their success. He said she will end her bowling career at the high school as the most decorated female bowler since the team was established.

Pearce will pursue a career in physical therapy once graduating.

"She has been a leader since freshman year and our best bowler for four years. She's been really special and I'm sorry to see her go," her coach Paul LaMagra said.

Diver Chelsea Glincman and swimmer Gabrielle Alicino will be honored next month.