The opening bell will ring on Dec. 16 when the 2016-17 winter scholastic athletic season starts for boys’ and girls’ basketball, wrestling, boys’ and girls’ fencing and boys’ and girls’ indoor track and field.
Some winter sports started early this season, as boys’ and girls’ ice hockey, boys’ and girls’ swimming and boys’ and girls’ bowling all launched their seasons at the start of the month.
On Dec. 16, a plentiful basketball schedule is on the menu at high school gyms throughout the region.
On the boys’ basketball agenda …
Christian Brothers Academy, a perennial power, will open its season with a home game against Manalapan High School. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Another state power is Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen, which will be on its home court in Metuchen for a 7 p.m. game with East Brunswick High School.
The battle of Freehold will take place at Freehold Township High School, which will play as the host to neighboring Freehold High School at 5:30 p.m.
Two Greater Middlesex Conference rivals will meet when South Brunswick High School is home to Old Bridge High School at 7 p.m.
Another neighboring rivalry is scheduled when Colts Neck High School pays a call to Howell High School for a 4 p.m. game.
Long Branch High School will get its season started when the Green Wave visit Middletown High School South for a 5:15 p.m. opener.
The girls’ basketball schedule is filled with interesting matchups …
On Dec. 16, St. John Vianney High School — the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions winner last season — hits the road to Hazlet where the host, Raritan High School, awaits for a 3:45 p.m. game.
Red Bank Catholic High School is another team that has visions of state championships this winter. The Caseys will launch their campaign when they play at Middletown High School North at 5:15 p.m.
East Brunswick is also a program that points to the postseason tournaments, and the Bears open their season with a 7 p.m. home game against Edison High School.
Old Bridge hosts South Brunswick at 5:30 p.m.
On Dec. 17, Holmdel High School will take the journey north to face Matawan Regional High School at noon.
Colts Neck and Marlboro High School are two rivals that are always in the mix for championships when the tournaments open later in the season. These two will meet Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. in Marlboro.
Also on Dec. 20 is the dawn of a new coaching era at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. Legendary coach George Sourlis retired after 30 seasons at Rumson-Fair Haven and coaching now will be Dave Callahan, who had been an assistant on the school’s boys’ basketball team.
Callahan will guide Rumson-Fair Haven against the host team, Matawan, for a 5:15 p.m. game. Sourlis left with 653 victories and five group state championships during his career at Rumson-Fair Haven.
On to the wrestling mats …
A slew of area schools will gather to wrestle in the Icebreaker Tournament that will be held at Old Bridge High School Dec. 17.
Included in the field are host Old Bridge, Allentown High School, Jackson Liberty High School, Matawan and South River High School. Action begins at 9 a.m.
Also that day, Christian Brothers Academy will host the Colt Classic that gets underway at 9 a.m. in Lincroft.
The Colts will serve as the host to some solid out-of-area programs, such as High Point High School, Pascack Hills High School and Roselle Park High School. Toms River High School North from neighboring Ocean County will also be in the field.
