Elite high school coaching staff will sponsor attractive camps this summer

The opportunity is rare—and quite fortunate—that is offered to the children in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

Five coaches from Bridgewater-Raritan High School will be sponsoring camps this summer for aspiring athletes.

A major attraction to attend these camps is the fact that that three of the coaches are hall of farmers while a fourth has enjoyed a distinguished coaching career and the fifth has just embarked on what is expected to be a highly successful journey.

Learning and defining skills under these five coaches is a privilege that is arguably unmatched in communities throughout New Jersey.

The three Bridgewater-Raritan High School coaches who will be sponsoring the summer camps and who have been inducted into the New Jersey State Coaches Association Hall of Fame are Chuck Apel, the boys’ lacrosse coach, Kathie DeBonis, the girls’ lacrosse and bowling coach, and Corey Romanak, who is the boys; volleyball coach and just returned as the girls’ volleyball skipper.

Gene McAteer, who has amassed a terrific career coaching boys’ basketball, will hold lessons during his camp for both boys and girls and the youngster in this stellar coaching group ,Xavier Brooks, who just completed his rookie season as the high school’s girls’ basketball coach, will instruct his camp for girl basketball players this summer.

Coach DeBonis shared a message for the families who are currently pursuing camps for their children.

“Our Bridgewater-Raritan camps are staffed by our high school head coaches who are experienced educators and offer a variety of fun and educational activities that will keep your child engaged and productive through the specific sport camp,’ Coach DeBonis said.

The leadoff batter in this all-star lineup will be the legendary Apel, who will supervise the 34th Annual 2 Knights Lacrosse Day Camp from June 26 through June 29 at Basilone Field in Bridgewater. This camp is open for boys who will be entering Grade 2 through 9.

Apel will also be the director of the 2023 Lacrosse Shooting Camp on July 5 and 6 for boys entering Grades 4 through 12 at Basilone Field.

 Coach Brooks will direct his Bridgewater-Raritan Girls Basketball Camp from June 26 through June 30 for girls who are entering Grades 4 through 9 at the high school’s main gym–Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium,

 "I am very excited to get the opportunity to work with the youth in the community. My goal for this camp is to help spark an interest in basketball or deepen the love for the game for the future Panthers,” Coach Brooks explained. “Throughout the week we will teach fundamental skills in a fun and competitive way through drills, competitions and 3 on 3 games.”

Sounds of bouncing balls from the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School will be heard throughout most of July when Coach McAteer directs the 2023 Bridgewater-Raritan Basketball Camp.

Coach McAteer will hold a 3-day Specialized Shooting School on July 5 through 7.

Then this high-profile basketball coach will coordinate three weeks of regular sessions: July 10-14, July 17-21 and July 24-28.

Coach McAteer promoted the camp with his statement here:

"This is 33 years of summer camp, teaching, coaching experience ... indoors, full-week, full-day, affordable.”

The Lady Panther Lacrosse Camp will be directed by Coach DeBonis and will be offered to girls in Grades 2 through 10 from July 17-20 at a field to be determined.

Coach Romanak once launched his camps to spread the game of volleyball.

Those camps eventually built what is today a superior volleyball program at the high school.

Coach Romanak will direct the 5th and 6th Grade volleyball Camp from July 17 through 21 and

Coach DeBonis provided this message to Bridgewater-Raritan families.

“Take advantage of this opportunity to give your child a summer camp that specialized in lacrosse, basketball and volleyball. Sign your child up to introduce them to the sport or become a stronger player all while having fun. Summer camp is a great way to keep children active, promote self-esteem and foster independence.”

Here is the link that provides details and information on how to register for all of the camps.

2023 CAMP BROCHURES COMBINED.pdf