The Ocean Star du lieu suivant : Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey • 43

PAGE 43 Kirschner takes lessons learned in Boro to D.C. THE OCEAN STAR, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009 By Adam Hochron Since his time as a Boro student athlete, Glenn Kirschner has gone a long way both in, and for, his career. Before graduating from the Boro in 1979, Kirschner, now 48, was a member of the Panther football and wrestling teams. At Point Pleasant Borough High School, Kirschner said he learned a great deal, not only from his teachers, but also from legendary coaches Al Saner and Ed Gilmore. Since that time, Kirschner has attended Washington and Lee University in Virginia and served in the Army's JAG Corp, before arriving at his current post with the U.S.

Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Having played for two of the most successful Panther coaches in the history of the school, Kirschner said the lessons they taught him have helped take him to where he is today. "They were both terrific coaches, terrific men, and they both had the intention of teaching kids how to be successful in life, not just on the field and on the mat," Kirschner recalled, of Saner and Gilmore. "I had great respect for both of them." With his father, Lou, a successful football and wrestling coach at Neptune, among other schools in New Jersey, Kirschner said it seemed natural for him to get involved in those two sports, wrestling and football, as a high school athlete. "I kind of grew up as a young kid on the sidelines, or attending wrestling meets," he said.

His competitive wrestling career started when he was in sixth grade, while his football career did not officially take off until his freshman year in high school. Though he took his football talents to the college level, Kirschner said he sometimes wishes he had gone with wrestling instead. "I wanted to devote my offseason to the weight room and the offseason football program," he said. His devotion to the gridiron and the weight room contributed to Kirschner's transition from wide receiver as a freshman to the team's starting center as a junior and a senior. The former Panther joked that, as he started to get bigger in the weight room, being a receiver became harder.

"I was a heck of a receiver, except I was very slow and couldn't catch," he joked. Moving to the offensive line was a natural fit, and his experiences there were similar to his time on the mat, as he battled to protect his backfield. "I really enjoyed being down in the trenches," Kirschner said. After graduating from New England Law School in 1987, Kirschner got his wish, as he was accepted into the JAG Corp, where he got more training related specifically to military law before being assigned to Fort Richardson in Alaska. Going from the Jersey Shore to Anchorage, Alaska was something of a shock, but Kirschner said the weather in Anchorage was, fortunately, not as cold as it could have been, had he been assigned to some other parts of the state.

The weather aside, Kirschner said he was glad to be able to get right into the courtroom, rather than have to wait his turn to litigate at a private firm. "Fresh out of law school, I was thrown into the courtroom handling significant prosecutorial matters," he said. "You really have the opportunity to get significant criminal experience right out of the blocks." What started out as four-year commitment to the Army turned into nearly seven years, which wrapped up with time at the Army Government Appellate Division in Falls Church, Va. After deciding he did not want to be a career officer, Kirschner took a job in 1994 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the nation's capitol, where he was hired by current Attorney General Eric Holder.

One of the things that most intrigued Kirschner about the D.C. office is the fact that, unlike other state attorneys' offices, his handles not only the federal cases, but is also involved in local matters. When he decided to focus on being a homicide prosecutor, Kirschner said he got the chance to learn from another talented person, Robert Mueller, who was then the chief of the homicide division, and is now the director for the FBI. That transition happened in 1997, and the former Panther now holds Mueller's former job. Dealing with some of the worst criminals the district has to offer, Kirschner said the job has lots of highs and lows.

"It's emotionally draining sometimes, but it's revitalizing, because you're bringing killers to justice, and trying to give families some sense that the system is there to work for them," he said. At the end of the work day, Kirschner comes home to his wife of 25 years, Tracy, and the couple's five daughters: Kate, 20, Kelly, 18, Megan, 16, Molly, 14, and Emma, 13. Even now, 30 years later, Kirschner said he keeps the lessons he learned at the Boro with him and still enjoys the occasional trip back to his alma mater. During those trips, the former Panther said he likes to "walk the halls and walk the field, and quietly reminisce to myself." Photo Courtesy of WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY Point Boro grad Glenn Kirschner, seen here during his time with the Washington and Lee University football team in the early 1980s, was inducted into the college's hall of fame earlier this year, after starting at center for three seasons. (Taxitor's On the mats, Kirschner started his career as a 141 wrestler, but was up to 188 before his time with the Panthers was done.

But, when came time to decide on the next step in his athletic career, Kirschner said he saw uprights and not singlets. "I knew I wanted to play college ball, but I also never really aspired to play pro ball," he said. "I wanted to get my college degree and spend some time serving my country." With the military as a goal, Kirschner said he considered going to the three military academies, and also got recruited to play football by Penn and Cornell. In the end, Kirschner was wooed by a random recruiting visit from Washington and Lee's Gary Fallon, who had only been at the school a couple of years, but ended up leading the program for almost three decades after he met Kirschner. Kirschner said the coach had -J DOCKSIDE GRILLE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER WORLDS BEST HALF-POUND BURGERS HAND SLICED RIB EYE CHEESE STEAKS HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK CHICKEN FINGERS HOMEMADE SOUPS-FRESH SALADS BREAKFAST SERVED DAILY UNTIL 12 NOON DAILY DINNER SPECIALS him sold on Washington and Lee in no time flat.

"Within five minutes, I was convinced I was going to Washington and Lee," he recalled. Fallon, a former Marine himself, had the military background Kirschner was looking for, but he also had the football pedigree, having played for the Minnesota Vikings and been a standout at Syracuse University. "He was just the kind of guy that you automatically wanted to play football for," Kirschner said. After seeing some playing time as a freshman, Kirschner started at center the next three years, before graduating in 1984 with a degree in journalism. While he did not intend to work as a journalist, Kirschner said he had his sights set on being a military lawyer, specifically a prosecutor, and he believed the same skills that help a reporter gather information would also help him in his career.

COME RELAX BY OUR FIREPLACE 1671 BEAVER DAM ROAD, PT.PLEASANT,NJ 732-899-0300 (Located in Arnold's Yacht Basin) Open til Wednesday through Sunday Polish Italian Gourmet COLD LASER THERAPY A painless, non-invasive treatment, which is used to treat a variety of pain and neurological symptoms Most effective and FDA approved for: Carpal Tunnel Arthritis BackNeck pain Tennis Elbow Plantar Fascitis NOW IS YOUR TIME TO QUIT SMOKING If you have tried patches, gum, drugs such as chantix, and have failed call us today and find out about our cold laser treatment. This special laser technique has been used in Europe and Canada for well over 10 years with a 75 to 80 success rate! This laser uses the body's own natural detoxifying process to help you quit with out any side effects! Call Today! BEACH From Page 37 fourth year, looking to help make the Beach a known entity in the Shore Conference and the state. This time around, it is Gourley, the four-year starter, and fellow senior Kaitlyn Wiater, who are leading a group of younger players, as the Lady Gulls bring back four of their five starters from last season. The other returning players include junior Lauren Romao and sophomore Brianna Feerst, the coach's daughter, who each have at least one year of varsity experience they can put toward their efforts this year. During the 2008-2009 season, the Lady Gulls did well overall, as they posted a 15-9 record, including going 7-5 in the Central division.

Coach Feerst said he knows his team is still young, but ultimately believes they can, once again, be competitive in Central play. While Gourley has the most varsity experience, Coach Feerst said they will need all the players to come together as the season goes along. "The four of them play very well together, and a fifth starter will come about," he said. "I think that the beauty of the team is, we're going to look for Madison being the leader, but then you've got Lauren, who will be the leading scorer some nights," Coach Feerst added. With the graduation of forward Justy Daley last spring, the Lady Gulls lost a powerful force up front, but Coach Feerst said Wiater has worked to improve her inside game, to help fill the gap that Daley left behind.

In her first year with the Lady Gulls, Brianna Feerst showed the potential to be a strong varsity player, but the coach said those talents should show even brighter this season, especially when it comes to her fitness level and abilities on offense and defense. Open 8am-6pm Sun. 8am-2pm Holiday Gift Baskets Holiday Menu Available 406 Higgins Avenue Brielle 732-292-9888 732-292-9402 (fax) "The four of them compliment each other very well as a team," he said. In addition to the four returning starters, Coach Feerst also has three members from last year's team back, who figure to play key roles for the squad, depending on the situation. That group includes seniors Kaitlyn Burcz and Courtney Lenahan, as well as junior Jess Yori.

He may not have the tallest girls on the court, but the Beach coach said he believes his team has the talent to go up against the best teams their schedule has to offer. "We're not overly big, but I think we make up for it with quickness," he said. "All of them rebound the ball, and we're going to try to fast-pace it a little. We're going to try to get up the floor, and we're going to have to full-court press." Helping out with that new, fast-paced offense figures to be a key newcomer this season in freshman Candice Romao. Coach Feerst said she will likely see time up front with Wiater, as she gets to know the high school varsity game.

If the Lady Gulls can work together, the coach said he sees good things coming for the Beach team, including a return to the state tournament and getting past the second-round exit they made last year. As far as the division goes, Coach Feerst said that, while his team is in good shape to be among the top public schools in the Central, schools like Mater Dei and St. Rose will still give the Lady Gulls all they can handle, if they are to finish at the top of the division standings. The Lady Gulls are scheduled to face St. Rose for the first time next Tuesday, when the Purple Roses come to town for a 6:30 game.

Their first game against the Seraphs is set for Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m., on the road. Key Returning Players: Madison Gourley, Kaitlyn Wiater, Lauren Romao, Brianna Feerst Key Newcomers: Candice Romao Team outlook: The Point Beach girls basketball team brings back four of its five regular starters this year, which should put them in position to make another run into the South Jersey Group I Tournament. The Beach will also be a contender in the Central standings. wwwxateredbychefs.com Ch ken Orn Bk iVnrK- with Shrimp Sh i ni i ii i I ih PkiiKi Point Beach Girls Basketball CVTLMNii KOEl ALL OK VOl El jjhiftirftw' jJfiififr.i, OR LTS, THI-Y ARK ilk-RLiihiniiioij A .1:1 ri 1 A II --T- iiV 1 I'.

lll: --t :i.n ii1, 2009-10 Schedule 1218 Henry Hudson 4 p.m. 1222 vs. St. Rose 6:30 p.m. 1228,29 Holiday Tournament TBA 15 vs.

Keansburg 5:15 p.m. 18 Asbury Park 4 p.m. 112 Pinelands 6:30 p.m. 114 vs. Keyport 5:15 p.m.

116 Mater Dei 10 a.m. 119 vs. Henry Hudson 5:15 p.m. 122 St. Rose 7 p.m.

126 vs. Mater Dei 5:15 p.m. 129 Keansburg 5:15 p.m. 22 vs. Asbury Park 4 p.m.

23 Long Branch 5 p.m. 29 Keyport 5:15 p.m. 218 Barnegat 6:30 p.m. 222 vs. OCCA 4 p.m.

1 hi- -IT" I i 'tf I K.i I- r-. -1 -1 1 11 1.