By Rich Chrampanis
COLTS NECK – Six-foot-six athletic sophomores are usually household names in the world of high school basketball. Volodymyr “Vova” Trotsko soon will be, making an impact on the court for Colts Neck High School just four months after arriving in Monmouth County as a refugee from Ukraine.
The 17 year old is a quick study on the court, but even more so in his new life, learning English for the first time. Vova lives with Vlad Syzonako who translates for him as he adjusts to life in America.
“He came here because of the war in Ukraine,” Syzonako said. “He first went to Poland and now he lives in our house and is looking for a better career here. He likes the school and his teammates are his new friends and says thanks to coach because without him he would never make it.”
Coach Steve Jannarone saw right away the immense potential in his newest player and realized that it’s a process to help Vova adjust on and off the court.“What we’re having trouble with is that it took him almost two and a half weeks to tell us that he never knew how to play in the post,” Jannarone said. “He was a two guard who played out in the perimeter over in the Ukraine. He’s gonna be a great player. Physically, he’s such a specimen, his athleticism is off the charts and he’s a really hard-working kid.”
Vova comes off the court often so the Colts Neck staff can give him direct coaching. Day by day, he is getting comfortable learning a new language. Adjusting to varsity basketball is one thing, learning a new way of life after escaping war puts things in perspective. The Shore’s newest big man stays in contact with his family and is getting plenty of support from his new teammates. “He’s an awesome kid,” junior guard Dom Boninato said. “He came here not knowing a lot of English but he’s grown as a person. He’s very mature and we love having him around as a teammate and a friend.”
Google Translate is a big part of the Colts Neck playbook these days; fortunately, playing basketball breaks any language barrier.
“We talk every day at practice and that’s helping us learn English better,” Syzonako said. The entire Colts Neck community has seen Vova flourish on and off the court. He is averaging 18 points a game since the start of the new year helping the Cougars to an 8-3 season through Jan. 14.
“He said he was sorry because he was so nervous,” Jannarone said when recalling Vova’s debut at Colts Neck. “We had a nice crowd, but it wasn’t a huge crowd. He said he never played in front of more than 10 or 15 people. He’s gradually relaxing and each game he’s getting better and better.”
The article originally appeared in the January 19 – 25, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
