Shore Sports Network Journal High School Sports by Shore Sports Network Journal

October 7, 2014 Volume-VI Issue-18

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

Thursday, 7-8:30 on 1160 & 1310AM and www.shoresportsnetwork.com.

The only weekly radio and online show that covers Monmouth and Ocean County High School Football.

Award-winning broadcasters Kevin Williams, Matt Harmon and Ed Sarluca cover the entire Shore Conference from Matawan to Pinelands. Broadcast live from Baker’s Water Street Bar & Grille in Toms River, the weekly show features players, coaches, special segments with Scott Stump and a preview of upcoming games.

The first thing fans, players, coaches and parents want to know after the big game is always,

”Is this going to be on

Shore Sports Network has established itself as a leader in scholastic sports coverage in Monmouth and Ocean counties, providing more video highlight clips, in-depth reporting, feature stories and regular updates than ANY OTHER OUTLET in the area.

”

Shore Sports Network Website Features SteveMeyer

Shore Sports Network Director High School Division steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com 7 3 2 - 2 3 3 - 4 4 6 0

ScottStump

Managing Editor

stump@allshoremedia.com

Senior C ontent Providers MattManley // Mmanley21@gmail.com BobBadders // badders@allshoremedia.com

Shore Sports Network Journal

is published by: T o w n s q u a r e M e d i a

8 Robbins Street Toms River, NJ 08753

n Get Video Highlights of all the important games

that Shore Conference fans will be talking about.

n Catch up on the action you might have missed

n Watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes.

n www.shoresportsnetwork.com is the most visited sports site in the Shore Conference during the scholastic year

n Follow us on Twitter (over 16,000 followers) and Facebook, we keep fans posted on the latest scores and news

n Established leading portal for local high school coverage.

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

Lion Hearts: Jackson Liberty Pulls Upset L akewood came into its home game against Jackson

By John Bush – Shore Sports Network contributor

Liberty on Friday afternoon looking to get to 4-0 for the first time in 12 years while maintaining control of first place in Class B South.

Instead, it was the Lions who emerged with an upset victory to turn the division race into a free-for-all.

Lions junior quarterback Ryan Van Wickle threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Brett Ribellino while the defense added a safety as Jackson Liberty held off Lakewood for a 9-8 victory. The Lions’ win allowed Point Boro to claim sole possession of first place in the division with its victory over Manchester on Friday night, with four teams right behind the Panthers, tied for second in the loss column.

“It feels good to get a win, back to .500,” Van Wickle said. “Hopefully we can just spring off this win and win out the rest of our season, which I think we can.” “Everybody thought we were going to come

into this game, we were going to lose,” Ribellino said. “We knew differently. We knew we were going to come into this game, play as a team. We fought all week as a team, we won as a team, we got the win, that’s what we came here to do.” Jackson Liberty (2-2, 2-1) was inspired by more than just getting back into the division race. On Wednesday, Lions sophomore lineman Chase Holden, who plays on the jayvee team, left practice when he learned his father had died. After the game was over Friday, the Lions gave Holden the game ball.

“The kids played for him,” Jackson Liberty coach Jim Sharples said. “He showed up today, he came out to the field and participated on the sideline and inspired the kids, the kids played inspired. There’s a family atmosphere around, and I saw it this week.

“(On Wednesday), he went home with his mother, and got on his bike and came back before practice ended and he addressed the team and it was very emotional. I’m very emotional about it. That’s why we do this, that’s why we coach.” Against Lakewood (3-1, 3-1), Jackson

Liberty’s offense struggled throughout the first half as both teams played to a scoreless tie. Van Wickle then opened the third quarter with a 23-yard completion to senior receiver Ryan Brennan, and the Lions were on their way to a 7-play, 92-yard touchdown drive.

Ribellino made his first catch with a diving 23-yarder to the Piners’ 41, and soon followed with an even more spectacular play. With the Lions facing third-and-14 from the 45, Van Wickle threw left to Ribellino, who made a leaping catch over a Lakewood defender, kept his balance and sprinted toward the end zone for a touchdown. Junior kicker Braden Yorke added the extra point as the Lions took a 7-0 lead with little more than three minutes elapsed in the second half.

“I just smelled the goal line, that’s it,” Ribellino said. “I knew I was getting the ball that play, I knew I was going to catch it, and I knew I was going to cross the goal line. I wanted to score, I wanted to win this game.”

“We decided to open things up,” Sharples said. “Our senior receivers, when they want to come down with the ball there’s nothing that can stop them. They are determined receivers and that’s what I love about them.”

Jackson Liberty then scored a safety on Lakewood’s ensuing possession. The Piners started at their 20, but a high snap in the shotgun pushed the ball back to the 4. Lakewood then fumbled on the next play as Piners senior Josh Palmer fell on the ball in the end zone, and the Lions took a 9-0 lead with 7:50 left in the third quarter.

Jackson Liberty nearly broke the game open on its next possession when Van Wickle threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Brennan, but the play was nullified due to a holding penalty.

After several near-misses in the first three quarters, Lakewood finally put together a touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter. The Piners drove 80 yards on eight plays – all runs – as senior Eric Segui opened with a 13-yard run, junior Amir Tyler added a 10yard gain, and senior quarterback Chapelle Cook broke free along the left sideline for a 35-yard run to the Lions’ 4. One play later, Cook ran up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown, and followed by throwing to senior tight end Datrell Reed for the 2-point conversion to pull the Piners to within 9-8 with 9:05 left.

Junior quarterback Ryan Van Wickle

Jackson Liberty, though, was able to hold on the rest of the way as senior defensive back Jordan Billups made an interception and the Lions recovered a muffed Lakewood punt return. Lakewood had one last chance starting at its 23 with 1:46 left and no timeouts. The Piners moved to the Liberty 32 in six plays, but on fourth-and-13 with less than 30 seconds left, the Lions stopped Reed on a catch 3 yards short of a first down to clinch the win.

“We were hanging on for dear life, going three-and-out three times in a row, but we got the win,” Sharples said. “It’s a huge, huge win for our program.”

Video Highlights by:

John Bush www.shoresportsnetwork.com Photo by:

John Portelli www.jpphoto9451.zenfolio.com

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

New For This Season

In conjunction with Shore Sports Network, Jersey Mike’s will honor one team a week that showed the character, perseverance and hard work emblematic of The Jersey Mike’s Company during its performance that weekend. A Jersey Mike’s Game Ball and free subs will be presented to that team during practice that week in honor of a great showing.

Week 3 9/26/14 Toms River North - 44 Toms River South - 34 The Team of the Week for Week Three is Toms River North, which shook up the Class A South race with a thrilling 44-34 comeback win on the road over previously-fifth-ranked Toms River South in one of the most thrilling editions of the 43-year history of the “Civil War” rivalry between the two teams. The Mariners and head coach Dave Oizerowitz were presented with a special game ball at practice by Shore Sports Network’s Kevin Williams and Jersey Mike’s NJ/NE Area Director Chad Tirpack, a former standout quarterback/defensive back at Wall, on Tuesday. The players were also treated to free Jersey Mike’s subs.

The win over the Indians helped the Mariners improve to 2-1 on the heels of a 1-9 season. Junior tailback Asante Moorer earned Sport Clips Player of the Week honors after rushing for 200 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries to help power

Week 2 9/19/14 Central - 21 Barnegat - 15

the win. Sophomore quarterback Mike Husni added 185 yards passing and two touchdown throws, both to senior tight end Jordan Craig. Junior defensive lineman Da’shon Copes also had a huge stop on fourth down to help seal the victory.

Toms River North’s head coach Dave Oizerowitz & his team are honored by Chad Tirpack NJ/NE Area Director of Jersey Mike’s(L) & Toms River Hooper Ave. Store owner Don Smith as the Team of the Week for Week 3.

“The kids just showed great mental toughness,” Oizerowitz showed. “We stuck with the gameplan, and we didn’t get rattled when we got behind. It was just a great team effort.” Lakewood. Sophomore running back Mike Bickford ran for 120 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the game-winner. Defensive back Matt Aires had a one-handed interception in the final two minutes, Brandon Vuono had a blocked extra point, and Jordan Hardy recovered an onside kick that led to the winning

The Mariners join Neptune and Central as the two recipients thus far of the Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week, which is selected by the Shore Sports Network staff. touchdown.

“We knew we had a chance if our kids believed, and our kids believed tonight,” Jacobs said after the game. “I knew we had a shot in the second half. Did I know it would go like this? No, I’m still dreaming.”

The Team of the Week for Week Two is Central Regional, which opened some eyes around the Shore Conference when it knocked off defending Class B South champion and previously-fifth-ranked Barnegat, 21-15, on the road on Friday night. The Golden Eagles and head coach Willie Jacobs were presented with a special game ball at practice by Jersey Mike’s NJ/NE Area Director Chad Tirpack, a former standout quarterback/defensive back at Wall, on Tuesday. The players were also treated to free Jersey Mike’s subs. The win over the Bengals was a complete team effort as Central bounced back from a season-opening loss to

Week-1 9/12/14 Neptune - 30 Ocean 27

Central’s head coach Willie Jacobs & his team are honored by Chad Tirpack NJ/NE Area Director of Jersey Mike’s as the Team of the Week for Week 2.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Contact: Steven Meyer 7 3 2 - 2 3 3 - 4 4 6 0 steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

Sansone Jr.’s 66 Automall Raising Awareness for Teens About Dangers of Texting and Driving

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

s a parent of three, Paul Sansone Jr. of Sansone Jr.’s 66 Automall in Neptune knows all about the dangers of texting and driving.

That’s why Sansone Jr.’s 66 Automall, located on Route 66 in Neptune, and Shore Sports Network have teamed up to raise awareness among teenagers about the issue. Sansone Jr.’s 66 Automall is also offering free safety inspections for teens’ vehicles.

“It’s really more of an awareness factor - that's really more what the message is that we're trying to send,’’ Sansone Jr. said. “It's as much of a problem as any other incident in driving. I’ve heard now that there are attorneys who specifically look for that as a reason for a fender-bender.”

Sansone Jr., who has children ages 22, 20 and 15, first got involved with the awareness program when his older children were attending Red Bank Catholic and has now continued to spread the message at Sansone Jr.’s 66 Automall.

“It started with my kids at RBC, and it’s sort of has grown from there,’’ he said. “Obviously this opportunity came up, and it’s something we've already been trying to get involved with.”

It’s not just teens who are at risk for an accident from texting while driving, either.

“As a parent it’s very scary, but I’ve even found myself saying stop, I don’t need to look at my phone right now (while driving),’’ Sansone Jr. said.

“You think, ‘Let me just take a sneak peek,’ but that’s when the accident happens. Most people have either already had an accident because of texting and driving, or at least have had a close call.’’ The hope is that the greater awareness of the issue, the more it will be discouraged.

“I think it's a pretty prevalent problem, and hopefully someday it

will be in the magnitude of drinking and driving,’’ Sansone Jr. said. “Twent or thirty years ago when I was growing up, drinking and driving was a problem that wasn’t really publicized, but now the awareness is there because of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups like that. It's a culture change. There are a boatload of kids using new technology, so we want to be focused on making sure they keep their eyes on the road.”

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

Instant Classic:

Brick Outlasts Jackson Memorial

By Bod Badders – Staff Writer

fter all the big plays and potential game-changing moments, Saturday’s Shore Conference Class A South showdown between Brick and Jackson Memorial fittingly came down to one play in an epic ending at John J. Munley Field. With the Jaguars trailing by six points in overtime and facing a fourthand-3 from the Brick 17, junior

outside linebacker Jordan Keefe held his ground and met Jackson Memorial quarterback Joe DeMaio right at the line of scrimmage before teammates Tommy Leech and Joe Phillips helped him drive DeMaio back for a one-yard loss. That stop gave the Green Dragons a thrilling 30-24

overtime victory over the defending Class A South champions in a classic battle between two undefeated teams.

“DeMaio came for the waggle and tried to get the corner on me, but I held the edge,” Keefe said. “He tried to run around me but I got him. We got him this year. “We knew this game was going to come down to inches, and it literally came down to inches.”

Brick senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani scored the go-ahead touchdown on Brick’s overtime possession on a 1-yard keeper, and earlier threw the game-tying touchdown on fourth down with 4:49 left in regulation to help Brick, ranked No. 2 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10, pass its biggest test so far and improve to 4-0.

“We knew we were going to face adversity and we were prepared, but I didn’t think we’d face this much,” Sclafani said. “Going into overtime, that’s the max. We dug down as deep as we could, and we had enough to pull it out.”

No. 7 Jackson Memorial and its physical defense gave defending NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV champion Brick (4-0, 4-0) all it could handle, but the Dragons’ offense was able to score in the most crucial of moments behind their dynamic quarterback. Sclafani ran for 141 yards on 17 carries, including an 87-yard touchdown in the second quarter, along with the eventual game-winning score in overtime. He also threw for 125 yards with a 48yard touchdown to senior tight end Simon Bingelis and a 7-yarder to senior wide receiver Ja’Quez Johnson that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. “You have to give a lot of credit to Jackson’s defense,” said Brick head coach Rob Dahl. “They had a great gameplan and stopped us on multiple drives, but give our offense a lot of credit because they met some adversity and were able to come back and make big plays to score.”

Jackson’s senior-laden offensive and defensive lines were the driving forces for the Jaguars (3-1, 21) throughout the game. They paved the way for junior tailback Vinny Lee to run for a game-high 165 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run on Jackson’s first offensive play. Defensively, the Jaguars frustrated Brick for much of the first half. Outside of Sclafani’s

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

7-play, 77-yard drive to tie the score at 17. Sclafani kept the drive going with a 6-yard run on third-and-3 from his own 31, then connected with Taylor for 11 yards on third-and-7 from the 41. On the next play, Sclafani threaded a pass between two closing defenders to Bingelis, who raced the rest of the way for a 48-yard touchdown.

long touchdown run, the Dragons were held to 14 rushing yards and Sclafani was limited to 8-of-17 passing for 48 yards through halftime. The Jaguars ended up outgaining Brick 337-296.

“Hats off to Jackson because they’re one hell of a team and they’re going to have one hell of a season,” Sclafani said. “That’s the best D-line we might face all year. They’re big and physical, and their skill guys are really good. They’re just a really good team.”

“I was a little slow with the read and got it to him a little late, but I thought I put enough on the ball,” Sclafani said. “I was praying it got through and it did by that much. We weren’t getting anything going and we needed one of those plays.”

“We knew after watching Jackson on film they were the real deal, and I told the guys the Lee returned the ensuing other night on the (Shore kickoff 69 yards down to Sports Network Investors Senior QB Carmen Sclafani & RB Ray Fattaruso the Brick 27 to set up Bank High School Jackson’s third touchdown Football Show) this is the Brick responded with a 14-play, 70-yard drive that for a 24-17 lead. DeMaio hit Graham for 10 yards on best Jackson team I’ve seen in 13 years,” Dahl said. produced a 31-yard field goal by Stackable to cut the final play of the third quarter, then found “Our kids just hung in there. Jackson made the big Jackson’s lead to 10-7. Brick had a fourth-and-3 at Johnson for 10 more down to the 2-yard line. Lee plays we knew they were capable of making and our the Jackson 16 and lined up for a field goal, but an then plunged in for his second touchdown of the kids just battled and kept it close, and we took it at offsides call on Jackson kept the drive alive and game to give Jackson a seven-point lead. the end.” allowed Stackable a closer shot at three points. Leech returned the next kickoff 75 yards to the Neither team held more than a one-touchdown lead Jackson drove all the way to Brick’s 20-yard line Jackson 15, but junior linebacker Adante Davis and throughout the game, and both offenses were able to on its next drive, but on a completion from DeMaio cash in on clutch drives that produced five lead to senior tight end Brody Graham, Brick senior changes. Brick’s drive to tie the game at 24 and force safety Tommy Leech delivered a hit that forced a overtime came after Johnson intercepted DeMaio on fumble that the Dragons recovered at their own 13a pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage, yard line. Two plays later, Sclafani tucked the ball giving the Dragons the ball at the Jackson 40 with and took off on an 87-yard touchdown run to give 7:48 left in the fourth quarter. Brick it’s first lead, 10-7, with 8:19 left in the first

An 11-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Ja’Sir Taylor, then a 21-yard run by Sclafani moved the ball to the Jackson 3-yard line, but the Jaguars’ dropped senior running back Ray Fattaruso for a three-yard loss on first down, then tripped up Sclafani to push the ball back two yards to the seven. After an incompletion to Bingelis, Brick sent its offense back onto the field for a fourth-and-goal play. Jackson blitzed, but Sclafani was able to roll to his right to buy some time. His first read was covered, but he saw Johnson coming across the field and hit him in stride in the back right corner of the end zone.

“I rarely look at the backside drag, but I had to there because I had no other option,” Sclafani said. “I just threw it up, and you can always trust Ja’Quez when you throw it up to him.”

KC Stackable’s extra point tied the score at 24 to set the stage for overtime. Brick got the ball first and scored in four plays, keyed by an 18-yard run by Fattaruso that gave the Dragons first-and-goal from the 3.

Jackson got off to the best start possible in taking a 7-0 lead in the first four minutes. The Jaguars’ defense forced a three-and-out, then, after a muffed punt gave Brick the ball right back at the 45-yard line, stuffed the Green Dragons again in three plays to get the ball back at their own 20-yard line. On the first play, Lee broke a run outside and raced down the visiting sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. The Jungle was rocking.

half.

“It was a pass and I scrambled because it opened up in front of me,” Sclafani said. “It was really the block by Ja’Quez downfield that sprung the touchdown. If it wasn’t for him I would’ve gotten caught.”

The teams alternated three-and-outs on the next four possessions before Jackson got the ball back at its own 34 with 1:31 left in the first half. Junior defensive lineman Dan Finelli sacked DeMaio on first down for a five-yard loss, but sophomore Mike Gawlik ran for 18 yards on the next play to move the ball just shy of midfield.

Jackson then went to its bag of tricks to take a lead into halftime. On first down, junior wide receiver Kyle Johnson took a pitch on a reverse and looked to throw downfield. His initial read looked to be DeMaio sneaking out of the backfield, but he instead was able to hit a streaking Aaron Curet for a 52-yard touchdown and a 14-10 lead.

Coming out of the half, the Jaguars received and proceeded to march 64 yards in 10 plays to up their lead to 17-10. Johnson hauled in a pass from DeMaio on third-and-4 and turned it into a 40-yard catch and run down to the Brick 18-yard line. Lee ran for 16 yards on third-and-10 to give Jackson a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line, but Brick’s defense stiffened and forced the Jags to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Calhoun.

Brick need to answer right away, and did so with a

10/7/14

Gawlik combined to drop Fattaruso for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-3 to keep Brick out of the end zone. Brick took over from there, however, limiting the Jaguars to just one first down over the final 10:31 of the fourth quarter plus overtime.

The highly-touted Dragons were pushed to the limit by a Jackson team that made its own case to be a championship squad on Saturday night, but found a way to come out on the winning end. With both teams aligned in Central Jersey Group IV, this could have been a preview of a playoff meeting down the road. If so, or if against another top-flight opponent, Brick now knows this year’s team has the guts and guile to win a tight game.

“Last year we had a different makeup of kids and they dealt with adversity really well,” Dahl said. “Now we know this group can win those close games and come back and win.”

“This says something about us,” Keefe said. “Southern, (Toms River) East, they’re good teams, but this was an elite team we played today. It was a clash of two elite teams and we came out on top.”

Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump www.shoresportsnetwork.com Photo by:

Bill Normile

www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

Uncharted Waters: SJV Knocks off Rumson

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

railing by a pair of touchdowns at halftime on the road against a defending state champion in a showdown of Top 10 teams on October 2, St. John Vianney was in a position it had not experienced in the type of spotlight it had never played under in this millennium.

“It was uncharted waters,” said first-year Lancers coach Mark Ciccotelli. “Over there (at Rumson-Fair Haven), there’s a lot of tradition. I’ve been at other places when you’re in that situation and you know how to fight back, you know how to be resilient. Here we hadn’t done that yet, so you don’t know how they’re going to react.”

Not only did the Lancers, ranked No. 5 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10, never get rattled in a position they had never faced, they took a huge step toward their first division title since 1982 when they ripped off 21 unanswered points in the second half to knock off No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven 35-28 in a Class A Central thriller at Borden Stadium. Now in sole possession of first place in the division, St. John Vianney (4-0, 3-0) continued its best start since 1998 by rushing for 271 yards, including 198 when it outscored the Bulldogs 21-0 in the second half.

Junior quarterback Anthony Brown led the charge with 127 yards passing and a touchdown as well as 78 yards rushing and a pair of second-half touchdown runs to spearhead the comeback.

“True winners play from inside, and that’s what we did today,” Brown said. “This is a giant leap.”

Junior Khalil Haskins scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with a Junior WR 47-yard run on a jet sweep with 7:56 left in the game for a 35-28 lead, and the Lancers’ defense held on from there.

The Bulldogs (2-1, 2-1), who were missing Princeton-bound tailback Charlie Volker due to a high ankle sprain, drove down to St. John Vianney’s 24-yard line in the waning seconds before sophomore defensive lineman Raphael Auguste sacked Rumson sophomore quarterback Mike O’Connor on fourth-and-7 to seal the win.

“They stepped up to the plate and did a great job,” Ciccotelli said.

“We’ve been down before, and it’s not hard to come back if we stay as a family, and that’s what we did,” Haskins said. “We played for each

other.”

St. John Vianney opened the game looking like it was going to run away with a victory, going right down the field on its first two possessions to take a quick 14-0 lead. The Lancers went 80 yards in eight plays to start the game, with Brown going 4-for-5 passing before hitters to the junior running back football, make Calvin Beaty plowed in the play.” from a yard out for the “We were early 7-0 advantage. After out of position the defense forced a a couple of three-and-out, they came Junior RB Calvin Beaty times in the right back with a six-play, first half, 62-yard drive that ended which can’t with Brown hitting senior wideout Dan Calabro for a 14-yard touchdown with 4:33 left in the first happen, and we just fixed that and were good to go,” said Calabro, who also had a strong game at quarter. safety. However, Rumson responded with 28 Despite the absence of Volker, Rumson had unanswered points behind an explosive first half exploded for 285 yards rushing in the first half to by O’Connor, who rushed for 189 of his careerput St. John Vianney in the biggest halftime hole high 260 yards and three touchdowns before the it has faced this season. break. He got things started with a 68-yard touchdown run to draw a roar from the home “We just knew that we couldn’t panic at crowd and cut the lead to 14-7 with 3:06 left in halftime,” Calabro said. “They had a couple big the first quarter. plays in the first half, and we just knew we had to make some adjustments and come out fighting. After senior safety Sam Eisenstadt broke up a Their quarterback was obviously killing us in the pass on third first half, so we had to key on him.” down to kill a St. John Vianney “All we had to do was wrap up, and once we drive early in the started wrapping up, they couldn’t go anywhere,” second quarter, said Brown, who also plays in the secondary. O’Connor and The defense gained immediate confidence by sophomore Matt forcing a three-and-out by Rumson to start the Vecchiarelli, who second half, and then Brown and the offense got had a career-high back in the groove after struggling in the second 130 yards quarter. St. John Vianney did not attempt a pass in rushing, the second half, turning to its size advantage up spearheaded a front on the offensive line to fuel the comeback. seven-play, 72The Lancers became the first team besides No. 1 yard drive that Red Bank Catholic to put 35 points on Rumson’s ended with a 1defense since Cranford scored 41 in 2005. yard run by “In the second half we said, ‘Let’s run the Eisenstadt to tie it football a little bit behind the guys up front,”’ at 14 with 7:59 Ciccotelli said. left in the half. A four-play, 54-yard drive, highlighted by a 25The teams then yard rumble by Beaty, ended with a 9-yard Khalil Haskins traded turnovers, scamper by Brown that cut the lead to 28-21 with including an 8:06 left in the third quarter. After the defense interception by came up with another stop, the Lancers marched St. John Vianney’s Josh Taylor in the end zone, 82 yards in six plays, with the big play coming on before O’Connor found the end zone two more a 29-yard run on a jet sweep by Haskins, before times. Vecchiarelli ran off the left side for a 47Brown broke off a 31-yard touchdown run to tie it yard gain that set up O’Connor’s 11-yard at 28 with only 6.5 seconds left in the third touchdown run for a 20-14 lead with 3:47 left in quarter. the half after the extra point was no good, and then O’Connor had one final burst before “(Brown) is like Johnny Manziel,” Calabro halftime. He took a quarterback draw up the said. “Coach ‘Cicc’ says it himself. He’s a great middle and raced 74 yards to the house before athlete.” hitting tight end Kenny Ferrare for a two-point “Up top in the booth they saw how they were conversion pass that made it 28-14 with only 24.1 overplaying jets, overplaying my friend Khalil, seconds left in the half. and we just stuck it up the middle,” Brown said. “We were there on those plays, but you can’t Rumson drove to St. John Vianney’s 31-yard whiff,” Ciccotelli said. “When we have free line on its ensuing possession, but a hit for a four-

Junior QB Anthony Brown

yard loss on third down by Calabro and a tackle for a one-yard loss by Haskins on fourth down killed the drive. The Lancers then mounted their decisive drive, going 64 yards in only four plays, scoring when Haskins took a handoff from Brown and raced 47 yards around the right side to paydirt with 7:56 left in the game. “We ran the same plays we worked on at practice for these situations here, and coach called a great play,” Haskins said. “Our running backs were doing a great job running up the middle and coach saw an opening to the sideline.” “It was actually a jet read, and I just knew he could get out there, so I just let it go,” Brown said.

Rumson had one final chance to tie it and drove 57 yards on 14 plays before facing third-and-6 on St. John Vianney’s 23-yard line. A crucial holding penalty had negated a first down inside the Lancers’ 20-yard line, and they held on from there, sealing the win on Auguste’s sack for the biggest regular-season victory by St. John Vianney since arguably the 1980s. “We just didn’t finish,” said Rumson head coach Bryan Batchler. “We made some mistakes, but we had a chance there at the end and just didn’t finish.”

“It’s a big step,” Calabro said about the win. “That’s a good football team over there, but we still have to take it one step at a time from here.”

While Rumson took the loss, it showed that once it is back at full power, the defending Central Jersey Group II champions will be lethal with the running combination of Volker, one of the top running backs in the state, and a blossoming star in O’Connor.

As for St. John Vianney, it will be favored in the remainder of its games, so there is a strong possibility it will enter the Non-Public Group III playoffs at 8-0, hearkening back to its glory days in the early 1980s.

“We beat a good football team, a defending state champ with a lot of tradition,” Ciccotelli said. “It’s a great win, we enjoy it a little bit, and then we’ve got to move on.”

Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump

www.shoresportsnetwork.com

Photo by:

Mark Brown

www.b51photography.com

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

Rutgers-Bound Shushkovsky Back in Goal for Pats

By Matt Manley – Staff Writer

reehold Township boys soccer coach Todd Briggs has seen Division I talent pass through his program and although he did not know for sure if his diminutive, freshman goalkeeper from 2011 would ever amount to the level of his highprofile players, Briggs knew he had something special. Three years older and several inches taller, senior goalkeeper Brian Shushkovsky now looks the part in addition to playing it, and his return to the program from the academy soccer ranks and an early-season wrist injury has re-ignited the Patriots.

Shushkovsky officially made a verbal commitment to Rutgers University on Wednesday and followed up his big college news with his third shutout in three games in Freehold Township’s 4-0 win over Marlboro on Thursday. Since returning from a hairline fracture in his right wrist, Shushkovsky has

not allowed a goal and Freehold Township has halted a two-game skid by winning all three games with the senior in goal.

“I was anxious to get back on the field with these guys,” Shushkovsky said. “I was just about ready to come back anyway and when we lost those two games in a row, it just made me want to get on the field that much more and help out in any way I can.”

The Patriots did not have Shushkovsky last season while the senior played academy soccer, a decision that paid off when Rutgers coach Dan Donigan liked what he saw at a winter academy showcase for goalkeepers. As surprising as Shushkovsky’s departure from the program for his junior year was, it was not nearly as surprising as his arrival two years earlier.

With Freehold Township returning an AllShore goalkeeper in Phil Horan, Shushkovsky planned to spend his freshman year as an understudy. When Horan came into the season with an injured thumb, Shushkovsky was thrown into the fire against Howell on opening day and responded by saving a

Senior goalkeeper Brian Shushkovsky

VOLUME-VI penalty kick in a Freehold Township win over the ranked Rebels.

“I can’t say I looked at him and thought he’d end up going to Rutgers, but he definitely exhibited all the traits you look for in a goalkeeper and a leader,” Briggs said. “He was thrown into an unexpected situation as a freshman where we needed him to step up and he embraced it. From day one, he showed poise and a grasp of the game beyond his years and now he has the size to take him to the next level.”

Shushkovsky would spend most of the season in goal with Horan playing in the field, kicking off a potential four-year varsity career in net. Although he ultimately decided to leave the program for a season as a junior, the experience as a freshman was enough to get him back as a senior.

“That first year, five or six of us ended up playing on varsity by the middle of the year and I think that made us look around and say, ‘Wow, in three or four years, we could be really good,’” Shushkovsky said. “It made leaving last year tough, but there was always that thought that I would come back this year and try to win a championship with this group.”

Although he planned on opening the season as Freehold Township’s starting goalkeeper, Shushkovsky dealt with a lingering wrist injury that caused him enough discomfort to prompt a visit to the

doctor, who diagnosed the hairline fracture and prescribed he sit out for what turned out to be two months.

With Shushkovsky sidelined, Freehold Township started the season 4-0 with junior Christian Brothers Academy transfer Mike Christina in goal. The fast start came to a halt with consecutive losses to Manalapan and Middletown North, although it was a lack of scoring and not goalkeeper issues that did in the Patriots during consecutive shutouts.

“There’s just a different level of confidence out there knowing that Shush is in goal,” Briggs said. “To his credit, Mike Christina did a stand-up job and totally did his part while he was out there, but there is something to be said for having that biggame experience and that strong presence in the back to keep us organized.”

Now on a three-game winning streak, Freehold Township has its future Scarlet Knight back in goal and an experienced team looking to make a run at the program’s first Shore Conference Tournament title since 2008 and first NJSIAA sectional title since 2010.

“We have a really unselfish group and everyone embraces their role,” Shushkovsky said. “It’s a fun team to play for. It’s why I wanted to come back so much.”

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

i th th e S ho re C o nf e r e nc e f o o t ball se aso n ne a rly at t he m i dway po i nt , th e r ac e f o r a ch amp i o nsh i p i n ea c h o f th e si x d i vi si o n s h as st ar te d to g e t se r i o us wi t h f ro n t− ru nne r s se pa r ati n g t he mse l ve s fr o m t he pa c k . Here is a look at how the races are shaping up in each division.

A North

Manalapan has won this division four straight years and once again looks like a formidable obstacle to the contenders chasing the Braves this year.

Through Week Four, Manalapan was one of only five unbeaten teams left in the Shore Conference. A Braves’ offense that graduated All-Shore talent like current Penn State wide receiver Saeed Blacknall has been even better this year, destroying teams in averaging a Shore Conference-best 53 points per game in its 4-0 start, including a schoolrecord 64 points in a win over Sayreville. Senior tailback Imamu Mayfield has led the way with 700 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns in four games.

The meat of the Braves’ schedule is coming up in what should be the defining stretch of the regular season for a team that is looking to reach its fourth straight sectional final and win its first state title. Starting Oct. 17, Manalapan

10/07/14

plays Middletown South, Red Bank Catholic and Freehold Boro all in a row. Middletown South once again looks like the prime challenger in the division race, so Manalapan will try to beat the Eagles for a fifth straight time, a streak that few teams in Shore Conference history can boast against Middletown South.

The Eagles’ lone loss early in the season came against unbeaten South Brunswick, a top 15 team in the state that looks like a prime contender in the Central Jersey Group V bracket that also features Manalapan. Junior Cole Rogers has emerged as one of the Shore Conference’s top running backs for the Eagles, who have a potent offense in their own right and a defense that has posted three shutouts in four games. Their game at Manalapan on Oct. 17 will go a long way toward deciding the A North title.

There is a darkhorse in the race – Freehold Boro. The Colonials are off to their first 4-0 start since winning the Central Jersey Group III title in 2008. Senior tailback Josh Dixon has been one of the most productive runners in the Shore, and junior quarterback/safety Jake Curry has also powered Freehold’s renaissance on the heels of a 2-8 season. The Colonials play Manalapan and Middletown South back-to-back on Nov. 1 and Nov. 7, so that will be their chance to try to shake things up after the winner of the Oct. 17 Manalapan-Middletown South game stamps itself as the front-runner for the title.

defending Central Jersey Group II champions thanks to junior quarterback Anthony Brown, who ran

for two touchdowns and threw for another, and junior Khalil Haskins, whose 47-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner. Senior Dan Calabro also had a touchdown catch and played a strong game in the secondary. The offensive line paved the way for 271 yards rushing in the win. St. John Vianney has a legitimate shot to be 9-0 when the Non-Public Group III state playoffs begin, which would already be one of the best seasons in school history. Then the Lancers will try to show they belong in a bracket full of heavyweights like St. Joseph’sMontvale, Red Bank Catholic and Delbarton.

Rumson was without star tailback Charlie Volker, a Princeton recruit who missed the St. John Vianney game because of a high ankle sprain. The Bulldogs were up 28-14 at the half before St. John Vianney roared back, but they left the game knowing they have a star in the making in sophomore quarterback Mike O’Connor, who erupted for a career-high 260 yards rushing and three

A Central

Looking at it on paper, this race may already be all but officially over. St. John Vianney beat Rumson-Fair Haven 35-28 in a comeback thriller in Week Four in a showdown between the two teams that look to be the division’s best.

Manalapan senior TB

Imamu Mayfield

The Lancers have not won a division title since 1982 but are now in the driver’s seat under new coach Mark Ciccotelli. They went on the road and took out the

SJV Junior QB

Anthony Brown

VOLUME-VI

touchdowns in just his third varsity game. Once Volker returns healthy, the Bulldogs have the talent to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history even though their division title hopes look to be dashed.

The one team that could inject itself into the division race as a sleeper is Manasquan, which won three straight after a season-opening loss to Raritan. The Warriors, led by senior running back James McAlary and senior linebacker Tanner Cowley, have shored up the defense after giving up 41 points to the Rockets. The Warriors play Rumson (Oct. 8) and St. John Vianney (Nov. 8) at Vic Kubu Warrior Field, where they are always tough to beat. Given the pedigree of their program, which has won a Shore Conferencerecord 11 state titles, they shouldn’t be counted out as a threat.

10/7/14

Jackson Memorial, Toms River North, Brick Memorial and Toms River South are all tied for second place with one divisional loss. All of them are dangerous and waiting to pounce if Brick slips up. Jackson Memorial still has to play all three of the others, while Brick Memorial already has a win over Toms River North, and Toms River North has already beaten Toms River South. There’s still a lot of good football left in this division, with Brick leading the pack.

B North

This division race was effectively over the minute Red Bank Catholic got realigned into B North from A Central by the Shore Conference in the offseason.

The No. 1 Caseys have routed everyone in their path and have won 37 straight games against Shore Conference competition through Week Four. There is no suspense here, as RBC should roll to its fifth straight division title behind standouts like junior quarterback Eddie Hahn, senior running backs Mike Cordova and Tommy Spernal, and senior linebacker Jamie Gordinier. The only question left is whether this is the year they can overcome St. Joseph’sMontvale in Non-Public Group III and win their first state title since 1976.

A South

This is by far the most exciting of all the division races, with a good slugfest or two on tap every single week.

Brick took a huge step toward its first division title since 2008 when it outlasted Jackson

Carmen Sclafani

ISSUE-18

Memorial 30-24 in an overtime classic in a Week Four match-up of undefeated teams. Senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani continued his brilliant season with 266 total yards and accounted for all four touchdowns, and senior Ja’Quez Johnson had a huge touchdown catch in the fourth quarter and a key interception on defense. Beating the Jaguars on the road was a big step, but the Green Dragons are not out of the woods yet as they have tough obstacles remaining on the road against Toms River North on Halloween and at home against Toms River South on Nov. 7 before they can lock down the title.

Raritan looked like it would be a sleeper as well, but injuries have really stung the Rockets in key spots. Starting tailback Richie Salerno is out for the season with a torn ACL, although junior Derek Ernst has done a nice job as his replacement. Senior quarterback Riley Sullivan was sidelined with a concussion in their second game and his return is uncertain. Raritan lost two straight after its big season-opening win against Manasquan. Matawan has already lost to St. John Vianney and Rumson, so Manasquan looks like the only team standing in the way of St. John Vianney taking its first title in 32 years.

Brick Twp. Senior QB

RBC Senior RB

Tommy Spernal

One game to watch with RBC is a huge nondivisional one at Count Basie Field on Oct. 17. The Caseys welcome Manalapan, which also has won four straight division titles, in a highly-anticipated showdown. RBC also plays at Jackson Memorial on Nov. 7 in another nondivisional game to watch. As for B North, the only intrigue is which

Heating UP Continued on page 16

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

Heating UP Continued on page 15 public school will finish second to RBC. Through the first four weeks, that team looks to be Long Branch. Senior tailback Dahmiere Willis has been on fire, racking up a Shore Conference-best 898 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns through four games. The Green Wave, who lost 42-7 to RBC, have a crucial stretch from Oct. 10-Nov. 1 where they play Ocean and Neptune in divisional games and Matawan and Rumson in two tough nondivisional games. Their game at rival Neptune on Nov. 1 looks to be for the public title in the division.

B Central

Through four weeks, there have been no real surprises in this division. Shore and Point Beach are on a collision course once again for a big game on Halloween that looks to be the division championship game. Shore beat Point Beach last year for the division title before the Garnet Gulls came back and beat the Blue Devils for the Central Jersey Group I title. Both teams have been banged up early in the season and have scuffled offensively because of injuries and some inexperience up front. Junior defensive lineman

Mater Dei Prep Senior QB

Christian Palmer

10/07/14 Tanner Smith and senior linebacker Joe Wegrzyniak have led the Garnet Gulls’ defense, while defensive back Mike Moore and linebacker James Bedell have led the Blue Devils.

The main question is whether Mater Dei Prep can break up the top two in the division. The Seraphs are off to a 3-1 start and have an offense that is averaging 37 points per game behind senior quarterback Christian Palmer, who is on pace to rush for over 1,000 yards and throw for over 1,000 yards. Mater Dei was routed by Point Beach and Shore last season, so it has plenty of motivation going into games at home against Shore (Oct. 18) and Point Beach (Nov. 8) down the stretch.

For comparison sake, Mater Dei lost 50-38 to a Dunellen team that beat Shore 16-7 with two touchdowns inside the final two minutes this season. It will be a clash of the Seraphs’ explosive offense, which also features Zach Bragg, Tysaun White and Eddie Lewis, against the defensive-minded teams at Point Beach and Shore.

B South

This is the wildest of all the division races, where the scores are hard to predict week to week.

Through Week Four, Point Boro was alone in first place after going 1-9 last season, thanks to a much-improved defense and an offense led by senior quarterback Jack Fitzsimmons. The Panthers still have plenty of obstacles in their way in Central (Oct. 11), Barnegat (Oct. 17), Jackson Liberty (Oct. 31) and Lakewood (Nov. 8). That’s a tough gauntlet, and all four of those teams are in second place and have their own designs on grabbing a division title.

Lakewood suffered its first loss in a 9-8 setback to Jackson Liberty, which has a loss against Barnegat. The Bengals entered the season as the heavy favorite to take the title behind stars like senior quarterback Cinjun Erskine and linebacker Manny Bowen, but they were stunned by Central and standout sophomore running back Mike Bickford to put them in the pack chasing Point Boro. Lakewood beat Central in its season opener, so these teams have all taken turns knocking one another off and that looks to continue in the second half of the season. This could very easily be a division title shared by two or three teams. Photos by:

LarryMurphy

www.sportspixnj.com Mark Brown

www.b51photography.com Bill Normile

www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

Dragon Heart

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

year ago against Jackson Memorial, Brick’s Ja’Quez Johnson was just getting an opportunity to break into the lineup full time after an injury to a starter. One season later, the senior wide receiver/cornerback has earned the ultimate compliment of his teammates and coaches: trust. When John J. Munley Field was shaking on Saturday night with the game on the line against Jackson Memorial and a fourth-and-goal play from the 7-yard line for the Green Dragons coming up, there was one player everyone on the sideline knew they didn’t have to worry about.

“That’s what we love about ‘Jaq,”’ Brick head coach Rob Dahl said. “Something can go bad, and he’s one of those guys on our team that never panics. You look at the sideline and maybe a couple guys are panicking, but that’s not Ja’Quez. He’s very cool and collected.”

With Brick down by seven and a capacity crowd roaring, Johnson came from left to right across the back of the end zone as a safety valve on a play initially designed to hit sophomore wideout Ja’Sir Taylor. Brick senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani rolled right, buying himself just enough time to see Johnson coming across. He lofted it up and Johnson snatched it out of the sky and got a foot down to send the Green Dragons’ faithful into delirium. K.C. Stackable’s extra point tied it up with 4:47 left in the game, and Brick went on to win a 30-24 overtime classic in a showdown of

unbeaten teams.

“It was actually supposed to be a sprint-out pass to Ja’Sir (Taylor), but they told me to drag across just in case Ja’Sir wasn’t open,” Johnson said about the touchdown. “Carmen made a play and put the ball up there, and I got it. We always battle through adversity. That’s our motto: ‘Stay calm.”’

“We were running a comeback, and we had a breakdown,” Sclafani said. “I rarely look at the drag, but you can always trust Ja’Quez when you throw the ball up to him.”

Johnson’s ability to have selective amnesia is one of his biggest attributes outside of his athleticism. He was beaten earlier in the game for a 52-yard touchdown pass on a trick play when Jackson Memorial receiver Kyle Johnson took the ball on a reverse and chucked it deep to fellow wideout Aaron Curet at the end of the first half to bring the house down. Johnson shook it off and got his head right back in the game so that when Brick needed him most, he was able to deliver.

“For a trick play developing that long, he was only a couple yards away from the guy, but he bit a little bit,” Dahl said. “Ja’Quez is great with constructive criticism, and he’s great coming back from adversity. It says a lot about him. He bounces back.”

“We got into the locker room and said they had to use their whole playbook, they had to use a trick play to beat

Brick senior Ja’Quez Johnson

VOLUME-VI us, so you know they had nothing left,” Johnson said. “We battled through adversity and made up for it. You just have got to clear your mind.”

The only reason Brick had the ball in the first place on the drive that led to his clutch touchdown catch is because Johnson made an interception with eight minutes left in regulation. Jackson Memorial had just gotten the crowd roaring by stopping Brick on fourth down at the Jaguars’ 8-yard line when two plays later, Johnson stepped in front of a pass down the middle of the field for a crucial turnover.

“The interception was huge,” Dahl said. “They turned the game around from a momentum standpoint stopping us inside the 10 there, and then the momentum was right back in our hands because of the interception.”

“That was huge,” Sclafani said. “They tried getting us on playaction and ‘Jaq’ stepped up and made a play.”

Johnson contributed in all facets of the game, as he also threw a key downfield block that sprung Sclafani for an 87-yard touchdown

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

run in the first half to get the Green Dragons right back in the game after the Jaguars had opened with an 80-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Vinny Lee.

“He’s never looked back since,” Dahl said. “Offensively and defensively, he’s huge for us.”

The win also avenged a 9-7 loss to Jackson Memorial last year that decided the division title. Johnson had seen time as a reserve up to that point, but had to step into the lineup because now-senior Joe Phillips got a concussion while playing quarterback, leaving a void in the secondary, where Phillips also starts. Johnson got the chance to play full-time, and he seized the opportunity.

“They’ll probably like this game,” Dahl said before smiling.

The victory against the defending Class A South champions allowed Brick to take a huge step toward its first division title since 2008 as well as a crucial step toward locking up a top-two seed and a pair of home games in Central Jersey Group IV, where the Green Dragons are the defending champions.

“I knew I was great at DB, but we had two great tacklers there,” Johnson said. “Alfredo Flores and Joe Phillips went down last year, so it was my time to shine. I stepped up and made some big plays in the first couple playoff games and the state championship.”

Johnson is one of the few two-way starters on a two-platoon Brick team, and he showed on Saturday night that even though he is primarily known for his work in the secondary, he is a dangerous weapon at wideout. The kid who wasn’t even a full-time starter until this point last year is now being recruited by Sacred Heart, Stony Brook and Fordham, according to Dahl.

Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump www.shoresportsnetwork.com Photo by:

Bill Normile

www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR BI-WEEKLY PUBLICATION NOW AVAILABLE F O R

I N F O R M A T I O N

CONTACT: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com

ON HI-RES COLOR PRINTS OF ANY PAGES & IMAGES IN ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

What A Postal Carrier & Childbirth Reminded Me About Coaching

By Adam Feit - Director of Sports Performance (RYPT)

lmost three weeks ago, my amazing wife Mary Kate gave birth to our second child (and first daughter), Macy Anne. Even with another C-section for my wife, this was a much more tolerable experience than our first go-around with our son Cody. Being around a new hospital with new doctors and somewhat of a “what to expect” mentality allowed us to be more at peace with the process and end result which was a beautiful, strong little girl and a faster recovery for my wife.

Side Bar: But, let’s be honest. For the soon to be dad, it never really changes. You still sleep on a god-awful recliner that doesn’t want to stay open. The TV in you room is stuck on one channel with no volume and the AC unit somehow says 68 degrees but it feels hotter than the turf in Sun Devil Stadium. And I still don’t understand why they don’t feed us? I mean seriously, I’m staying at the Le Hotel Hospital too chief! One way or another, I came out of the hospital four days later happy, calm and ready to take on the world with +1 to our family. Despite sleep deprivation and an IV bag of coffee attached to my arm, the development of coaching and the entire continuum of how to make an impact amongst every athlete I come across still rattled in my head, louder than ever. And during my stay, I couldn’t stop thinking about one book that I recommend all our interns read their very first week, The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn and how the simplest of things can make or break such a beautiful experience like childbirth. Our experience at Monmouth Medical Center was filled with “Fred-like experiences” throughout our entire stay, easing our thoughts and fears before the real challenges began when we got home.

The Fred Factor is the story of a postman named Fred who delivers mail to his customers. Now, Fred isn’t any regular postman. Fred simply takes the ordinary job of delivering mail and makes it extraordinary by all means. He connects with his customers, goes above and beyond without being told to and takes the extra step when no one is looking. He sees an opportunity to make a difference in every task or situation around him, teaching us valuable lessons for both our careers and personal lives that not only enhance our productivity, but our overall happiness as well.

And it is because of our recent stay in the hospital that I felt compelled to compare our experience with the Fred Factor and how we can relate it to coaching. Now, to get you in the same mindset as me, I want you to think about a few situations that may have occurred to you over the years…

Have you ever sat a table, only to wait almost 10 minutes to have someone snarl at you and ask you what you want to eat without introducing herself or welcoming you to the restaurant? Or said hello to a cashier or gas attendant only to be asked “Will that be all” or “How much?” without any ounce of sincerity?

Or even work with people that bicker, complain and flat out suck the energy out of you and everyone around them when doing easy or simple tasks in the office?

I have. And I can’t stand it.

The biggest take-aways I got from the Fred Factor and what I hope our interns understand are what’s called the Four Principles. It was a simple four-day stay in a hospital that reminded me of how these very four principles should drive and shape the work place each and everyday to create the very best experience for customers (athletes, clients or whomever). Hopefully, you can see how important these basic principles are in not just coaching, but also outside the weight room.

1) Everyone can make a difference

Do your coaches and interns truly understand their roles and what it means to be in the position they are in?

Do they understand that what they do, regardless of how much glitz and glamor it may or may not hold, has a valid and important purpose in your department or business plan?

I remember getting upset and often frustrated with all the data collection I had to enter in during my first years of coaching. Having a constant case of “Excel Eyes” and triple checking all my work to make sure I didn’t miss anything while it appeared the people above me were sitting around not doing anything productive. Or maybe it was little things like weight room set-up, equipment reorganization or cleaning that never seemed to change or end. I mean, how many ways can you honestly reconfigure a weight room with the same equipment? (My record is 9).

VOLUME-VI But it wasn’t until I became a head coach and director that I realized how much OTHER stuff needed to be done while the data was being entered or the weight room was being set-up, broken down or changed. Wait, you mean there’s more than just blowing the whistle and slow clapping the breakdown? What reminded me of this very principle was simply everyone that worked tirelessly inside the hospital walls during my wife’s stay. Everyone from the security officer at the front desk (who coincidentally has the title of Director of First Impressions), the ladies behind the cafeteria food and the nursing staff. Things like getting easy directions for take-out food, second helpings or special food requests for my wife and the late night search for some K-cups on the recovery floor. Surely not the people or jobs we may label as “impact makers” like doctors, but nevertheless valuable people and positions that make the world of difference during a life changing experience. So the next time you find someone on your staff complaining about the little things, explain to them why what they do is so important and how their purpose and position assists the greater overall picture of success.

Or if you catch yourself doing the very same thing, remember the last time the waitress kept forgetting to fill your water glass or the bus-boy who didn’t take your dirty plate before adding another plate to the table…

2) Everything is built on relationships

How many times have you heard one-liners like the following? • Communication in the key to success • Success is built on relationships

• A successful relationship is built on trust

Regardless of the situation, a known and proven fact is that everything IS built on relationships. From hiring a babysitter to marrying your soul mate, the value of a healthy relationship is priceless. Despite challenges in getting to know people or figuring out if they are a good fit (think hiring new interns or coaches), the ability to connect amongst people you spend most of your time with throughout your life is vital to happiness and success.

Have you ever coached in toxic environment where you dreaded going into work everyday, only counting down the minutes where you could go home and prevent falling asleep to bring tomorrow closer?

Or fail to connect with an athlete who seems to just take what you say to him/her, spit it back onto your coaching shoes and walk away, not giving a damn of who you are or what you’re TRYING to say?

Relationships are the glue that keeps teams together. It’s getting to know people for who they are, not what they do. Who would’ve thought the woman responsible for keeping our hospital room clean used to be an elementary school teacher until she had to move to Puerto Rico and take care of her dying father?

Or the guy working the security “buzz-in” to the maternity ward was working two other jobs to help put his daughter through college? Sure. Maybe getting to know people like that isn’t your thing. But, it’s amazing when people in those positions actually open up to you and then go the extra step for your care/service because you simply said more than hello to them.

3) Continually create value for others

I get it. We’ve all got only 24 hours in a day. From the Fortune 500 company CEO to the free intern who is driving 2 hours round-trip to spend her time shadowing your groups/teams, it’s all the same. But, we’ve learned to accept that the most successful people spend their time more efficiently and effectively, constantly engineering success by creating value for not just themselves, but for others. How many of you reading this have someone that might look up to you as a role model? Maybe an athlete, a coach, an intern or even a family member that constantly seeks your approval or wishes to learn from you? Are you PAYING IT FORWARD by teaching those who wish to be taught everything that someone along your very own development took the time to do for you? Or are you brushing them off to the side, claiming you have no time or putting it on someone else because you’re too busy?

I started the Young Strength Coaches Corner for this very reason; to provide leadership

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

and guidance to young and upcoming coaches so that they wouldn’t make the same mistakes me and other veteran coaches have already made or currently are making. By placing a premium on teaching and mentoring, we are able to share articles, insights and life experiences to ensure a greater end result; better coaching. While we have grown older and gotten busier with growing families and new jobs, the very premise of why we still exist still rings loudly; to create and recreate value for all those that are charged with making a difference in athletes’ lives; the coaches themselves.

4) Reinvent yourself regularly

This is my favorite one of all. It reminds all of us that despite the bad day we had yesterday or the grogginess and fatigue that sets in towards the end of a 12-hour grind, we have the power to be different and “reset” for tomorrow. Not one action or one behavior defines who we are, but rather it’s a collection of every experience, both good and bad that truly shapes who we are as coaches and people. Sometimes we’re going to snap. Sometimes we’re going to say or do things we wish we didn’t. And as much as we wish we could take them back, we can’t. We fail forward by learning what we did and what we should’ve done to make sure the next time we’re in that very same position, we are armed for the appropriate response. And before the next opportunity arises, you’re fresh with a clean slate and ready for anything your way.

So, whether you’re a volunteer assistant, big-time head coach or simply a parent that helps out in your child’s youth league, are you a FRED? Can you make the ordinary EXTRAORDINARY and make a difference in this world? Will you provide value and appreciate the power of relationships? And when it hits the fan, will you have the power to “rinse and repeat” and start over? I hope so. Because there are a lot of athletes out there counting on it.

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

very week this season, Shore Conference football fans will get their chance to vote for the Sport Clips Football Player of the Week on our website, with nearly 110,000 votes already cast in the first Four weeks. Five players so far have earned the honor of Sport Clips Shore Conference Player of the Week after brilliant performances.

Week-4 10/4/14 C e n t r a l - 26 Pinelands - 12

The winner for Week Four's action was Central Regional sophomore running back Mike Bickford, who continued an outstanding first season at the varsity level with a career-high 228 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 26-12 win over Pinelands in Class B South.

Bickford ran for a pair of one-yard touchdowns as well as scores of 20 and 37 yards to help the Golden Eagles get back to the .500 mark at 2-2 and stay in the division title hunt with a 2-1 record in Class B South. Week-3 9/19/14 Toms River North - 44 Toms River South - 34 Toms River North junior tailback Asante Moorer

Week-2 9/19/14 Freehold Boro - 41 Howell - 0 Freehold Boro junior QB/safety Jake Curry

Week-1 9/12/14 Brick Township - 42 Brick Memorial - 0 Brick senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani

Week-0 9/5/14 Donovan Catholic - 10 Pinelands - 7 Donovan Catholic junior kicker GianCarlo Stigliano

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Contact: Steven Meyer 7 3 2 - 2 3 3 - 4 4 6 0 steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14

Fri 10/10

Toms River North

Jackson Memorial

(7pm)

Fri 10/17

Barnegat

Point Boro

(7pm)

Fri 10/24

Jackson Mem.

Toms River South

All games to be broadcast on News Talk Radio and streamed live at www.shoresportsnetwork.com

(7pm)

Fri 10/31 or

Toms River South Brick

Fri 11/7 or Thr 11/27

at at

Brick Memorial Toms River North

(7pm) (7pm)

Toms River South at Red Bank Catholic at

Brick Jackson Memorial

(7pm) (7pm)

Wall

Manasquan

NJSIAA Playoffs

(11am) TBD

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/7/14

VOLUME-VI

ISSUE-18

10/07/14