April 19, 2016 Volume-VIII Issue-8
The first thing fans, players, coaches and parents want to know after the big game is always, � � Is this going to be on
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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 18,000 followers) & Facebook, we keep fans posted on the latest scores and news n Established leading portal for local high school coverage.
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2016 Boys Lacrosse Mid-Season Top 10
By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer
W
e're nearly halfway through the regular season and both the weather and the action are starting to heat up around the Shore Conference.
There have already been some big games between powerhouse teams as well as some upsets that I'm still trying to wrap my head around. The top five remain unchanged from our preseason rankings, but after that everything has been thrown into a blender. Teams have taken turns knocking each other off at a crazy rate, and if this is an indication of what to expect when the Shore Conference Tournament rolls around it's time to batten down the hatches.
1 RUMSON-FAIR .
HAVEN (5-1)
The Bulldogs stumbled out of the gates with a 7-6 loss to Caldwell, but immediately rebounded with a 9-5 win over South Jersey Group III champion Shawnee. That started a string of five straight victories with wins over Allentown, St. John Vianney, Christian Brothers Academy and Shore. Through six games, senior attackman Robbie Garavente and junior midfielder Bryan Hess each have a team-high 13 goals with Garavente also leading in assists (9) and points (22). Senior Ian Clarke and junior Emmett Jennings have led a defense that has yielded just 4.2 goals per game in front of senior goalie Kyle Knapp. Senior Butch Clarke has won 63 percent of face-offs and has a team-high 30 ground balls. The Bulldogs have four straight home games upcoming, including tough nonconference battles with St. Augustine Prep and Bergen Catholic.
2 Manasquan .
3 Southern
The Rams haven't missed a beat so far after graduating a historic senior class, earning wins over Oakcrest, Holmdel, Jackson Liberty, Toms River South, Jackson Memorial and Toms River East. A much-anticipated clash with Rumson-Fair Haven was postponed, and a make-up date, if there will even be one, has not been determined. Junior Will Johnson has a team-high 19 goals through six games while senior Nick Simonelli leads in points with 12 goals and 13 assists. Junior Kyle Mulrane has 14 goals and nine assists, and senior James Manzo also has double-digit points with eight goals and seven assists. This coming week the Rams take on Lacey as they try to take another step toward their third straight division title.
4 CBA
(7-1)
The Warriors suffered their first loss of the season in falling 11-6 to Moorestown, the No. 5 team in New Jersey, but up to that point had dominated every team on their schedule. Manasquan opened the season with a 16-5 win over Freehold Township before posting wins over Colts Neck, Red Bank and Red Bank Catholic. After a 12-5 road win over head coach Sean Cunningham's alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy, the Warriors defeated Toms River South and Jackson Liberty to start 7-0 before losing to the Quakers. Junior attackman Jarrett Birch has been on fire to start the season with 26 goals and 13 assists in his first eight games. His younger brother, freshman attackman Canyon Birch, has been dynamite as well with 29 goals and nine assists. Manasquan already has five doubledigit goal scorers while leading assist man Joe Tonkovich has dealt out 18 helpers. Junior faceoff midfielder Matt Thermann has been unbelievable in winning 75 percent of draws while picking up a Shore Conference-best 87 ground balls. Manasquan has another monster nonconference game against Summit on Wednesday before getting into the teeth of its Class B South schedule.
Manasquan’s Jarrett Birch
(6-0)
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.
(4-3)
The Colts may have three losses, but it's hard to penalize them too much when the combined records of the teams that beat them is 20-3. CBA has a loss to St. Joseph (Metuchen) as well defeats against Rumson and Manasquan, the top two teams in the SSN Top 10. They are on a three-game winning streak since losing 10-3 to Rumson, however, with wins over Peddie, Howell and Middletown North. A large slate of games awaits this week with contests versus Colts Neck, Don Bosco Prep, Marlboro and Neptune.
CBA’s John Salcedo
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5 Ocean .
8 Howell .
I debated over which team to put in this spot for a good 30 minutes. There are triangles with nearly every team that could realistically stake a claim to one of the three remaining spots in the top 10. The amount of "Team A beat Team B but lost to Team C" and so on scenarios are already ridiculous, so I'm going with the hot hand. Howell picked up a big win in downing previously unbeaten Toms River North, 11-5, on Monday. Junior attackman Drew Bukowiec (20g, 12a), senior midfielder Nic Rossi (12g, 13a) and junior attackman Ryan Damielo (18g, 3a) have led the way for a team that has won five of its last six since starting 0-2. The only loss in that span was to No. 4 CBA. Howell will look to keep rolling with games against Neptune and Middletown South this week.
(7-0)
The Spartans have yet to be challenged in storming out to a 7-0 record, but the toughest part of their schedule is still to come. Ocean has wins over Neptune, Middletown South, Barnegat, Ranney, Holmdel, Middletown North and Long Branch so far, but just one of those teams (Middletown South) has a winning record. They play Red Bank on Tuesday to kick off a string of five straight Class B North games. Also this week they host St. John Vianney and travel to Shore Regional. Seniors Erik Rant and Joey Appio were two of the top scorers in the Shore Conference last season and have picked right up with a combined 96 points already. Rant has a conference-high 35 goals to go along with 16 assists while Appio, who led the Shore in assists last season, has 28 setups plus 17 goals. Junior Sam Hanna (18g, 18a) and senior Connor Daly (18g, 10a) have also gotten off to strong starts. Junior goalie David Walk has stopped 80 percent of shots on goal.
6 Brick .
9 Toms RiveR North (5-1) .
The Mariners were unbeaten until falling to Howell, 11-5, but have a chance to get some momentum right back. They take on No. 6 Brick Memorial in a key Class A South game this week as they try to jump the Mustangs and keep pace with No. 3 Southern in the division race. The Mariners will also face Brick this week.
Ocean’s David Walk
Memorial (7-0)
The Mustangs are off to their best start in program history and best opening to a season since starting 6-1 in 2012. Their top win so far is a 109 overtime victory over Wall. Brick Memorial also has wins over North Brunswick, Marlboro, Toms River East, St. Rose, Brick and Jackson Memorial. The schedule takes a tougher turn this week with a crucial Class A South game against Toms River North, plus matchups with Toms River South and Lacey. Balanced scoring has fueled the Mustangs as they have six players with 10 or more points and four with at least 10 goals. Senior Billy Porter leads the way with 24 goals and 11 assists. Junior Gavin Murphy has 19 goals and 13 assists and junior Henry Moran leads the team in assists with 18 to go along with seven goals.
7Wall .
10 Freehold .
Twp (3-3)
As tempting as it was to do a top nine this week (kidding), I had to pick one team to go here. Freehold Township did just lose, 11-8, to rival Colts Neck, but I believe they have the best body of work with wins over Shore and Red Bank Catholic. The other options were St. John Vianney, which just lost to Holmdel, 4-2, a Red Bank Catholic team the Patriots just beat or Red Bank, which just beat RBC but lost to St. John Vianney. The Pats get the nod this week, but are on a short leash. They will be heavily favored in games against Marlboro and Neptune this week, but a game against Red Bank on April 25 will help clear what has become a very murky picture in the bottom half of the rankings.
Teams to watch:
(6-1)
The Crimson Knights' only loss came in overtime to Brick Memorial, and they own lopsided victories over Red Bank and Jackson Liberty among their six wins. Wall has also defeated Marlboro, Neptune, Point Boro and Brick. Senior Mike Steppe and sophomore Michael McIntyre have led the way on offense with a combined 81 points. Steppe has 23 goals and a team-high 24 assists while McIntyre leads the team in goals with 27 and has added seven assists. Tim O'Hern is third with 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. Senior goalie Zach Harrell has stopped 82 shots. A big week is in store for Wall with games against St. Rose, No. 2 Manasquan, St. John Vianney and Donovan Catholic.
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(5-3)
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Shore (4-3): Albany-bound senior midfielder Doug Goldsmith has been a force for a Blue Devils
squad that is on the cusp of the top 10. Two of their three losses have come in overtime to Toms River North and Freehold Township, while the other is to No. 1 Rumson. They still need a marquee win, but will get the chance with some important Class B North games on the horizon.
Red Bank (4-4): The Bucs picked up a big win, 14-7 over rival Red Bank Catholic as senior Cole
Smolokoff went off for eight goals. With offensive standouts Brian Fagan and Ryan Gilmartin, plus one of the Shore's best goalies in senior Jon Pierce, the Bucs are dangerous.
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Five-Step program to manage KneeCap Pain without having surgery
B y D r. S a l e h – P r o f e s s i o n a l O r t h o p a e d i c A s s o c i a t e s
Pain in or around the kneecap
is common in younger and middleaged athletes, especially in runners.
Pain in front of the knee can come from the kneecap itself, tendons, bursae (fluid-filled sacs) or the soft tissues within the knee. Kneecap pain almost never results from a specific injury; instead it creeps up over time until it finally prevents you from doing what you want to do. Kneecap pain often presents with tell-tall signs. Pain while descending stairs is often present, more so than while going up stairs. Many patients also have pain while sitting with their knee bent for a long time, such as on a plane or at a movie.
The good news is, this condition rarely requires surgery and can be treated at home. I recommend a 5-part approach that works for most patients.
1) Quadriceps strength. Make sure your quads on both sides are toned and well developed as these muscles control the kneecap
2) Hip abductor and external rotator strength. These are the muscles that move your hip out to the side. Keeping them strong helps to keep your whole leg in alignment.
3) Hamstring flexibility. Flexible hamstrings reduce pressure on the kneecap and lessen the amount your quads have to work.
4) Address flat feet. Flat feet can contribute to bad alignment so wear orthotics if you need them.
5) Cross train. Especially if you do a sport that involves movement in a single direction (running, cycling). Cross training will help balance your muscles and prevent injuries.
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Dr. Saleh
Fellowship-Trained Orthopaedic Surgeon Board Eligible: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Areas of special interest: Shoulder and Knee Surgery, Arthroscopic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Shoulder, Sports Medicine Undergrad Degree: Rutgers University, 2002
Medical Degree: The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 2008
Residency: The Mount Sinai Medical Center, 2008-2013 Fellowship: Stanford University, 2013-2015
Honors and Awards: Awarded Chief Resident in orthopaedic surgery 2012-2013, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Outstanding Educator Award 2008, Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society 2008
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By Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer
ERRY FRULIO WAS A FIRSTTEAM ALL-SHORE PLAYER AT CENTRAL REGIONAL, PLAYED AT GEORGE MASON AND HAD SUCCESSFUL STINTS AS HEAD COACH AT BOTH HIS ALMA MATER AND ST. ROSE, BUT THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS MAY HAVE BEEN BUMPED DOWN ON HIS RESUME AFTER HIS SUCCESSFUL FORAY INTO FUNDRAISING.
“Bob Rutter, my old coach, told me that out of everything I did as a player – first-team All-Shore, team MVP, going on to have a good career at George Mason, then going on to coach – this is the best thing I’ve done in my baseball life,” Frulio said.
April 16th was the fourth annual Strike Out Autism fundraiser featuring 42 teams in 21 games spanning nearly 12 hours and more than 40 miles – which all told will have raised close to and possibly exceeding $20,000 based on early estimates, according to Frulio.
“It’s sometimes hard to wrap my head around how big this has become,” Frulio said. “When you see the effort and enthusiasm the coaches and the players put in, it’s no wonder it works. But it’s still really gratifying and encouraging to see what it’s become.” The event expanded dramatically last year and was again a success in raising awareness for a neurological disorder that affects children in New Jersey. at a higher rate than any other state in the country. The proceeds raised on Saturday and leading up to the event will go directly toward the special needs programs and autism classes at the participating schools.
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“As great as it was to give the money to an organization like Autism Speaks, I think it’s even better to be able to raise the money and immediately put it to use at schools in the Shore Conference,” Frulio said. “Autism Speaks is a giant that raises millions of dollars for research and lobbies for federal funding and that’s great,
Manchester’s Jay Laird
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Howell’s J
immy Barnes
Point Pleasant thanks to the surging programs.
The day ended with Barnegat toppling previously unbeaten Red Bank Catholic, the No. 2 team in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 and a top 10 team in the state heading into the game. That game was set to be the main attraction of the entire benefit, with top MLB draft prospect Jason Groome slated to pitch for Barnegat in front of an anticipated crowd of more than 3,000 people – including hundreds of Major League personnel.
Groome, however, was ruled ineligible by the NJSIAA on Thursday and will sit likely for the remainder of the month. Still, the Bengals made Saturday a memorable night on the field with their 4-3 win, as well as a noteworthy one off of it. Winning pitcher Jared Kacso – who also had the winning RBI double – also beat St. John Vianney as a sophomore at the 2014 benefit. The Lancers went on to finish No. 1 in the state that year.
but you don’t always see how that money is being put to use. To be able to walk into one of these schools and see the kids using the iPads you bought them, you can see the impact.”
At Frulio’s alma mater, Central Regional, the host Golden Eagles defeated Mater Dei Prep 11-1 and Lacey topped Freehold Township, 12-4. The Central Regional site is best characterized by its carnival feel, thanks to an actual it's carnival set-up at nearby Veterans Park.
Ken Frank Stadium at Toms River South hosted the event’s only triple-header, which featured all four Toms River high schools – South, North, East and Donovan Catholic. Toms River East dropped the opening game to Williamstown, 5-0, and Toms River South closed out the evening with a 5-4
On the field, the event featured some noteworthy games, some dramatic finishes and a handful of upsets. Point Pleasant Borough and Jackson Liberty started the morning off with dramatic wins – Point Boro by beating Manalapan 5-4 on a game-winning single by senior Mike Faclonetti in the bottom of the seventh inning and Jackson Liberty by handing crosstown rival Jackson Memorial its first loss of the season, 6-3. Point Boro’s win kept the Panthers unbeaten on the season, as did Point Pleasant Beach’s 6-5 win over Lakewood. The final two unbeaten teams in the Shore Conference this season are from the same town and that town is not Toms River, Middletown or Brick, but rather
(far left) Howell coach Eric Johnson, Jimmy Barnes, Jay Laird and Manchester coach David Beauchemin
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win over Donovan Catholic.
In the headline game, Christian Brothers Academy – the top team in both the Shore Conference and the state – edged Toms River North, 7-6, in the second game of the triple-header. Toms River South was the original host site in 2013, when the Indians played Red Bank Regional and Central played St. John Vianney.
“To have support from someone like (Toms River South coach and all-time state wins leader) Kenny Frank has meant a lot,” Frulio said. “He and the South program have been on board from the very beginning and it just shows why that program has been what it’s been. He's a baseball guy, but he's also big into the community.” Wall High School jumped on board the following year and the Crimson Knights moved their festivities to the Wall Municipal Complex. Pinelands freshman Joey Ventresca shined in the first game by striking out 12 on the mound as the Wildcats beat Rumson-Fair Haven, 11-4. Wall followed up by edging Manasquan in the nightcap, 2-1, with Matt Yard outdueling Jack Sheehan on the mound. By the end of the day, the change in venue netted more than $2,300 in donations, according to Wall coach Todd Schmitt.
featured Brick taking down previously-unbeaten St. Rose. In Red Bank, Brick Memorial needed extra innings to get past Red Bank Regional – a worthy warm-up act for Barnegat’s upset later in the night at Count Basie Park. Ocean Township High School was also the site of two competitive games. Matawan outlasted Shore Regional, 5-3, in nine innings and the host Spartans beat Freehold Boro, 3-2. That Ocean win followed up last year’s drama, in which Anthony Bartolomei hit a walk-off home run to beat that same Freehold team. Howell held off a challenge from Manchester to win, 5-3, at its home field, followed by Middletown South topping Southern, 9-2.
“Out of all the Freehold Regional schools, Howell is the site for autism and working with those kids,” Frulio said. “The kids at Howell really get behind causes like this. I was giving every team wristbands to sell in school and right away, (Howell coach) Eric Johnson told me, ‘Give me two more bags.’”
At St. John Vianney, Middletown North won its third straight game after a 0-4 start by blanking Colts Neck, 2-0 – which was the Cougars’ third loss in four games after a 4-0 start. The Lancers opened the double-header opened the double-header by beating Class A Central rival Monmouth Regional, 8-4. Central also hosted a softball double-header, with the Golden Eagles playing Mater Dei and Freehold Township taking on Lacey. As the benefit has expanded to nearly the entire Shore Conference when it comes to baseball, incorporating more softball teams is likely the next frontier for Frulio.
Long Branch senior Carlos Pacheco made a memory for himself by throwing a no-hitter in a 10-0 Green Wave win over Asbury Park in the second game at Raritan High School. In the first game, Holmdel beat the host Rockets, 4-0, in a Class A Central divisional
game and went on the road and upset Manalapan in the opening round of the Monmouth County Tournament later in the day.
“That’s the hope,” Frulio said. “There are some logistical challenges as far as matching everybody up because I never want to expose a team by matching them up against somebody they have no chance to compete with. At the same time, there is a lot of interest and I think it could really take things to the next level. I’m not even sure what I’d do if we were able to double the money we’ve raised, but it would be great to have to figure it out.”
The Jackson Liberty site not only saw Jackson Liberty hand Jackson Memorial its first loss, but also
Photos by:
Eric Braun:
ericbraunphotography.smugmug.com
Howell’s Donovan O’Malley
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After Surprising Run to Group I Title, Rumson-Fair Haven Ready for More
By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer
Plenty went wrong for Rumson in 2015. And then, just like that, everything went right.
An up-and-down regular season followed by a loss to Southern in the Shore Conference Tournament wasn't exactly a solid foundation for a state championship run, yet the talented but inexperienced Bulldogs found a way to put it all together at the best time of the year to make history. Rumson forged a groundbreaking postseason that culminated in a 9-8 overtime victory over Mountain Lakes to win the NJSIAA Group I title, the program's first and the first for any Shore Conference team. With nearly the entire starting lineup plus several key reserves returning, Rumson is looking to claim another state championship and push deeper into the Tournament of Champions in 2016.
"We come in with a lot of the same expectations we've had since I've been here as a freshman," said senior attackman Robbie Garavente. ”Our major goals have always been winning the Shore Conference Tournament and a state championship, and after winning a state title and making the T.O.C. last year we know what we're capable of when we play our best. We don't want to move backward, we want to continue to move forward."
Head coach Andy Eastwood noted Rumson's breakthrough last season "wasn't the flip of a light switch.” The Bulldogs had been knocking on the door for years. They had won four straight SCT titles going into last season and have reached the final in six straight years. To say they've been the class of the Shore Conference would be putting it mildly. In 2013 Rumson won its first state sectional title before falling to Mountain Lakes, 8-6, in the Group I title game. In 2014, Rumson reached the South Jersey Group I final. To a man, Rumson's players and coaches attribute their lateseason success last year to an all-encompassing belief that did not exist prior to the state tournament. An 0-4 start had them doubting their abilities, and a loss to Southern in the SCT final had them thinking maybe it just wasn't their year.
"At the end of the season when we lost to Southern in the SCT final it felt like the season was over," said senior defenseman Ian Clarke. "But after Holmdel (a 7-1 win to clinch the Class B North division title) we thought about it and we knew we had a chance. We had the talent, we just had to play as one and come together, and we did that to win a state title.”
"I believed in them, but whether or not they believed in each other at that point I'm not sure," Eastwood said. "But by the end they believed, and they knew they had the ability to accomplish something great.” Senior defenseman Ian Clarke
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Winning a state title and doing it against a powerhouse program such as Mountain Lakes changed everything for Rumson from a confidence standpoint. In the past the Bulldogs knew they had the talent and thought they could win a state championship. Now they know they can do it. The ultimate irony is that Rumson's 2015 squad wasn't being billed as a juggernaut during the preseason. "It was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing 18 seniors," Garavente said. "No one expected us to get to where we did. We played in the state tournament like we had nothing to lose.”
Having little to no experience last season and having to start many juniors and sophomores means Rumson now comes into the 2016 season with a veteran, battle-hardened group in all areas. The entire starting attack line returns with Garavente and seniors Griffin Schultz and Henry Sillen. Junior Charlie Curran, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the Group I state final, is also back as the first reserve. Add in junior Colin Pavluk and sophomore Wyatt Feinberg and Rumson has very good depth up front.
"I've been playing with Henry and Griff' ever since fifth grade, and we've continued to improve as players together," Garavente said. "It's been an amazing ride with those guys. They're two of my best friends on and off the field and it means the world to play with them for our last year together.”
Rumson has balanced scoring, but Garavente, the reigning Class B North Player of the Year and a Shore Sports Network first-team All-Shore selection, is the kind of player who can take over a game. "I believe we have several kids that have that same capability right now, but Robbie, yes, when he is on his 'A' game he's as good as there is," Eastwood said. "He's one of the best attackmen in New Jersey.” Juniors Bryan Hess and Matt Waters lead the group of midfielders with fellow junior Ryan Tuorto and senior ground-ball ace Lachlan Hull. Senior Butch Clark is the faceoff specialist. Junior Alex Werner will get some minutes, as well. Rumson graduated first-team All-Shore defenseman Cooper Cuje, but returns an excellent group in front of returning goalies Kyle Knapp and Conor Deverin. Clarke and junior Emmett Jennings anchor a group that also features junior Dan Maloney, sophomore Stephen Edler and freshman Tommy Bavuso.
Senior attackman Robbie Garavente
communicating, some guys on defense don't like to talk as much. Ian is always a positive, vocal leader getting guys in position and calling out plays. He's an excellent defender.”
Rumson's schedule is loaded once again, but the Bulldogs wouldn't have it any other way. They know a big reason for their state championship last season was playing against some of the best in New Jersey during the first four weeks of the season. Nonconference opponents this year include defending T.O.C. champion BridgewaterRaritan, St. Augustine, Bergen Catholic and St. Peter's Prep. They also have a Shore Conference nondivisional game against Southern, and already own a win over Christian Brothers Academy. They dropped their first game of the season to Caldwell, 7-6, but rebounded with a 9-5 win over defending South Jersey Group III champion Shawnee.
Rumson will be a team focused squarely on whichever opponent is next, but the Bulldogs still have an eye on their main goals. The first of which is to win another division title, followed by taking back the SCT title. Then it's on to the state tournament where they will be up in Group II. They know they are among the best teams in New Jersey, but also realize nothing is guaranteed. They won't sneak up on any team this season, and they’re not trying to.
"Going into the SCT last year we didn't have experience in big games," Garavente said. "It was a learning point for all of us. Now having those games under our belt, we know we have what it takes to accomplish great things."
"From a defensive standpoint our communication has gotten a lot better and our sliding recently is the best I've seen," Clarke said. "On offense they've been able to move the ball very quickly and not force it. We're playing like a team that's already played eight games.” Clark is the cornerstone of the defense and a vocal leader on the field, checking two very important boxes for a team that wants to compete for championships.
"Ian brings the intangibles," Eastwood said. "He's the quarterback back there. He is doing a lot of the communicating and he's a senior leader. As much as it's all about
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by:
Bob Badders www.shoresportsnetwork.com
Photos:
Mark Brown b51photography.com
Junior midfielder Bryan Hess
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