7-25-11 Volume III Issue-14

July 25, 2011 Volume-III Issue-14 S a m M i lls A w a r ds Pa g e 3 Howell Wins 7-on-7 Pa g e 6 Gridiron Classic Recap Pa g e 8 -9 Making Up for Lost Time Pa g e 1 0 Honoring a Friend Pa g e 1 1 SJV's Dragonetti Plays for Two Pa g e 1 3 Offseason Basketball Notes Pa g e 1 5 Stumpy's Corner Pa g e 1 5

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July 25, 2011 I Volume-III I Issue-13

company that provides exciting and innovative coverage to high school athletics in the Shore Conference in order to highlight the achievements of local athletes in one of the premier conferences in New Jersey. Whether it’s the star of the team or the last player off the bench, everyone has a story and it is our mission to recognize as many athletes as possible and add to the memories for all of the families, coaches, friends and fans who support Shore Conference sports. Whether in print or on the Web, All Shore Media is your main source for all things exciting in the Shore Conference.

All Shore Media Web Site Features Log on to www.allshoremedia.com regularly to get video highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. Catch up on the action you might have missed and watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes. If you can’t make it to the game, we’ll bring the game to you, and if you were at the game and want to relive the excitement, www.allshoremedia.com is all you need to get inside the action.

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Volume-III

Issue-14

7/25/11

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Kenney, DeBlase Win Sam Mills Awards

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Heading into the 2010 season, Lakewood was stuck in football Siberia in the midst of a losing streak that would reach 33 games.

In this year’s U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic at Toms River North's Gernerd Field, a special moment for defensive end Da'Quan Kenney illustrated how the Piners have started to pick themselves off the mat.

Kenney, who finished with 123 Lakewood’s Da’Quan Kenney tackles and 27 tackles for a loss as a senior, was selected as Ocean County's recipient of this year's Sam Mills Award. The award goes to one player from each team that personifies the character, perseverance and determination of the late Sam Mills, a Long Branch legend and former All-Pro linebacker with the New Orleans Saints.

K en ney an d r u nn ing b ack A h mier D u pr ee r epr es en ted th e P iner s in O cean ' s 6- 3 w in ov er M o nmo u th Cou n ty, as K en ney h ad a hit f o r a los s an d D up r ee r us h ed f or 24 y ar d s on 7 car r ies . " This game, A h mier an d I w er e loo kin g to pu t Lak ew oo d b ack on th e map and let ever y bo d y o ut ther e kn ow th at Lakew oo d has g ot talen t, ' ' K en ney s aid.

"I didn't know I was getting it, but it's a great honor and I accept it on behalf of me and my team,'' Kenney said. "It's a great achievement.''

Sam Mills starred at Long Branch and in the NFL before Kenney was even born, but the Lakewood star promised to soon learn about a man who inspired many before his death from cancer in 2005.

The M o nmo uth Co u n ty r ecip ien t of the S am M ills Aw ar d w as M an alapan d ef ens iv e lineman J ames D eBlas e, w h o f inis hed w ith tw o tack les f o r a lo s s or no g ain in th e los s .

D eBlas e per s ev er ed to have a gr eat car eer f o r th e Br aves d es p ite lo s in g his f ath er in th e ter r or is t attack on the Wo r ld Tr ade Center on S ep t. 11 , 20 0 1.

"Right after this, I will look him up,'' Kenney said.

Kenney's award capped a season in which Lakewood finished 3-7 to end its losing streak and win its most games since 2002. It also marked the one and only season under legendary head coach Warren Wolf, 84, who retired after the season with the second-most wins (361) in state history. Wolf spent his first 51 seasons as the only coach in Brick history.

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" H e w as a gr eat co ach, ' ' K en ney s aid . " H e acted lik e a yo ung kid lik e u s . I t w as a gr eat ex p er ien ce. ' '

Cliff Lavelle

Manalapan’s James DeBlase

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Four Inductees into the SFCF Hall of Fame

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

Vic Kubu Family

Th e S h or e F o otb all Co aches F ou nd atio n ind u cted f ou r n ew member s into its H all o f F ame, tw o p os thumou s ly. F or mer M an as quan /M id dleto w n N o r th co ach Vic K u bu an d f o r mer F r eeho ld gr eat H al S chan k r eceiv ed po s th umo us ind u ctio ns , w hile f or mer A s b ur y P ar k /O cean Tow ns hip co ach G eorg e Co nti J r. an d f o r mer K ean s bu rg/To ms Riv er S outh coach Chip LaBar ca S r. w er e ho n or ed in p er s on at half time. S F CF pr es id ent D an D u dd y lis ted their accomplis hments an d they w er e ho n or ed at midf ield .

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Former player accepts award for Hal Schank

George Conti Jr.

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfol io.c om Chip LaBarca Family

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Cliff Lavelle

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Volume-III

Issue-14

7/25/11

Howell Wins 7-on-7 Title

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Howell beat Toms River North 27-22 in an exciting National Guard Shore Conference 7-on-7 championship game to become the second winner of an event that began last season with Lacey beating Matawan.

Senior quarterback Ryan Davies, the son of head coach Cory Davies, looked sharp for the Rebels, who run a no-huddle, spread passing attack. Davies threw for a Shore Conference-record 2,864 yards and a record 36 touchdowns as a junior in his first year as a starter. Six-foot-five back-up quarterback John Quinlan, a junior, also impressed in the win.

The 30-minute game, which was played with a running clock, came down to the final play. New Toms River North quarterback Scott Buxbaum just missed a connection with sophomore wide receiver Joe Fields in the end zone as time expired. The Mariners, who won the Ocean County 7-on-7, showed their new attack featuring Buxbaum and a talented group of sophomore wideouts that include Fields, Kyle Carrington and R.J. Bromell as well as promising Toms River South transfer Jesse Tate, a tight end.

It also was a preview of Week One, as the two teams will play one another in a nondivisional game to open the 2011 season.

Howell QB Ryan Davies

Sgt John M Naame with the Howell 7 on 7 team

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor person always steps up.’’

hen it came time for Ocean County to seal its first win over Monmouth County in three years on July 14, it turned to a group of players who won more than anyone in the Shore Conference this past season.

Lacey linebacker Brian Mykoliw picked off a screen pass to set up Lions kicker Jarrod Molzon for a 22-yard field goal with 7:39 left in the game that proved to be the difference in Ocean County’s 6-3 victory in the 34th annual U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic. Lacey defensive back Jake Dabal then recovered a fumble on a muffed punt with under a minute remaining to seal the win in front of more than 3,000 fans at Gernerd Field at Toms River North.

It capped a year in which Lacey went 12-0, winning the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III title and finishing No. 1 in the Shore Conference. Lacey head coach Lou Vircillo also served as the Ocean County head coach, tying the legendary Warren Wolf for the most wins in Gridiron Classic history with his third. Ocean County trimmed Monmouth’s all-time lead in the series to 18-15-1 in the lowest-scoring game since Ocean beat Monmouth 6-3 in 2001.

“It's crazy with this (Lacey) team,’’ Mykoliw said. “If it's not one guy stepping up, it's another.

It's like something out of a fairy tale. It's a great way to end it and go off to college.’’

“It feels great to finish the last one with a win and get one

more with these guys,’’ said Molzon, who is headed to Wagner. “That's basically Lacey. One

Mykoliw, who also had two interceptions in a 56-7 win over Delsea in the state final, helped the Lions recover after a sensational play by Raritan safety Kevin Furlong thwarted a scoring drive with the game tied at three. Ocean County had second-and-goal from the 3-yard line in the midst of a 10-play, 60-yard drive when Lacey quarterback Craig Cicardo tried a Tim Tebow-style play. He faked a run up the middle, stepped back and lobbed a pass toward Pinelands tight end Bobby McCormick.

Haven quarterback Mike Villapiano, returning it to the 3yard line to swing the momentum back to the home side.

“In practice, our scout offense ran that play so many times, and it was burning us,’’ Mykoliw said.

“What do you know, I saw the offensive line retreat and let the D-line step up, and I just came up and made the play.’’

It concluded a somewhat frustrating night for Villapiano, who was still named Monmouth’s offensive MVP in the loss. He finished 7-for15 for 64 yards but had two potential touchdown passes dropped by wideouts Michael Clark of Howell and Taylor Rogers of Middletown South.

Furlong, who also was a standout point guard on the Shore Conference’s No. 1 basketball team this winter, leaped and snared the pass with one hand for an Lakewood’s Ahmier Dupree interception in After the end zone before taking a knee Mykoliw’s interception return, for a touchback with 11:30 left in Monmouth’s defense dug in its the game to keep it tied. It was heels for its third stop inside its one final highlight in a brilliant own 10-yard line in the game. football career that has come to Keyport defensive tackle Greg an end, as Furlong is headed to Velasco, who was named Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham to Monmouth’s defensive MVP, hit play basketball.

Lakewood running back Ahmier Dupree for no gain on first down. On “At first I came up the middle third-and-goal from the 1-yard line, to clog up the run,’’ Furlong said. he and Middletown South’s Tom Masi “I saw (Cicardo) getting ready to stood up Dupree again, forcing a throw it, and I just took a few a fumble that was recovered by Brick steps back, saw the ball, jumped Memorial offensive lineman Russ up and caught it with one hand. I Brick Mem.’s Mike Acquaviva Clayton to at least allow Molzon to guess basketball was helping out tackles Mon. Reg.’s Scott Satcher attempt what proved to be the gameon that one.’’ winning field goal.

After having the wind taken out of it, Ocean County recovered immediately thanks to Mykoliw. On Monmouth’s first play following Furlong’s pick, Mykoliw stepped in front of a screen pass by RumsonFair

“It was a great honor,’’ Velasco said about getting the defensive MVP. “Being from a small school, we don't get that much recognition.’’

Velasco is headed to Rider University to continue his outstanding wrestling career, as he finished 42-1 and third in the state as a heavyweight this winter. Like many others, Thursday night marked his final football game.

“It’s killing me already that it’s all over,’’ he said.

Monmouth got the ball back with 6:02 remaining trailing by three points, driving 34 yards to the Ocean 45-yard line. After a diving pass break-up by Manchester linebacker Anthony Prendimano on third down, Monmouth Regional tight end Scott Satcher

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wide receiver/defensive back who died in a car crash last summer.

was stopped one yard shy of the first down by Prendimano and Brick linebacker Dylan McDonnell on fourth-and-six after catching a pass from Villapiano.

Ocean tied the game with a 13-play, 68-yard drive that lasted nearly nine minutes and “We knew what they were going concluded with a 24-yard field to run all game with (Manalapan goal by Brick Memorial’s running back Josh) Firkser and Jordan Loiodice. The big play their quarterback, and we didn't let on the drive was a 24-yard up a touchdown, so we did our strike from Cicardo to Barnegat job,’’ said McDonnell, a Bucknell wide receiver Mike DeTroia, recruit who had a strong game. “I who is headed to the University just wanted to prove myself of New Hampshire. Monmouth being from Brick because we got three straight stops at its didn't have many wins this own 7-yard line, with Freehold year, and in my last game Township linebacker Kevin in front of all these fans, Borden and Manalapan we got the win.’’ defensive lineman James Manalapan’s Josh Firkser Monmouth had one DeBlase combining on a hit for final chance with no gain on first down before Freehold’s Derrick less than 30 seconds to play Bender broke up a pass intended for DeTroia in the when Toms River East punter end zone on second down.

Joey Clarizio booted a 45Monmouth nearly got on the scoreboard near the end yard punt that was muffed and of the first half when Long Branch defensive end Billy then recovered by Dabal to Baillie came charging up the middle along with Red allow Ocean to take a knee Bank Catholic defensive end Matt Paolillo and sacked and seal the win. In what is Cicardo right near the end zone. The officials ruled believed to be a Gridiron that it was not a safety, allowing Clarizio to unleash Classic first, Clarizio, a his 68-yard punt to get Ocean out of danger. punter, was named the defensive MVP. He It set the tone for the averaged 46 yards per lowest-scoring Gridiron punt on five punts, Classic game since including a Ocean’s 6-3 win in career2001. The lowestlong 68scoring yarder game near the end of the first half from the Ocean County end zone.

“It feels good to end my last high school game like that,’’ Clarizio said. “(On the 68yard punt), I treated it like any other play. You can't be nervous or you'll shank one. When I hit it, it felt great.’’

Lacey’s Craig Cicardo

Monmouth took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter with a 12-play, 42-yard drive that culminated in a 39-yard field goal by Howell’s Ryan Handy.

Satcher had two catches for 23 yards to help spearhead the drive.

Handy, who normally wears No. 5, was wearing No. 11 in honor of friend and former teammate John Bukowiec, a Howell

in the series was Ocean’s 7-0 victory in 1984.

At the conclusion of the third quarter, DeBlase and Lakewood defensive end Da’Quan Kenney were the recipients of the Sam

Lacey Head Coach Lou Vircillo

Ocean 6, Mon m ou t h 3 ( Mon m ou t h lead s all- t im e s eries 18- 1 5- 1) Firs t d ow n s R u s h es - y ard s Pa s s in g Pa s s in g ya rd s Fu m b les - los t Pen alt ies

Oc e an

Mo nm o ut h

11 2 8- 99 7 - 1 3- 1 76 2- 0

5 17 - 41 7-16-1 64 3-1

Ocean

0 3 0 3 – 6

Mon m ou t h

3 0 0 0 – 3

S corin g s u m m ary: M : H andy 39- y ar d f ield g oal.

O : Loiodice 24- yar d f ield go al.

O : M o lzon 22 - yar d f ield go al.

I n d ivid u al s t at is t ics R u s h in g – M : F ir k s er 1 0 - 27 , U nd er w oo d 1- 3 , Beaty 2- 9, Cod r in gton 4 - 2. O : M cLain 4 - 1 9 , H o w ar d 2- 5 , D upr ee 7 - 2 4, M o lzo n 5 - 20 , Cicar do 8- 30, D iG uilmi 1- 2 , Wilko s ki 1 - ( - 1) .

Mills Awards for their respective teams.

Passing – M: Villapiano 7-15-1 64, Codrington 0-1-0 0. O: Cicardo 5-9-1 52, DiGuilmi 2-4-0 24.

R eceivin g – M : Rog er s 1 - 8 , S atch er 3- 28 , Cantelli 1- 7, Clar k 1 - 3, Co d r in gton 1 - 1 8 . O : A r minio 1- 4, Car r in gton 3 - 38 , D eTr o ia 2 - 30 , M olzo n 1- 4.

I n t ercep t ion s – M: Furlong 1-0. O: Mykoliw 1-13.

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Cliff Lavelle

Rumson’s Michael Villapiano

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Gridiron Classic: Making Up for Lost Time

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor When Cory Cardini thinks back on his senior football season at Toms River East, there is one feeling he cannot shake.

“I wish I had more time,’’ he said. “I wish I had another season.’’

While that is a common sentiment for players whose high school careers have come to an end, it makes even more sense in Cardini’s case. The wide receiver/defensive back missed nearly half of the Raiders’ season while being stuck in a hospital bed with strong antibiotics coursing through his body trying to stop a runaway infection. That is what made him so grateful to be able to play in one more football game than most of the seniors in the Shore Conference this season when he was part of Ocean County’s 6-3 win over Monmouth County in this summer’s U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic.

On the first day of school in September of 2010, Cardini’s left elbow began to swell up with an infection.

He had suffered a small scratch while diving for a ball on the artificial turf at Toms River East in a preseason practice, and that tiny area became infected,. Cardini spent the first day of his senior year in the hospital.

After missing the entire week of practice, he was released from the hospital and cleared to play on a Thursday, one day before the Raiders’ season opener against cross-town rival Toms River South. Cardini started his season with a bang, finishing with an interception and a touchdown catch in Toms River East’s 40-10 victory, but by the fourth quarter his left arm had blown up to twice the size of his right arm.

“Before the end of the game, they had to cut the sleeve off that I was wearing over my elbow,’’ he said.

Before the fourth quarter was even over, Cardini was rushed to see the infectious disease specialists at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune because it was determined that he had a case of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA. It is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to antibiotics and usually enters through a cut or sore, like the tiny scratch on Cardini’s elbow from preseason practice. MRSA can spread

rapidly and cause a serious staph infection that can lead to blood poisoning and more.

While the doctors worried about stopping the infection, Cardini was more worried about what might become of his final high school football season.

“That’s all I cared about at the time,’’ he said. “I was asking, ‘Am I going to be able to play this week?’

They were like, ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to walk out of here for a month.’ They didn’t think I was going to play again this season.’’

killed any type of bacteria and was constantly wiping himself down in practice and during games to prevent any further infection. He played the rest of the season in pain for a team that finished 5-5.

“I was never really afraid of contact with it,’’ he said.

“It just hurt like hell, and I got over it because the adrenaline kicked in.’’

Cardini even won several “hammer’’ awards from the coaching staff for the biggest hit every week in the game.

However, no matter how hard he belted anyone at safety, it couldn’t bring back the time he missed and what might have been.

“I just wish I had put a Band-Aid on my damn cut,’’ he said before smiling.

He had to undergo surgery to help contain After having the negative the infection. The TR East's Cory Cardini memory of returning in a catheter that was used lop-sided loss against Lacey, to help administer the he was part of an Ocean heavy antibiotics was moved multiple times because he County featuring several Lacey players that ended said that some of his veins became worn out.

Monmouth County’s two-game winning streak in Gridiron Classic games. He will now head off to East Carolina Meanwhile, the Raiders lost to Sayreville and Brick University as a student after concluding his football career Memorial before picking up a win over Jackson Memorial with a victory. with their top wide receiver and one of their top defensive backs in the hospital. Unable to stand the frustration of “After everything, at least I could put a good memory at being sidelined, Cardini admitted that he returned too early the end of it all,’’ he said. when he came back to the lineup for a 27-0 loss to undefeated Lacey on Oct. 16.

“It was painful the whole rest of the year,’’ he said. “My elbow is still sensitive.’’

Cardini came back armed with disinfectant wipes that

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Gridiron Classic: Honoring a Friend

By Chris Johnson – All Shore Media Contributor don ' t thin k of him [ Bu kow iec] , " s aid H an dy. " Th is game w as d edicated to him. I tr ied to p lay as har d as I co uld f o r h im" .

Wh en H ow ell' s Ryan H an dy play ed in th is y ear ’s U .S . A r my A ll- S h or e G r idir on Clas s ic at Toms Riv er N or th, f o otb all w as n' t the only thing on his min d.

P lay in g w ith a h eavy hear t, H an d y pu t tog eth er an imp r es s ive s eas on in helping the Rebels qu alif y f o r the N J S I A A playo ff s f or the f if th time in th e las t s ix year s . The mu ltif aceted s enior h ad 7 3 tack les an d an inter ceptio n as a d ef ens ive b ack as w ell as 3 2 catches f o r over 50 0 yar ds and s ix to uch d o w n s as a w id e r eceiv er. P er haps w her e he w as mo s t impr es s iv e, ho w ev er, w as o n s pecial teams . H andy aver ag ed ov er 34 y ar d s per p un t, an d hit 34 of 39 extr a poin ts and tw o f ield g oals .

A y ear ago this mo nth , an automob ile acciden t claimed th e lif e o f o ne o f H andy ' s bes t f r iends , f or mer H o w ell w id eo ut/d ef en s iv e b ack J o hn Buk o w iec. H an dy s p or ted N o. 5 on his jer s ey f o r H ow ell this s eas o n , but o n this nigh t, th e Reb el s tando ut ch o s e to w ear N o.

11 in h o no r o f " J oh nn y Buk .' '

A lbeit impr es s iv e to co llege s co uts - p r ior to mak ing h is commitment to S toneh ill, H and y co ns ider ed s cho ols s uch as Leh igh, Bucknell, Rutger s , an d To w s o n - H an dy v iew s h is s ucces s o n th e f ield as a tr ibu te to his b es t f r iend . " Ev er y p lay I ' m alw ays th inkin g ab o ut h im," s aid H an dy. " H e w as one o f my b es t f r iends . H e w as o ne o f my go of y f r ien ds , alw ays getting a laug h ou t of ev er yo ne. O nce y ou met him, ever yon e jus t loved h im. The s ad p ar t is th at n o o ne ex pected him to go. I t w as jus t big. I t' s s till un r eal th at it hap pen ed .' '

Th e G r idir on Clas s ic is meant to s h ow cas e th e mo s t talented f o o tb all p lay er s f r om M o nmo uth an d O cean Cou nty as th ey p r epar e to g o o ff an d p lay at th eir r es pectiv e un iv er s ities . But f or H an dy, it mean t mu ch mor e. " N ot a d ay g oes b y e w h en I

F o llo w in g in the f oots teps of his older br other, Rob, w ho played in las t y ear ' s r end itio n of the Clas s ic, Ryan mad e his pr es en ce f elt at th e end of the f ir s t quar ter o n Thu r s day n ig ht.

Howell’s Ryan Handy

2011 FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE Fri Fri Fri Fri Fri Fri Fri Fri Fri

9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4

(Games to be broadcast on 105.7FM and 1160/1310AM) Brick Memorial at Brick Manchester at Barnegat Point Boro at Jackson Liberty Toms River North at Toms River South Manchester at Central Middletown South at Brick Memorial Toms River East at Southern Middletown North at Toms River East Howell at Brick Memorial

(7pm) (7pm) (7pm) (7pm) (7pm) (7pm) (7pm) (7pm) (7pm)

ADDITIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE Sat Sat Thr

9/10 10/22 11/24

(Games to be broadcast on WOBM 1160/1310AM) Howell at Toms River North Brick Memorial at Toms River North Manaquan at Wall

(7pm) (7pm) (11am)

H e boo ted a 39yar d f ield go al w ith 1 :29 r emaining in the o pening p er iod to giv e M on mouth Coun ty a thr eepoint lead. Little did he kno w, H and y' s k ick w o uld amo un t f or o nethir d o f the game' s total p oints .

The nine- p oint contes t w as the low es t s co r in g G r id ir o n Clas s ic in a d ecad e. I t w as als o a s to r y of the f ield g o al. Br ick M emo r ial' s J or dan Lo iodice w o uld tie the s co r e w ith a 2 4 - y ar d b oo t in th e s econ d q uar ter.

The f inis h ing to uches w er e pr ov ided b y Lacey' s J ar r od M o lzon . The kicker f r om Lacey p ut O cean u p 6- 3 w hen he s p lit the u p r igh ts f r om 2 2 y ar ds w ith 7:3 9 r emaining in the game f or w h at p r ov ed to b e th e w inn in g p oints .

H and y' s team may have f allen s hor t in las t nigh t' s low - s cor in g aff air, b ut f or th e H ow ell gr ad uate, th e nu mb er 11 w as mo r e impo r tant than the numb er s on the s cor ebo ar d. I n w ear in g the n umb er o f h is f allen f r iend on one o f the bigges t s tages o f h is f o otball car eer thu s f ar, H an dy s u cceed ed .

D es pite his team ultimately f alling s ho r t, H and y w as s till ab le to acco mp lis h h is ultimate goal las t night: h on o r Bu ko w iec by making an impact o n the g ame. " H e w as o ne of th e bes t, f u nn ies t k ids I ' v e ev er k no w n, ' ' H and y s aid.

NJSIAA Playoff Games = TBD BROADCAST CREW Matt Harmon, Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca Visit www.shoresportsnetwork for details

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Gridiron Classic:

Dragonetti Plays for Two in Final Game

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Wh en r ecen t S t. J oh n Viann ey g r ad u ate N ick D r ag on etti to ok th e f oo tball f ield f o r th e f in al time in his lif e, he r emember ed th e p er s o n w h o ins p ir ed him to p ut a helmet o n in th e f ir s t p lace all thos e year s ago .

near the bo ttom of th e s tan ding s to one that has captu r ed tw o N J S I A A Cen tr al J er s ey G r o up I I I titles in th e las t thr ee s eas ons af ter not having w on any s ince the incep tio n o f the cur r ent s tate p lay off s y s tem in 1 974 .

O n J u ly 1 4, D r ag on etti capp ed h is car eer by p lay in g lin eb ack er f or th e M on mo uth Co unty s enio r all- s tar s in th eir 6- 3 lo s s to O cean Cou nty in the 34 th annu al U .S . A r my A llS h or e G r id ir on Clas s ic. D r ag o netti w ill no t be playin g f o o tb all in college, s o th e g ame in f r o n t o f mo r e th an 3,0 00 f an s at Toms River H ig h S ch o o l N o r th w as h is f in al tr ibu te to th e p er s on w h o h as ins p ir ed h is f o otb all jou r n ey.

Wh ile N ick decid ed to attend S t. J o hn Vian ney, h e s till w or e his br o th er ’s N o . 6 8 on h is jer s ey.

J u s t like M ich ael, N ick w as an u nd er s ized lin eman and lineb ack er w ho p lay ed w ith h ear t and deter min atio n f o r a Lancer s team that h ad tw o diff er ent h ead co aches d ur ing h is tenu r e w h ile f ailin g to r each th e po s ts eas on . H e ad mits th at he s o metimes w on d er s w hat it migh t h av e b een lik e h ad h e g on e to th e s ame s cho o l as h is br other.

“Watch in g kids I play ed w ith p lay f or ( M ichael) an d w in champion s hips , it w as b itter s w eet b ecau s e I w as n ' t a par t of it, bu t I ' m s o h ap p y f o r th em, ’’ h e s aid .

“A lot o f p eo ple as k me, if yo u cou ld go b ack an d go to Viann ey o r F r eeh old , w o uld y ou d o it d iff er en tly ? I w ou ld h ave lov ed to p lay w ith the k id s I p lay ed w ith s in ce P o p War n er an d w in ch ampio n s hips , b ut I r eally h ave h ad th e time of my lif e at Vian n ey. ’’

“I played ev er y game f or h im, ’’ D r ago netti s aid .

A t 2 p . m. o n J an . 1 0, 20 0 7, D r ago netti’s o ld er b r oth er, M ich ael, 17 , w as k illed in a head - on collis io n w hen h is Cadillac CTS co llid ed head- on w ith an oth er car in F r eeh o ld To w n s h ip . Th e eld er D r ago netti w as a beloved cap tain of the f o otb all team at F r eeh o ld Bor ou g h H ig h S ch o ol, and h e died ins tan tly in the cr as h alo n g w ith tw o other F r eeh old s tu d en ts .

I n th e G r id ir o n Clas s ic, N ick to ok a momen t to r ememb er w h at w as tak en f r om him in an ins tant. H e r ememb er ed the p lay er w h o w as an u nder s ized lin eman f u ll o f h ear t ju s t like his y ou nger b r o ther w ou ld o ne day become.

Th e Lan cer s w en t a co mb in ed 11- 1 9 in the las t th r ee s eas on s , o ne un der S ho r e F o otball Co ach es F ou nd ation H all o f F amer J o hn A mab ile and tw o un der f or mer coach S k ip Ed w ar ds . A nd y Car ls tr o m is no w the new h ead coach heading in to 2 011 , mak in g h im th e Lan cer s ’ thir d co ach in f ou r y ear s .

SJV's Nick Dragonetti (#68)

“H e’s play ed s uch a b ig p ar t in my lif e, ’’ N ick s aid . “I k no w he w ou ld h av e lo v ed to s ee me p lay in this g ame, and I w ill mak e h im p r o u d . ’’ “H e w as th e type o f k id y ou w an ted y o u r s o n to be like,’’ f o r mer F r eeho ld h ead co ach M ar k Cicco telli s aid at th e time. “H e w as an in cr ed ib le k id. ’’ P lay in g in D r ag on etti’s memor y in 2 0 0 8 , th e Co lon ials w en t f r o m a team th at had b een s tu ck

D r ago netti’s n ame ad or ned T- s hir ts w o r n by the team and w as inv oked by Ciccotelli, w ho is no w th e h ead co ach at N ep tune, af ter ev er y victo r y.

N ick attend ed both ch ampion s hip games at Ru tg er s S tadium and the f amily w as given mementos f r om F r eehold’s title r uns .

“I lo ved playing f o r A mabile, I lov ed play ing f or co ach S kip, an d it w as a g r eat r id e,’’ N ick s aid. “I met s o me r eally co ol kids an d g r eat player s , and un f o r tun ately w e w er e never able to pu t it to g ether and make th e playo ff s . I f I h ad to do it all o ver, I w o uld g o back to Vianney.’’

“They r eally ho nor ed my f amily and my b r o ther w ell,’’ N ick s aid . “They made us f eel like w e w er e a par t of it.’’

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Volume-III

1 4 / ASM

Issue-14

7/25/11

Basketball Offseason Notes

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor With Shore Conference boys basketball stars like Jarelle Reischel, Matt McMullen and Sean Grennan moving on to their college careers, the spotlight now turns to the next group of upcoming standouts in the area.

Here is a look at how some of the top players and teams have fared during this offseason.

Senior point guard Brian Kenny, a three-year varsity player at Colts Neck, has transferred to Jackson Memorial because his family has moved to Jackson.

Kenny has been playing with the Jaguars in the 19team summer league at Hoop Group Headquarters in Neptune, getting acclimated to a team featuring some of the top returning talent in Ocean County.

Kenny joins a squad that includes senior forward Brandon McDonnell, the younger brother of Temple forward Jimmy McDonnell. The younger McDonnell, who is a 6-foot-6 swingman with 3-point range, recently picked up scholarship offers from Navy and New Hampshire, and Dartmouth is also heavily interested.

McDonnell looks to be one of the most highly recruited small forwards in the Shore Conference along with Middletown North senior Jason Huelbig, who has offers from Division II St. Michael’s and UMass-Lowell and interest from several mid-major Division I programs.

Jackson also returns senior swingman Brandon Holup, a 6-5 forward who is also a standout baseball pitcher. Another player with good size, 6-5 sophomore Eric Carter, should give Jackson one of the biggest lineups in the Shore considering Kenny is 6-3 as a point guard. Kenny, meanwhile, has garnered interest from Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania, Colgate, Lafayette, Navy, Davidson, NJIT and Monmouth University in addition to Division II Caldwell College.

swingman Keith Kirkwood and sophomore shooting guard Shakeem Richardson form one of the more talented cores returning. Kirkwood has drawn interest from Iona, Monmouth University, Rutgers and Wake Forest, according to Neptune coach Ken O’Donnell.

guys and they have made it a smooth transition.’’

Kenny had also considered possibly going to Peddie School but said he would have had to reclassify as a junior and did not want to go that route. If Kenny decides to do a post-grad season at a prep school after this season at Jackson Memorial, he said it will be at Peddie.

That group is hoping to rebound from a disappointing season in which the Scarlet Fliers made early exits in the Shore Conference and NJSIAA Tournaments.

Another one of the Shore’s top returning point guards, St. Rose senior Mark Kukoda, has helped a large group of newcomers get acclimated to the varsity level while playing at the league at Hoop Group Headquarters. The Purple Roses graduated a majority of their lineup and will be more of a guard-oriented squad this year.

“It’s been stuck in our heads since we lost to Howell (in the SCT) and Freehold (in the state tournament)’’ Woods said.

“We’re determined this year.

Everybody has to be committed to playing defense and everything will fall into place.’’

“It’s all about adjustment right now Neptune's Jaheem Woods when you have a whole team of JV players coming up,’’ Kukoda said.

One team with a new coach that has looked “Last year we had a lot of size but improved this summer is Toms River North. The now we’re purely guards so we’re Mariners are now coached by former Ocean County going to have to rely on that as more College head man Rory Caswell and return 6-foot-8 of a strong point than a weakness. senior Bill Wrightson as well as sharpshooting guard I’ve been shooting a lot more because Alex Levchenko.

I know I’m not going to be able to get into the lane as much. I’m also “We’re in the gym four days a week, and the kids are working on rebounding because I really responding,’’ Caswell said. “We have some skill. know we will need some help in We just need to get it all together.’’ there.’’

Like Kenny and McDonnell, Kukoda is also an excellent student.

He will be taking visits to Wesleyan and Brandeis University in the first two weeks of August.

The Mariners also have some promising sophomores in guards Kyle Carrington and Jimmy Cleveland.

Wrightson has size that not too many Shore teams can match, while Levchenko has become a more efficient scorer.

A player who has generated interest in multiple sports is Neptune senior guard Jaheem Woods, one of the most explosive returning guards in the Shore. Also a football player, Woods has received interest from Temple, Rutgers, Syracuse and Miami as a defensive back. Woods, who also plays AAU basketball for the ShoreShots, has gotten interest from Monmouth University on the basketball side.

“(Wrightson) has got some size and athleticism,’’ Caswell said. “Right now, we’re just trying to get him to go hard on every possession.’’

What has also helped is that St. Rose's Mark Kukoda Jaguars head coach Joe Fagan is also the coach of Kenny’s AAU team, the ShoreShots, so he has been able to acclimate He is part of a Neptune team that returns its entire to his offense during this summer. lineup except for one reserve forward. Woods, senior point guard Ikie Calderon, senior forward Josh “It’s been easy to fit in right in,’’ Kenny said about Jenkins, senior swingman Fuquan McDonald, junior adjusting to his new team. “This is a great group of

Finally, a Lakewood team that looked like it would take a step back from graduation losses has looked very solid this summer. Despite losing standouts Jarrod Davis and Anthony Walker, point guard Willie Hawkins and big man Da’Quan Kenney to graduation, the Piners return junior guard Tyrice Beverette and senior guard Jameer Jones as well as some upcoming talent.

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A SM / 15 teacher and competitive runner, brought some friends and members of a local running club as well.

The race started and finished at the high school, with 27 intersections in town, and members of the Middletown and Holmdel police departments also helped out.

Several members of the military, including former Keansburg football and baseball players, also participated.

W

h ile th e summer is usually a time for athletes to work on their respective games away from the glare of the spotlight during the school year, more and more it has also become a time for something else – giving back.

A refreshing trend during the offseason, particularly the summer, has been teams using charity work as a team-bonding exercise in addition to helping out the community or the larger world.

A perfect case from earlier this summer is the Keansburg baseball team. Under head coach Brian Kmak, who is also Keansburg’s head football coach, the baseball team took part in the inaugural Titan 5K on June 10. The five-kilometer run/walk went to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that provides programs and services to severely injured armed service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.

Kmak had come across the Wounded Warrior Project’s website online and donated money himself before realizing it could be a great charity that his team could get involved in helping.

“One of the things I was looking to do this year was to find ways for our athletes to do more for others,’’ Kmak said. “When I went on the (WWP) website, I saw there was a section for planning events, and that’s where the idea came from.’’

Kmak and the team, in conjunction with players from Keansburg’s softball team, began to solicit help from the community. They were soon inundated with assistance from all corners of the small town in the Bayshore area of Monmouth County. Two area sponsors signed on as well as a sponsor from New York City, and Beacon Awards & Signs in Middletown donated the awards.

“It was unbelievable,’’ Kmak said. “The kids were all excited. I was completely overwhelmed with the help people were giving us, whether it was sponsorships or food donations from the businesses in town.’’

In its inaugural running, the race attracted more than 200 participants. Members of the baseball and softball teams either participated in the race or served as volunteers, directing runners and manning water stations.

Bronawyn O’Leary, a Keansburg physical education

American soldiers and the sacrifices they have made.

On Thanksgiving, the Titans’ football players realize how fortunate they are to have dinner on their table when they give it out to those who don’t have it. It’s a great

In all, the event raised nearly $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project, showing the power of the community in a town that is only one square mile.

“It’s definitely something that we want to continue,’’ Kmak said.

“I think it shows our kids that there is more to being part of a team than just playing, and that they can have an impact on the community.’’

Kmak, who is a Keansburg graduate, has added the Titan 5K event to the football team’s annual Thanksgiving charity work, when members of the Titans help provide a Thanksgiving dinner to local families at a firehouse in Keansburg.

The charity events not only give the athletes a meaningful experience but also show that there are good things happening in a town that has had its troubles.

“I think sometimes that there can be so many negative headlines about Keansburg that it’s nice to show that there are some positive things going on in our town as well,’’ he said.

lesson that the world does not always revolve around them or their sport. It provides the perspective that winning or losing a game is not the end of the world.

The events also function as team-bonding exercises.

Players have to work together for the common goal of pulling off a successful event, and they get to know one another better off the field. They also know that the guy putting in hours to help assist in a charity event is someone who shows the type of dedication that earns them trust from teammates when the season rolls around.

Also, as Kmak indicated in his comments about the Keansburg community, these events often serve as a reminder that the world isn’t as harsh a place as it sometimes seems. Just when civility and knowing your neighbors seem to be archaic concepts, a community rallies for a great cause to show that people still do care about more than themselves and their families.

These charity functions also broaden athletes’ horizons and give them some perspective. They realize that there is a world out there beyond the narrow prism of their sport and their friends. In Keansburg’s case, they realize the toll that a succession of wars overseas has taken on

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Volume-III

Issue-14

7/25/11

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