Shore Sports Network High School Sports 2-4-14 Vol-VI Issue-3

February 4, 2014 Volume-VI Issue-3

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Featuredin This Issue

3-4Kathy Snyder,Southern Hall of

Fame Girls Basketball & FieldHockey Coach, Honored

6Roman Quinn BeginsComeback with BlueClaws

8-9ONE FORTHE RECORD BOOKS

12Six FBS Recruits HighlightSigning Day in the Shore

14RYPT Showcases LocalPlayers in Inaugural

Football Combine

15Stumpy’s Corner


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One by one, they walked up into thebleachers in the gym at Southern Regionalon Jan. 28th, serving as the living, breathinglegacy of a coach who was never aboutimpressive numbers on a piece of paper or aHall of Fame

More than 200 women who played for the Rams during the legendary35-year tenure of Kathy Snyder came to say goodbye in person one lasttime to their old field hockey and basketball coach during a memorial onJan. 28th. From players on this season’s team to women in their 50s, frommothers carrying children to girls who were children themselves only afew years ago, they all shared similar stories of a woman who deeplyimpacted their lives.

Snyder died in her sleep at 58 years old on Jan. 24, leaving behindKen Snyder, her husband of 27 years, stepson Brett Snyder, thecouple’s three children, Brandon, Erin and Morgan, onegrandchild and a grieving Southern community.

“When asked what I planned on majoring in college, myresponse was, ‘Being Kathy Snyder,’’’ said JennaLombardo, a standout on the 2006 Southern fieldhockey team.

More than a thousand people came to celebrateSnyder at her second home, the court where she spenttwo-thirds of her life and the de facto playroom forher three children in their youth.

“There really is no better place toremember our mom than the place wherewe all grew up,’’ her daughter, ErinSnyder, said at the memorial. “We areso glad we got to share ourmother with you.”

From her beginnings as astar athlete dubbed “TheBlonde Bomber” at ShoreRegional in the early1970s to her legendarytenure at Southern inwhich she won acombined 857games betweenfield hockey andbasketball,Snyder’s corevalues were alwaysthere. A fiercecompetitor and achampion for genderequality in sports with agenerous heart underneaththe hard exterior, Snydershaped a generation ofwomen at Southern as acoach, a physicaleducation teacher and adriver’s education instructor.

“She came into our lives at such a vulnerableage and made a life-long impact on all of us,’’ saidCandace McCallum, a star on the 1994-95basketball team. “She was there to push us to tearsand then offer a shoulder to cry on when we didn’tthink we could go any further.”

Unforgettable from the StartBefore Snyder became a coach who led the

Rams to 547 wins, 11 division titles and a sectionalchampionship in basketball as well as 310 wins,eight division titles and a Shore ConferenceTournament championship in field hockey, she wasa star athlete herself at Shore Regional.

“She was larger than life,’’said Nancy Williams, a

legend in her own right andSnyder’s former coach.

Snyder was first-teamAll-Shore in field hockey, basketball and track forthe Blue Devils back when she was known asKathy Leslie. She was a state high jump championand a darling of the sportswriters. One headlineafter she helped the Blue Devils beat Brick inbasketball to win the Shore Conference titlesimply said, “Kathy Did It.”

Her toughness and crackling personality were alsofully formed as a 17-year-old. Williams had taught herthe then-innovative Fosbury flop in the high jump, which

she used to win a state championship. She also usedit to show that she would not take a backseat to

anyone just because she was a female at a timewhen girls’ sports were often disrespected.

“One day I set the bar to five feet, four inches,and our athletic director came in screaming atme,’’ Williams said. “He said, ‘You can’t let herjump backwards.’ I said, ‘Why not?’ He flatlysaid, ‘Because she’s a girl.’ The words no soonercame out of his mouth when Kathy took off,

jumped over the bar and me, jumped out ofthe pit and glared at him. He turned

around, left the gym, and it was neverbrought up again.”

Snyder starred in four sports atwhat is now The College of New

Jersey, did her student teaching atRed Bank Regional, and then was

immediately hired by Southern, whichquickly saw the confidence in her thatmany athletes for the Rams over the yearswould recognize. Snyder’s good friend,Sue Sharkey, was on the first basketballteam that Snyder ever coached in 1982,and by that time she was well aware of

Snyder’s aura before she became a legend.

“She just exuded confidence,’’

Sharkey said. “You’d probably say now, she’s got swag. I was 12 yearsold (when they first met), and I just knew I wanted some of that.”

Legendary CareerWhen Sharkey began her career with the Rams, the girls basketball

team was shoved off into the middle school gym for practices and games.By the time she graduated, they had their own locker room and used thehigh school gym because Snyder was not going to let the girls be treatedlike second-class citizens. Sharkey went on to serve as an assistant underSnyder in field hockey and basketball, and both of her daughters playedfor her.

As the wins piled up and the legend grew, Snyder’s presence on thesideline became easily recognizable. Her piercing voice could be heardthrough the din of a roaring crowd while she was in her customary stanceon one knee on the sideline. A generation of players can still rememberher voice echoing off the gym wall as she uttered signature phrases like“Suck it up!” and “News flash: Life’s not fair, get over it!”

She called all her players by their last names only, and they returned thefavor by simply calling her “Snyder.”

“People used to ask, ‘Does she even know your first names?”McCallum said.

“If you were around a hockey field or a basketball court between 1994and 1998, you probably heard the coach yelling, ‘Naughton!’ the entiregame,’’ said former Rams athlete Jess Naughton. “Sometimes I think sheeven yelled my name while I was sitting on the bench, and I had toremind her that I wasn’t even in the game. I went to bed hearing thatname.

“I learned that it was those that she truly believed in that got yelled atthe most. This was her way of saying, I know you can do better, and I’mgoing to prove it to you.”

When the yelling stopped after Naughton wrapped up her senior

A group of more than 200 current and former players was part ofthe crowd that gathered to honor Southern Regional coaching

legend Kathy Snyder

Kathy Snyder, Southern Hallof Fame Girls Basketball &Field Hockey Coach, HonoredB y S c o t t S t u m p – M a n a g i n g E d i t o r

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATIONContact : Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 smeyer@al lshoremed ia .com

S e eSnyder

pag e 4


4 V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

basketball season, Snyder sent her a personal note.

“In it she wrote ‘Jess, you’ve added so much to my life as a coach andas a person, and I would’ve felt honored to have a daughter like you,’’’Naughton said at the memorial. “That was the greatest compliment in theeight seasons I played for you, and for that I deeply thank you. I pray Ihear your voice one more time when I go to sleep.”

Snyder also made sure her voice was the only one that would be heardat games, encouraging her girls to treat opponents and officials withrespect. She would handle the rest.

“There were times during the Toms River North games where wewould look at each other and think, ‘Did she really just say that to him?’’’McCallum recalled about Snyder laying into referees. “They tried to keepher in the coaching box a few times, and you could imagine how thatwent over.”

Her competitiveness was legendary, as she would sometimes yank herbasketball players right out of class during the day and bring them to thegym because she had come up with a new play or strategy and wanted tosee it in action. Her teams earned respect, which was evidenced by all thevarsity jackets in the crowd on Tuesday night from rivals like the threeToms River schools, Barnegat, Central, and more.

The hard shell had a sweet center, though, as many girls can rememberlunch money materializing out of nowhere or a new pair of sneakers foran athlete in need appearing in a locker without Snyder saying a word.Former player Stephanie Reiser from the 2000 basketball team recalledthe team toilet-papering her house and finding out she knew about it allalong and just didn’t want to break up the fun. Another year, she got windthat the players were planning a stealth mission to decorate Toms RiverEast’s field with Southern paraphernalia in advance of a big game, andshe loaded up the team in her big blue conversion van and joined in.

The rough edges also began to be sanded down by the birth of hergranddaughter, Waverly. The members of this year’s field hockey team

knew Friday’s practice wouldend early and Saturday’spractice would be easy whenWaverly was in town for a visit.

She was able to effortlesslyswitch from demandingtaskmaster to empatheticsurrogate mother. Jodie Davis,one of the players on her 1994basketball team, got in a seriouscar accident the night before theRams were set to play rivalToms River North in the statetournament. She ended upwith10 stitches in her head andher mother broke her leg.Snyder somehow knew exactlywhen she was getting to schoolthat day and was there tocomfort her.

“She was there to greet meand make sure I was OK as well as my mom,’’ Davis said before smiling.“And to make sure I could play.”

The toughness that Snyder preached was something she also practiced.In 2006, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, yet continued to coach.She would schedule treatments during free periods at school. During fieldhockey games, she would casually walk behind the dugout near the fieldand vomit from her treatments while no one was looking.

“I think God knew he had to take Snyder in her sleep because shewould’ve fought him off and won if she had been awake,’’ Reiser said.

Almost nothing could keep her from the sideline. Sharkey can distinctlyremember Sept. 19, 1989, because it was her first and only varsitycoaching victory while serving as Snyder’s assistant.

“That was the day Brandon was born,’’ Sharkey said. “I thought I might

get a second win a fewdays later, but Kathy wasalready back.”

It’s that type ofresilience that hasparticularly helped theMansuy family. RaymondMansuy, the husband ofSnyder’s longtimeassistant and best friend,Paula Mansuy, was buriedat 59 years old only threedays before Snyder died.For 30 years, Paula wasby Snyder’s side, helpingher bring bagels to schoolevery morning, trying toorganize Snyder’scluttered office, helpingher technophobic friendwith computers, andmaking sure reporters

knew about Snyder’s win totals and accomplishments because Snydernever kept track of things like that.

“I still can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the events of thesepast two weeks,’’ said Jamie Mansuy, the couple’s only child. “It’s stilljust all so surreal. (Snyder was) a second mother to me.”

Throughout a memorial that lasted 2 ½ hours and also included songsby the school choir and a video tribute to her life, Snyder’s spirit wasvibrantly alive. When Brett Snyder’s final prayer for his stepmother wasover, the 200-plus women in the audience proud to call her their coachgathered in the bleachers to form a living testimonial to Snyder, her voicestill echoing in their heads all these years later.

“Please continue to watch all of us,” Jamie Mansuy said. “And for thelove of God, please try to keep your voice down up there.”

Junior Kevin Bloodgood

SnyderC o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 3


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After suffering his second majorinjury in a stretch of four months,2013 Lakewood BlueClawsshortstop Roman Quinn isbouncing back both physically andmentally and hopes to be betterthan ever when he returns to thefield this coming season.Following recovery from a broken left wrist hesuffered in mid-season when he was hit by a pitch, thePhillies shortstop prospect experienced the secondconsiderable physical setback of 2013 when he rupturedhis right Achilles tendon while running sprints duringroutine workouts earlier this off-season. After thesecond considerable blow to his health, Quinn foundhimself with a feeling of defeat and went through aperiod of seclusion.

The 20-year-old was the Phils’ second round draftchoice in 2011 and was the among the organization’s

top prospect, according to manyoutlets, heading into last season.

Surgery to repair the Achilles wascompleted nearly three months agoand Quinn is already ahead ofschedule.

Praised for his fleet-footed effortsin beating out grounders for hits,swiping bags with ease and takingextra bases where others couldn’t,Quinn doesn’t feel as though hisrecent injury will impact the keyweapon of his game, his speed.

“No worries at all. I did myresearch and all I gotta do is trainhard and next year, I’ll be backstronger,” Quinn said in his firstinterview since undergoing surgery.

Initially, though, the realization that he’d be out ofaction for another lengthy stretch, with such atroublesome ailment, highly discouraged the Port St.

Joe, FL native. It wasdiscussions with anotherPhillies minor leaguer whohad been through Achillessurgery that allowed Quinnto bounce backpsychologically.

“It brought me down reallow, man,” Quinn explained.“It was just verydiscouraging until I talkedwith Albert Cartwright,actually. He had the sameinjury. I talked to him abouthis injury and everything andhe was just telling me, ‘Staywith it and just go hard inyour rehab, man, and you can

come back even faster, even stronger.’ ‘Cause that’sexactly what he did and as soon as I heard that, it gaveme all my confidence back.”

Cartwright, who was originally a Houston draft pickand joined the Phillies in a trade prior to the 2011

Roman Quinn Begins Comebackwith BlueClawsBy Jay Floyd Pro Baseball Insider

7V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

season, became good friendswith Quinn when Cartwrightwas making a comeback in thespring of 2012. Cartwright,who was very happy to sharedetails of his personal triumphswith the younger Quinn, wasaway from the diamond for sixmonths and didn’t play in agame for seven months, whilehe recovered from surgery onhis right Achilles tendon in2011.

The 26-year-old Cartwrightsays there’s no lasting impacton his health, relating to his game play.

“It’s funny because people ask me about how my footis doing, if it still gives me problems and I chucklebecause I think I worry about my other foot more thanthe one I injured,” Cartwright said.

Quinn, who was still adapting to a new position (hewas mostly an outfielder in high school prior to turningpro) and working to develop his skills at switch-hitting

(Quinn is a natural rightybatter) last year, was farfrom satisfied with theefforts he put forth in 2013with the BlueClaws. Theyoungster feels, though, thatthe struggles to this pointwill help him be tougher onthe field and between hisears.

“I really think that this isgoing to help me out a lot,”Quinn stated. “It could be ablessing in disguise. I thinkthat anything to help me

slow everything down again and getting everythingfigured out mentally, because mentally is, like, thebiggest part of the game, I think it would make me atougher player. Facing more adversity and overcomingthat, man, it’s gonna play out real well.”

As a member of the BlueClaws last year, the five-foot-ten 170-pounder batted .238 with five home runs, 21RBI and 32 stolen bases. Quinn made his professional

debut with Class-A short-season Williamsport in 2012,posting a .281 batting average with a homer, 23 RBI anda league leading 30 steals in 66 contests. He was alsotops in the New York-Penn League in triples with 11and runs scored with 56 in his first year in the minors.

With a daily routine that includes 10 minutes ofwalking on a treadmill, 10 minutes on an exercise bike,loads of stretching and calf raises as well as a normalgym routine for the rest of his body, Quinn is pain-freeand optimistic for a mid-season return in 2014. He iscurrently targeting late June or early July this year toparticipate in game action.

“I’m feeling great. My Achilles doesn’t bother me atall. It just gets real tight some days and I have to stretchit out. It’s feeling really good. I’m feeling really goodabout my recovery and coming back to play.”

Quinn would likely see action in the rookie level GulfCoast League Phillies, who play in Clearwater, FL,where organizational training staff could continue tomonitor and work with youngster, before he might makea return to Lakewood’s FirstEnergy Park.


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he time had come for Howell’s wrestlersto rise to the occasion to bring home a

championship. this much was clear.

The Rebels had been here before, though, only to watch their dreams wilt in front of their eyes. Brick Memorial, a nemesis of sorts for Howell, had asizable lead that was cut down by five straight clutch victories by the Rebels. All that was left to do was something Howell had been unable to

accomplish in years past: close the deal.

On February1st at Red Bank Regional, Kris Lindemann erased years of frustration and disappointment withone incredible performance.

The Rebels sophomore took the mat withhis team leading Shore Conference

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer


9V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

Tournament No. 1 seed and 14-time champion Brick Memorial bythree with two bouts left. His opponent was Joe Ghione, theMustangs’ two-time state medalist and two-time Region VIchampion who was finally making his return to the mat after aninjury sidelined him on Dec. 21.

Ghione grabbed an early lead, but Lindemann clawed back withauthority, twice locking in cradles and nearly earning a fall in a16-8 major decision that gave the third-seeded Rebels a seven-point lead to clinch their first Shore Conference Tournament titlein program history, 28-27 over Brick Memorial.

“I knew if I could keep it close and get it into the latesecond, early third period I could take it because hewouldn’t have the energy and the stamina since hewas just coming back,” Lindemann said. “I knew hewouldn’t be able to power through (the cradle)because his arm wasn’t full strength. Ithought I had the pin, almostdid, but the back pointsworked and I got themajor to lock upthe match.”

Ghione, who sprained his elbow in the season-opening TCNJ PrideTournament and wrestled in his first bout since on Saturday, grabbed

a 4-1 lead after the first period with a pair of takedowns.Lindemann worked to his feet in the second period to make it 4-

2, then took Ghione down and locked up a cradle for threenear-fall points to take a 7-4 lead. Off a restart with 10seconds left in the second period, he again put Ghione to hisback to take a 10-4 lead. A reversal by Ghione made it 10-6,

and after cutting Lindemann free he took him down once more tocut the lead to 11-8. But Lindemann still had one more big move left.

He reversed Ghione to push his lead to 13-8, then found the cradle yetagain. He nearly finished the bout with a pin each time, but his points were

more than enough to give Howell the lead for good.

“Al l I could do was jump up and downand scream,” said senior Kyle Cocozza.“I don’t know what I was screaming,but I was screaming. I couldn’t s topthinking about how we just did i t .”

“It’s one of the best feelings in the world knowing you locked up thematch,” Lindemann said.

This was Howell’s fourth trip to the SCT final. The Rebels lostto Brick Memorial, 48-12, in 1989, to Long Branch, 30-25 in2008, and again to Brick Memorial, 34-24, in 2012. In the lasttwo SCT finals, Howell had the lead only to see achampionship slip through its grasp. The Rebels lost the finalsix bouts in 2008 and the final three in 2012. This was timewas different, and it had to be.

When Tyler Poling walked off the mat after pinning NateLitowsky at 220 pounds, Brick Memorial had a 21-9 lead. Cocozza

then delivered a 6-4 victory over Nick Rivera at heavyweight witha takedown in the final 20 seconds. His win started a streak of six

straight wins by Howell to close out the match.

“To be honest, that makes it thatmuch better winning how we

did,” Cocozza said. “Overand over losing to Brick,

losing to Jackson. To beable to come over the

Howell senior Jimmy Slendorn vs. BM junior Luis Bocalman at 120 pounds

S e erecord

pag e 1 0Howell senior Kyle Cocozza vs. BM freshman Nick Rivera at heavyweight


10 V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

hill and the way we did it. The big thing on the bench was wenever though we were out of the match.”

Howell’s wrestlers knew the stigma that surrounded them. Theywere a great program, but…

“But we could never get that championship,” Lindemann said.“This feels great.”

The Rebels won nine of the 13 contested bouts before forfeitingto Anthony Mitchel in the final bout at 138 pounds. Cocozza’s winwas crucial, as was Peter Dee’s 1-0 victory over Gianni Ghione at106 between two of the best in the state. Nick Lurski won a 1-0tossup over Connor Owen at 170 and Joey Schultz made the cut to160 pounds for the first time this season to defeat Cliff Ruggiero,3-1, on a takedown with five seconds left in the third period. BrickMemorial received pins from Alec Donovan, Nick Costa andPoling, while Rob Ruggiero won by decision over Jack Rada, 8-3,at 152 pounds.

“This is very big,” Schultz said. “Wehaven’t won but we’ve been in thefinals a few times. We always came upshort, so it’s just big to take it home,finally.”

Alec Donovan’s pin at 145 gave Brick Memorial a 6-0 lead, andRuggiero’s win pushed it to 9-0 after two bouts. Schultzand Lurski won to cut the deficit to 9-6, andStephen Boncimino’s 3-2 win over BobbyMitler at 182 pounds tied the match atnine. Costa pinned Sean Silverstein at195 and Poling decked Litowsky inthe third period to give theMustangs a 21-9 lead. Itwas the last contestedbout BrickMemorial wouldwin.

Decision’s byCocozza andDee broughtHowell towithin six at 21-

15, and MikeySisolak

and Jimmy Slendorn earned decisions at 113 and 120, respectively, to tiethe match at 21. At 126 pounds, sophomore Anthony Gagliano, the son of17th-year head coach John Gagliano, held off Jose Bocalman to win 5-4and set up Lindemann’s heroics.

“We have a lineup that everyoneranted and raved about and,that this is the year,” Cocozzasaid. “To work hard in theroom and to come out

tonight and wrestle theway we know how towrestle and win, it’s

an unbelievablefeeling I can’tput intowords.”

RecordC o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 9

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION & COLOR RE-PRINTS OF ANY PAGESContact : Steven Meyer 732-233 -4460 smeyer@al lshoremedia .com

Sophomore Kris Lindemann vs. BM senior Joe Ghione at 132 pounds

by:B o b B a d d e r s

www.shoresportsnetwork.com

Photos by:B i l l N o r m i l e

w w w . b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m


A SAMPL ING OF CURRENT AND FORMER MAC ALL -STARS

n Sehmonyeh Allen—Neptunen Sean Armand—Jacqueline Kennedy

Onassis HS (NY)n Delvon Arrington—St. Anthony’sn Brian Baker—Colts Neck n Mustafa Barksdale—RBR n Robert Barksdale—Asbury Parkn Billy Beggans—Ocean Township n Kate Beriont—St. John Vianney n Steve Bridgemohan—E Brunswick n Josh Brody—RBR n Brandon Brown—Freehold Boro n Yesenia Burgos—St. John Vianney n Rashon Bruno—St. Anthony’s n Courtney Calderon—St. John Vianney n Isaias Calderon—Neptune n Quarran Calhoun—Raritan n Shilique Calhoun – Middletown North n Richard Calia—Holmdel n Cooper Calzonetti—Neptune n Chasen Campbell—Oak Hill

Academy (VA)n Cleveland Cannon—

Long Branch n Raheem Carter—Long Branch n Corey Chandler—East Side n Markens Charles —St. Patrickn Robert Cheeks—St. Anthony’s n Rahmir Cottman—RBR n Vincent Council—Lincoln (NY)n Don Coven—Long Branch n Jared Craddox—Lakewood n Sumit Dalal—Marlboron Charles Davis—Neptunen Syessence Davis—Neptunen Paul De Salvo—CBA n Allen Dean—Neptune

n Taquan Dean—Neptune

n Dana Jean DeGennaro—RBC n Chris Delaney—CBA n Pat Delaney—CBAn Jose Diaz—Pt. Pleasant Beach n Mark Donnelly—RBR n Sean Dunne—CBA n Kristian Duravcevic—Fordham Preparatory

School (NY) n Mike Faherty—Brooklyn Polytech n Matt Farrell—Pt. Pleasant Beach n Crissie Fisher—Rumson-Fair Haven n Sarah Fisher—RBR n Adam Fleischner—Holmdel n Colin Ford—Manasquan n Glen Ford—RBC

n Greg Ford—Trenton Central n Avery Gardner—Long Branch n Billy Gilligan—RBR n Tyler Glass—Mater Dei Prep n Erica Gomez—St. John Vianney n Dana Graziano—Holmdel n Kevin Grier—CBAn Paul Halas—St. Rose n Felicia Harris—RBR n Michael Harris—Randolph n Mykel Harris—Great Mills (MD)n Ashley Hart—The Peddie Schooln Eugene “Nu Nu” Harvey—St. Benedict’s Prepn Corey Haskins—RBR n JR Hobbie—Manasquan n Kasey Hobbie—RBC n Darien Hutton—Ewing n Nolan Ivers—Holmdel n Jasmine Jackson—Old Bridge

n Rosie Jackson—St. John Vianney n Melvin Johnson—St. Benedict’s Prep n Tyson Johnson—St. Mary’s (NY) n Michael Kelly—St. Anthony’s (NY)n Billy Kiss—Long Branch n Nick La Morte—Mater Dei Prep n Herve Lamizana—St. Patrick’s n Erin Leahy—Rumson-Fair Haven n Carl Little—Asbury Park

n Maggie Loundy—Pt. Pleasant Beachn Mike Mavrinac—Middletown South

n Jasmine McCall—Manalapan n Billy McCue—CBAn Roshown McLeod—St. Anthony’s n Christian Morris—S. Kent School (CT)n Darius Morris—Long Branch n Valerie Morris—Freehold Boron Michael Murphy—Howelln Sachin Nagpal—Ranney School n Brian O’Reilly—Middletown South

n Karen Otrupchak—RBRn Kevin Owens—Neptunen Toni Panza—St. John Vianneyn Evan Pastorelle—RBCn Shinece Perry—RBR n Anthony Perry—St. Anthony’sn Earl Pettis—Saints John Neumann &

Maria Goretti Catholic (PA) n Simon Press—Asbury Parkn Joey Raines—Asbury Parkn Alifiya Rangwala— The Ranney Schooln David Reeves—RBCn Jarelle Reischel—Pt. Pleasant Beach n Anne Richards—The Lawrenceville Schooln Charlie Rogers—Matawann Amanda Rosato—St. John Vianney n Will Sanborn—RBRn Shira Schect—Hadassim HS (ISRAEL)n Keyron Sheard—RBRn Brian Snodgrass—Holmdel n Lauren Sokol—The Peddie Schooln Stephen Spinella—Colts Neckn Matt Stahl—Middletown Southn Missy Stavola—Rumson-Fair Haven n Jenna Strich—RBCn Scott Stump—RBC n Kim Talbot—RBC n Aaron Tarver—RBR n Terrance Todd—Neptune n Maurice Turpin— Long Branch n John Weldon—Freehold Boro n Dawn Werner—St. John Vianney n John Werner—St John Vianneyn Kayshanna Wesley—Asbury Park n Kade Weston—RBR n Eric Yarborough—Asbury Park n Tomora Young—RBR n Terry Zinn—RBC n Lynne Zoltowski—RBC

V i s i t o u r web s i t e , www.mac t e s t i n g . c om

1 1V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4


Six Football Bowl Subdivisionrecruits headlined another bannerclass of Shore Conference footballstars who made their collegecommitments official on NationalSigning Day.

The group of Red Bank Catholic offensive linemanQuenton Nelson (Notre Dame); Southern wide receiverMike Gesicki (Penn State); Manalapan wide receiverSaeed Blacknall (Penn State); Rumson-Fair Havendefensive end Donald Bedell (Rutgers); Raritanoffensive lineman Pat Toal (Old Dominion) and ColtsNeck running back/defensive end Anthony Gargiulo(Navy) were part of the group of Shore standouts whosigned their binding National Letter of Intent on Feb. 5.

Nelson was rated as the No. 29 overall recruit in thecountry at any position from the Class of 2014 byRivals.com after helping the Caseys to a secondstraight 10-1 season and another No. 1 overall rankingin the Shore Sports Network Top 10. A two-time, first-team All-Shore selection and one of the best offensiveline prospects ever from the Shore, he joins a NotreDame program that recently graduated standoutcornerback and team captain Bennett Jackson, a Raritangraduate.

Gesicki and Blacknall, a pair of two-time, first-teamAll-Shore selections, both head to Penn State to playfor new coach James Franklin. Gesicki, who playedwide receiver for the Rams but is considered one of thetop tight end prospects in the nation, committed to PennState earlier in the fall. Blacknall, one of New Jersey’stop wideouts, had been verbally committed to Rutgerssince August before flipping to Penn State on Jan. 26.They join a Nittany Lions program that currentlyincludes defensive end Garrett Sickels (Red BankRegional) and kicker/punter Chris Gulla (Toms RiverNorth).

Bedell, another Shore Sports Network first-team All-Shore pick, joins a Rutgers program that had 11 of itsverbal commits flip to other schools. Bedell was oneof the Shore’s top pass rushers and helped theBulldogs win their second Central Jersey Group II titlein school history in the fall. He will be part of aRutgers team that currently includes quarterback MikeBimonte (Manalapan) and offensive lineman RyanBrodie (Long Branch).

Toal, who is also a standout heavyweight wrestler,committed to Old Dominion over the summer andjoins a team that currently includes defensive tackleMalik Gumbs (Matawan) and long-snapper RickLovato (Middletown South). Gargiulo, another SSNfirst-team All-Shore pick, became the first FBS recruitin Colts Neck program history by signing with Navyafter finishing his career as the school’s all-time

leader in rushing yards, touchdowns and tackles.

There also were a host of Football ChampionshipSubdivision signees from the Shore Conference,including four recruits headed to Monmouth University.Colts Neck lineman Ryan Wetzel, Brick Memorialsafety Mike Basile, Monsignor Donovanquarterback/defensive back Vinny Grasso, and Rumson-Fair Haven offensive lineman Peter Righi all signedwith the Hawks.

Here is a list of the college commitments thatwere reported to Shore Sports Network.

Mike Basile, RB/DB,•Brick Memorial(Monmouth University)

Donald Bedell, DE,•Rumson-FH (Rutgers)

Blaine Birch, LB,•Manasquan(Assumption College)

Daquane Bland-•Bennett, RB/DB,Asbury Park (WestVirginia Wesleyan)

Maurice Diawara,•DE, Lakewood(Wagner)

Six FBS Recruits HighlightSigning Day in the ShoreB y S c o t t S t u m p – M a n a g i n g E d i t o r

12 V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4


Joey Fields, WR/RB/DB,•Msgr. Donovan (CentralConnecticut State)

Matt Forst, OL/DL,•Manasquan (CheshireAcademy)

Anthony Gargiulo,•RB/DE, Colts Neck(Navy)

Mike Gesicki, WR,•Southern (Penn State)

Justin Gille, OL/DL, St. John•Vianney (Lehigh)

Vinny Grasso, QB/DB, Msgr.•Donovan (Monmouth University)

Matt Gudzak, RB, Toms River East (Villanova)•

Darrius Hart, WR/DB, Toms River South (University of Maine)•

Tayler Hendrickson, TE/DT, Middletown South (University of Pennsylvania)•

Dan Loizos, LB, Ocean (Ithaca College)•

Shawn McCord, DE, Red Bank Catholic (St. Francis, Pa.)•

Matt Muh, QB, Shore Regional (Bucknell)•

Quenton Nelson, OL/DL, Red Bank Catholic (Notre Dame)•

Tim O’Hara, OL, Red Bank Catholic (Lehigh University)•

Chris Okupski, OL, Shore Regional (University of Maine)•

Julanee Prince, WR, St. John Vianney (Sacred Heart)•

Larry Redaelli, RB, Red Bank Catholic (Assumption College)•

Peter Righi, OL, Rumson-FH (Monmouth University)•

Monte Sinisi, OL/DL, Manasquan (Univ. of Rhode Island)•

Pat Toal, OL, Raritan (Old Dominion)•

Nick Tomkins, TE/DE, Matawan (Dartmouth)•

Christian Tutela, WR/DB, Lacey (Marist)•

Mike Ververka, FB/LB, Colts Neck (Carnegie Mellon)•

Ryan Wetzel, OL/DL, Colts Neck (Monmouth University)•

Noah Yates, WR/DB, Point Beach (Yale)•

Saeed Blacknall, WR, Manalapan (Penn State)•

13V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

B i l l N o r m i l e w w w . b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

Cliff Lavellew w w . c l e a r e d g e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

Photos by


The Elite Sports Performance Center, home of Reach YourPotential Training (RYPT), Elite Sports Physical Therapy andTurn2 Sports Consulting, recently hosted the Inaugural RYPTFootball Combine Classic, which showcased the area’s tophigh school football players in the Shore Conference,measuring their speed, agility, strength and power. Based offthe current NFL Combine model, players from both Oceanand Monmouth County competed in a battery of tests in frontof coaches, teammates and opponents to set their mark intoday’s highly competitive recruiting market in hopes ofcatching the eyes of college coaches and establish theirconfidence in playing at the next level. The tests measuredincluded:

Vertical Jump: max height on Vertec ® system•Long Jump: 2 attempts max distance•10yd and 40yd run: 2 attempts each, with electronic•Brower Timing Systems ® 3-Cone (L-Drill) and Pro-Shuttle (5-10-5): 2 attempts•eachBench Press: 155lb, 185lb and 225lb testing, max reps•Hand, arm length, height and bodyweight measurements•

“It was important for us to do this the right way,” said AdamFeit, former NFL and Division I Strength & ConditioningCoach and now Director of Sports Performance for RYPT.“Often, athletes come back from mass number regional campsdisappointed because they felt their testing was rushed orwasn’t recorded properly. Then they’re left using thosenumbers on recruiting questionnaires and meetings withcoaches, which do not leave them very confident in theirability to be recruited or play at the next level.

Aaron Mora, rising senior and running back for NeptuneHigh School, turned in an impressive showing for the SKILLgroup, winning two of the events and the overall group classwith a 4.43 electric timed 40 yard sprint and 17 reps on the185lbs bench press test. Not far behind him was seniorrunning back, Jeremy Concepcion (Midd South), who timed a4.40 5-10-5 shuttle and 14 reps in the 185lbs bench test,solidifying 2nd place. Freshman free safety, Anthony Lotti(Freehold Township) took home 3rd with two 1st place

finishes in the vertical jump (32 inches)and long jump (9’ 8”).

For the semi group, linebacker RichEknoian (Wall), ran past his competitionwith an electric timed 4.90 second 40ydsprint, 4.41 second 5-10-5 shuttle and an8’3 long jump. Right behind him wasBrett Habich, tight end for Red BankCatholic, turning in three 2nd placefinishes in the speed and agility events anda 1st place in the vertical jump with 26inches. Rounding out 3rd place wasConnor Rempel of Shore Regional HighSchool.

Lastly, the line group was nonethelessan impressive group to watch as QuentonNelson, senior offensive lineman for Red Bank Catholic andNotre Dame commit, dominated his opponents with a jawdropping 22 reps on the 225lbs bench press test and turning ina solid 8.22 second 3-cone and 4.87 second 5-10-5 shuttletimes. Will Gulick, freshman offensive lineman forMiddletown South, took home 2nd place overall and 1st intwo events with a 24 inch vertical jump and 8’ 4.5” long jump.Taking home third in the line group was Brian Joyce, anotherMiddletown South lineman, who dominated the 40yd sprint,3-cone and 5-10-5 shuttle, taking home 1st place in all three.

“Some guys left a little disappointed in their overall scoresor performances, but they understand where they stand nowand know which areas need the most work,” said BobbySmith, Owner and Founder of RYPT. “Knowing exactly whatyou can do is half the battle. Now they can use this to fueltheir off-season goals and training. Whether it’s speed andagility or total body strength work, they can meet with theirsports coaches and our performance team to devise a plan tomake sure they are at their very best next season”.

The 16,000 square foot sports performance facility,modeled after the US Olympic Training Center, wasted notime and organized all logistics and event details to run asmooth event. Ryan Gunningsmith, Assistant Football Coach

for Springfield College(MA), said, “It was anamazing set-up.Adam Feit andthe RYPT staffthought of everydetail possible toensure a qualityand fun testingenvironment forall the athletesand spectatorstoday. It was agreatopportunity forour staff to comedown and checkout the Shore

Conferenceand seewho’s stillavailable.We wereable to talkwith a hostof youngmen who wefeel can helpus up here atSpringfield.I’mdefinitelylookingforward tothe nextone.”

Coaches from Springfield College and Farleigh DickinsonUniversity were in attendance along with on site sponsorsfrom Cytosport (Muscle Milk), Professional OrthopaedicsAssociates, Turn2 Sports Consulting and Salad Shackrestaurant. Results, pictures and information from the combinecan be found at www.igotrypt.com.

14 V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

RYPT Showcases Local Playersin Inaugural Football CombineB y Adam Feit - Director of Sports Performance at Reach Your Potential Training, Inc.

Photos by

Sport Shots WLBw w w . s p o r t s h o t s w l b . c o m


FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATIONContact : Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 smeyer@al lshoremed ia .com

15V O L UM E - V I / I S S U E - 3 / 2 / 4 / 1 4

For more than25 years, whenever Rumson-FairHaven girls basketball coach GeorgeSourlis hit a milestone win, he couldexpect a phone call from a fellowaccomplished coach who had morethan her share of landmarkvictories.

When Sourlis picked up his 600th career win on Jan. 24th inthe Bulldogs’ 44-38 victory over host Holmdel, he knew thatcall would not be coming. Southern’s Kathy Snyder, theRams’ head coach of 35 years, died at 58 years old in hersleep on the morning of Sourlis' landmark win. Her loss leftthe Shore Conference community mourning the passing of alegend whose teams won over 500 games during her tenure.

“My heart goes out to her family and her kids and thepeople at Southern because we lost an icon,” Sourlis saidwhile trying to hold back tears. “We lost somebody who waspassionate and loved what she did. I can’t even talk becauseI’m so overwhelmed. When I got the news today, I wasdevastated.

“She would always call me and I would call her if we hit amilestone. I’m not getting that call today.”

Snyder was the longest-tenured girls basketball coach in theShore Conference, and now Sourlis inherits that mantle afterbecoming the first girls coach in conference history to reach600 wins. He has spent more than half his life coaching theBulldogs.

“It’s a great number, but there are certain things in life thatyou have to really cherish every day,” Sourlis said. “(Snyder’sdeath) puts that in perspective.”

Fresh out of college, Sourlis began his career at his almamater in the 1986-87 season after being talked into it by hisyounger sister, Dorothy Sourlis, who was a sophomore at thetime for a Bulldogs team that was in need of a coach. Hefigured he would help her out, so he coached the last threeseasons of her brilliant career with no initial intention ofstaying much longer.

“Everybody at that time was questioning me saying, ‘Areyou going to stay now that your sister is graduating?” Sourlissaid. “Out of spite, I stayed, thinking, ‘I’m going to show youguys.’ Then it became something that is part of my life. It’smy passion. I love it.”

Sourlis’ legacy has since grown to include 14 NJSIAAsectional championships, five Group championships and fiveappearances in the Tournament of Champions. He also led the

Bulldogs to appearances in the Shore Conference Tournamentfinals in 2006 and 2007.

On Friday night, the Bulldogs achieved the win in typicalfashion under Sourlis, clamping down on defense with the

game on the line and finding a way to come up withtimely buckets. They celebrated with special balloons

and T-shirts that had “600″ on the back as well asa specially made basketball for Sourlis to mark

the occasion.

“We reallyworked hard today

for him because weknow how hard heworks for us, so thiswas like our way ofgiving back to himfor all he does forus,” said junior guardGrace Stant, who hascommitted toVillanova. “Younever get, ‘Good job’for playing hardbecause you alwayshave to play hard orelse you won’t play.”

The most gratifyingaspect for Sourlis isthe fact that severalformer players andeven parents offormer players madethe trip to Holmdelon Friday tocongratulate him on arare milestone.

“I can’t tell youhow many phone calls and texts I got in the last few daysfrom former players and coaches,” Sourlis said. “I’m solucky. That’s why this numberis where it is – because ofthem.”

Caitlin Hyduke, who starredat guard on the 2006 Bulldogsteam that reached the TOC, satright behind the bench onFriday night to watch herformer coach make history.Hyduke had her career atHarvard cut short because of amajor knee injury, but is nowworking to complete herdegree at Columbia LawSchool.

“He’s a great guy and a greatrole model,” Hyduke said. “Istill talk to him often abouthow everything is going. Iknew he was getting his 600thwin, so I wanted to comesupport him. It’s great now thatI can joke around with him,and he can’t make me runsprints or suicides if I talkback.”

Hyduke also joked thatSourlis, who turns 51 nextmonth, isn’t quite as intense as

he was during her tenure with the Bulldogs.

“To see him as he gets older, I tell him all the time, ‘You’regetting too soft,”’ Hyduke said.

“She’s right,” Sourlis said. “I’m also older, so I don’t havethe energy. I couldn’t coach her anyway. She was a pain in theass.”

Players who used to have to endure Sourlis’s wrath for notgiving maximum effort or not executing properly can nowbust his chops as adults because they know the bond that

comes from playing at Rumson.

“He really cares abouteveryone that played for him,which I think is something thathelps distinguish him from othercoaches,” Hyduke said. “He’sconstantly texting me askinghow are things going. The hourshe would put in are just crazyand his memory is unbelievable.He’ll say, ‘Remember that gamenine years ago, four minutesleft..’ It makes you realize howmuch he cares about everyoneon this team, and I think that’swhat makes him so special. Hewas great to play for. I miss it.”

“This win is for all those kidsthat gave me everything inpractice every day and are nowmy friends,” Sourlis said.

Many of them even still returnfrom college to play on their oldcourt again during the summer.

“When we do our summerworkouts and they all come

back and scrimmage against us, it’s just really nice to see howmuch they still like it and how much they still like being

around (theprogram),” Stant said.“It’s so fun when theycome back.”

Sourlis soaked in allof that camaraderie onFriday night, as oneliving piece of hiscoaching history afteranother emerged fromthe stands to give hima hug or a handshake.He gripped his wifeand children tight,alternating betweensmiles and melancholywhile sorting througha landmark victoryand the loss of a friendand peer.

“My heart is justbroken for Kathy’sfamily and everyone atSouthern,” he said.“(Getting 600 wins) isa bittersweet thingtonight when you putit in perspective.”

Sourlis & his wife celebrated a rare milestone for any girlsbasketball coach in New Jersey history, which wascommemorated by balloons, a custom basketball &

even T-shirts for the occasion.


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Documents

Shore Sports Network High School Sports 2-4-14 Vol-VI Issue-3