All-Star Gridiron Classic – A Showcase for Smarts and Talent

More than 450 turned out Sunday at Gibbs Hall in Eatontown as the Shore Football Coaches Foundation honored the All-Shore Academic Team while also introducing players and coaches taking part in this summer’s U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic. 

Two seniors from each of the shore’s 43 schools were saluted for shining in the classroom, community and football field and that group of 86 included 20 who will also play in the 38^th annual All-Star game on July 16^th at Long Branch High School. That group of scholar-athletes is made up of Barnegat’s Kyle Morris, James Juliano of Brick, Central’s Anthony Arneth, Brody Graham and Tyler Rauch of Jackson Memorial, Keyport’s Chase Bright, Conor Davies of Lacey, Manalapan’s Imamu Mayfield, Robert Planter of Manchester, Devon Spann of Matawan, Mo Omar of Marlboro, Christian Palmer of Mater Dei Prep, Ocean’s Frank Henry, Jake Fioretti of Point Beach, Point Boro’s Jack Fitzsimmons, Colby Jones of Raritan, James Bedell of Shore Regional, Pat Ferraro and Clay Robinson of Southern, Toms River North’s Joseph Fantozzi and Quentin DeCarlo of Toms River South.  The awards breakfast was sponsored in part by Barnabas Health and their Matthew J. Morahan III Assessment Center for Athletes.

The honored players received plaques from Rich O’Connor, the longtime offensive coordinator at Montclair State who served as guest speaker.  In addition to the academic honorees the coaching staffs and players were announced for the U.S. Army Gridiron Classic.  Walt Krystopik, who guided Jackson Memorial to a state group title and #1 ranking at the shore will coach the Ocean County team while Shore’s Mark Costantino will coach the Monmouth County team for the second time in his career.  He led the Blue Devils to a state title and will also be inducted into the SFCF Hall of Fame at halftime along with former Jackson and Wall head coach Chris Barnes.

Krystopik & Costantino were two of the six coaches saluted as Division Coaches of the Year as chosen by their peers.The others were Steve Bush (Middletown North), Mark Ciccotelli (St. John Vianney), Red Bank Catholic’s Jim Portela and Willie Jacobs of Central Regional.

Once again I had the pleasure to serve as Master of Ceremonies for what is a really nice event.  Raritan head coach Anthony Petruzzi headed up the committee that put it all together under the direction of Foundation President Gerard O’Donnell, who serves as an assistant coach at Donovan Catholic.