Academic All-Shore and Coach of the Year Recipients Honored by Shore Football Coaches Foundation

EATONTOWN - A group of 86 Shore Conference seniors who are standouts in the classroom as well as the field were honored by the Shore Football Coaches Foundation on Sunday as Academic All-Shore recipients at the annual banquet at Gibbs Hall.

The Academic All-Shore team, which consisted of two seniors from each of the Shore's 43 teams, was selected by their respective head coaches for having a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, making an impact on the field, and for their service in their local community.

Keyport's Chase Bright receives his Academic All-Shore award from guest speaker Rich O'Connor of Montclair State at Sunday's Shore Football Coaches Foundation banquet at Gibbs Hall. (Photo by Scott Stump)

Mater Dei Prep quarterback Christian Palmer is among the group of 20 players who received the academic honor and were selected to play in July's U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic. (Photo by Scott Stump)

Montclair State offensive coordinator Rich O’Connor, who has coached numerous Shore stars during his 32 seasons as an assistant with the Red Hawks, served as the guest speaker, letting the seniors know what to expect once they reach the college level. Serving as the emcee of the event, which was sponsored by Barnabas Health, was Shore Sports Network's own Kevin Williams.

The Coaches of the Year for each of the Shore Conference’s six divisions were also honored: Middletown North’s Steve Bush (Class A North); St. John Vianney’s Mark Ciccotelli (Class A Central); Jackson Memorial’s Walt Krystopik (Class A South); Red Bank Catholic’s Jim Portela (Class B North); Shore Regional’s Mark Costantino (Class B Central); and Central’s Willie Jacobs (Class B South).

St. John Vianney's Mark Ciccotelli received the Class A Central Coach of the Year award. (Photo by Scott Stump)

Central's Willie Jacobs was honored as the Class B South Coach of the Year. (Photo by Scott Stump)

It was also announced that Costantino and former Jackson Memorial and Wall coach Chris Barnes will both be inducted into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame at halftime of the game.

The coaches unveiled the rosters for Monmouth and Ocean County in this summer’s U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic. The game is on July 16 at 7 p.m. at Long Branch High School. Mark Costantino, who led Shore to an 11-1 season, the Class B Central title, and the Central Jersey Group I title, will coach the Monmouth County squad. Walt Krystopik, who led Jackson Memorial to an 11-1 season of its own, the Central Jersey Group IV title, and the final No. 1 ranking in the Shore, will coach Ocean County.

Deserving special mention is a group of 21 players who not only received the academic honor, but also have been selected to play in the game: Barnegat's Kyle Morris, Brick's James Juliano, Central's Anthony Arneth, Jackson Memorial's Tyler Rauch and Brody Graham, Keyport's Chase Bright, Lacey's Conor Davies, Manalapan's Imamu Mayfield, Manchester's Robert Planter, Matawan's Devon Spann, Marlboro's Mo Omar, Mater Dei Prep's Christian Palmer, Ocean's Frank Henry, Toms River South's Quentin DeCarlo, Point Beach's Jake Fioretti, Point Boro's Jack Fitzsimmons, Raritan's Colby Jones, Shore's James Bedell, Southern's Pat Ferraro and Clay Robinson, and Toms River North's Joe Fantozzi.

Shore Regional linebacker James Bedell, who was a first-team All-Shore selection in the fall for the state champion Blue Devils, also received the academic honor and will play in the All-Shore Gridiron Classic before heading off to UConn. (Photo by Scott Stump)

There also were some other academic recipients, lilke Yale-bound All-Shore first-teamer Kyle Mullen of Manalapan and Mo,nmouth Regional first-team All-Shore wide receiver Isaiah Searight, a Fordham recruit, who would have played in the game but will be at their respective colleges by early July and are unable to participate.

The following players were honored as Academic All-Shore recipients:

Asbury Park: Sal Swain, Karon Rigby

Barnegat: Kyle Morris, Adam Ricci

Brick Memorial: Karl-Mark Kumm, Nick DeGroat

Brick: Simon Bingelis, James Juliano

Central: Alex Fernandez, Anthony Arneth

Colts Neck: Christian Sanchez, Connor Ray

Donovan Catholic: Dale Barlet, Austin Koziol

Freehold Boro: Mitch Johnson, Will Fraumeni

Freehold Twp.: Matt Pine, Mike Reszkowski

Holmdel: Adam Ibrahim, Joseph Ibrahim

Howell: Anthony Sarullo, Jeremy Subjinski