Jersey Mike’s Spring Senior Spotlight: Howell’s Vaughn Meehan

With schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the high school sports season suspended, seniors who play spring sports are missing out on their final athletic opportunities. With that in mind, each week during the spring the Shore Sports Network will feature a senior athlete who would normally be making headlines on the field, diamond, track, golf course, tennis court or volleyball court. Each athlete will receive a $25 Jersey Mike’s gift card as the iconic Jersey Shore business continues its support of Shore Conference athletics.

Name: Vaughn Meehan

School: Howell High School

Spring Sport: Lacrosse

Position: Midfield/face-offs

Bio: A first-team All-Shore selection last spring, Meehan had a superb all-around junior year for the Rebels with a .697 winning percentage at face-off X while adding 24 goals and 12 assists and finishing second in the conference with 183 ground balls. His play helped Howell go 11-8 and reached the quarterfinals of the South Group 4 state tournament. Meehan was on pace to break the school record for face-off wins before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meehan had 221 wins in 2019 to give him 577 face-off wins in three years. He was 126 wins away from breaking the record of 702 held by Zack Ornstein.

Other sports: "Football. Football was the first sport I have ever played. Even though I am going on to play lacrosse in college, football will always hold a special place in my heart."

College plans: "I will be attending Georgian Court University where I will play lacrosse and major in marketing."

How are you staying in shape/practicing your sport: "Every morning I wake up around 6 am and go outside to do my face-off workout and shooting drills on the net in my backyard. Throughout the day I'll work out in my garage and occasionally go on a run."

Hardest part of being out of school/sports: "The hardest part about being out of school is not being able to see the boys every day and all of my teachers (shoutout Mr. Johnson).  Missing my final lacrosse season has left me devastated. Knowing our team this year could have been the best team Howell has seen in a long time and not being able to show off our talent and pre-game playlist hurts. On a more personal note, I was on track to break our current school record at Howell for the most face-off wins and set the bar extremely high for all future Howell faceoff specialists. It's frustrating to know I would have broken the record within the first half of the season and still have the second half to obliterate it."

One positive that has come from having to stay home: "Being able to spend time with my family."

Favorite stay-at-home activity: "Baking. My baking skills are equivalent to Betty Crocker."

Coach's corner: "Vaughn has been a four-year starter for our program and was going to be named one of our team captains right before our first game. He plays the game with confidence and brings a ton of energy to the locker room each day. I have no doubt that our young guys have benefited from him leading the way. The last play he ever made on our home turf was scoring a game-winning goal with four seconds left in the state tournament. Not a bad way to go out. We are looking forward to his much deserved and continued success at the next level. Thanks for everything, my man." - Anthony Bonjavanni, Howell lacrosse head coach.

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.