Gridiron New Jersey, the gatekeeper of the formula that determines that New Jersey high school football playoff field, released its starting strength index rating for the 2025 season Thursday.
The index is just one of the tools that go into determining the power rankings used for tournament seedings.
Listed below are the starting strength index ratings for the teams in the West Jersey Football League Diamond and Patriot Divisions that contain the Salem County teams as well as the ratings for South Jersey Group I.
The top 16 teams in the South Jersey Group I United Power Ratings (UPR) will make up the Group I South and Central Jersey brackets.
The complete can be found at the gridironnewjersey.com website.
With quarterbacks on the mend or away, Pennsville gives its defense a long look at Ginsburg Classic 7v7
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITMAN – Most think when a team plays in a 7-on-7 passing tournament it’s all about the offense. That’s where most of the points in the games are going to come from, of course, but it’s just as much about the cornerbacks and safeties as it is the quarterbacks and receivers.
Because they were limited in the quarterback department, Pennsville went into Saturday’s ATF Ginsburg 7v7 Classic at Total Turf with more of an eye on the defensive side of the ball.
They went 1-2 in their pool, beating Gloucester Catholic between losses to Kingsway and Woodbury, but the results weren’t nearly as important as the process.
“Even without the quarterback what we wanted to see on both sides was the basics,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “Are we lined up properly where we’re supposed to be, do we know the plays, the coverages and how they’re supposed to run. That was the big thing on both sides. It was a good learning experience.”
QB Ahmad Jones (center) was named MVP after leading Camden (top photo) to Ginsburg 7v7 Classic title Saturday.
It’s tough to play a 7×7 passing camp without a quarterback. Senior starter Robbie McDade is still rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery on a schedule that’ll have him ready for the season opener. Junior Jake Layfield just went on family vacation. And junior Grady Sanders is recovering from a shoulder injury, but was far enough along in his therapy to give it a shot in the second and third games and in Healy’s mind “did a good job moving us down the field.”
First-team WJFL Patriot Division left tackle Jacob Hand ran the offense in the first game. He threw it to the receivers he was directed to and even threw a touchdown, but the quarterback spot remains in the hands of the three regulars.
“We knew offensively we were going to have some struggles today and we accepted that,” Healy said. “The thing I like about 7-on-7 is while you want to win games what it really allows us to do is this we know what to do, this we’re OK and this we need to work on a lot and teach.
“We were able to run our offense and defensively after the first game we kind of calmed and figured some stuff out. We knew our defense was a little more complete today.”
On the defensive side, safety Hardy had an interception and several deflections. Corner Hayden Sherman, who started as a sophomore but didn’t play last season, broke up a few passes. Kane Green and Danny Knight also did well.
“For the most part they did a pretty good job,” Healy said. “We gave up some big plays, but a lot of it was just on technique stuff that we haven’t gone over yet because we haven’t had the time yet this season.
“I saw a lot of kids make a lot of plays. A lot of kids made mistakes also, but that was expected today. Overall I thought it was a good stepping stone for us going forward.”
The Eagles will get some more 7v7 action at a team camp next month at Kingsway. All three quarterbacks are expected to be back for that.
Camden won the Ginsburg Classic, blanking Paulsboro in the championship game 22-0. Panthers quarterback Ahmad Jones was the MVP.
2025 PENNSVILLE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 28 – Gloucester City, 6 p.m. Sept. 5 – at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Sept. 12 – Overbrook, 7 p.m. Sept. 20 – at Audubon, 11 a.m. Sept. 26 – Camden Catholic, 7 p.m. Oct. 3 – at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9 – Paulsboro, 6 p.m. Oct. 17 – Lawrence, 6 p.m. Oct. 24 – at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Wednesday roundup: Woodstown’s 4×800 relay qualifies for nationals at Meet of Champions; Pennsville announces Hall of Fame Class, names Athletes of the Year
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSAUKEN – The Woodstown 4×800 relay team had one job in Wednesday’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions and they got it done.
Winning the race would have been a nice get, but the Wolverines were focused on posting a time that would get them in the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field later this month.
They got it done, even with their anchor a little under the weather. The Group I champion quartet of Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas and Josh Crawford finished fifth in the MOC, but their 7:54.84 set a new Group I record and got them into the nationals.
“One thing those guys won’t do is shy away from competition,” Wolverines coach Reggie Teemer said. “They feed off it.”
Salem County had athletes in 12 events at the all-group meet. Salem’s Anthony Parker had the best individual finish, placing fourth in the boys long jump with a best of 23-5. Crawford also finished seventh in the 800, Schalick’s David Stewart was eighth in the 400 hurdles and Cougars’ 4×100 relay team (Reggie Allen Jr., Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills, David Stewart) finished sixth.
Woodstown’s 4×800 time was more than four seconds better than their winning time in last weekend’s Group I championship meet. They were just shy of a provisional qualifying time for the nationals, but wanted to run a race in their last chance to get in that would leave no doubt.
Chew led them out in 1:59.50. Marino kept them on pace with a 2:02.4. Lucas set them up with a 1:58.45. And Crawford, running with a “minor” cough and fever that “slightly impacted my running,” brought it home with two laps in the 50s and a 1:54.46. Christian Brothers Academy won the race with a collective 7:48.55.
“We came very mentally prepared to break our previous record in the 4×8 and qualify for the New Balance Nationals and I wasn’t going to let a sickness get in the way of that opportunity for my teammates,” Crawford said. “ I was proud of all my teammates for running this race as if it was our last and thankfully earning another opportunity because of the combined culmination of our efforts to give our senior, Cole, a sendoff for the record books.”
It was a busy day for the junior. He ran in three events. He ran 1:53.83 to get on the podium in the individual 800 and ran a leg on the 4×400 relay.
Here are the Salem County results from the Meet of Champions:
MEET OF CHAMPIONS At Pennsauken HS GIRLS 1600: 12. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 5:05.56 3200: 21. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick 10:58.85 Shot Put: T-20. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville 34-6 Pole Vault: T-10. Megan Morris, Pennsville 10-6 BOYS 4×800: 5. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Cole Lucas, Josh Crawford) 7:54.84 400 Hurdles: 8. David Stewart, Schalick 54.53 4×100: 6. Schalick (Reggie Allen Jr., Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills, David Stewart) 42.08 800: 7. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:53.83; 20. Cole Lucas, Woodstown 1:58.23 4×400: 21. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Kyle Reitz, Anthony Costello, Josh Crawford) 3:25.85 Javelin: 14. Connor Ayars, Pennsville 165-0 Long Jump: 4. Anthony Parker, Salem 23-5 Triple Jump: 26. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 41-4
Pennsville tabs Hall class
PENNSVILLE – Five decorated athletes spanning five sports and four decades, three successful head coaches and two state champion teams will comprise the 2025 class that will be inducted into the Pennsville Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
The class was announced at the school’s annual awards assembly Wednesday night. It will be formally inducted in ceremonies at the school Oct. 7.
The class includes athletes Tom Ridgway (Class of 1978), HJ Lopes (’79), Lisa Doran (’86), Dannielle Dolbow-Darby (’95) and Ashley Minch (’08); coaches Ryan Wood (football/baseball), Jack Hathaway (soccer) and Dan LaMont (tennis/wrestling); and the 2005 state champion girls tennis and baseball teams.
“The Hall of Fame Committee did a wonderful job spanning several decades in putting together this year’s class,” Eagles athletics director Jamy Thomas said. “We have a wide variety of sports recognized with our inductees from field hockey, baseball, softball, soccer and tennis. The athletes in this group may have had one sport in which they truly shined, but each of them were great all-around athletes.
“In regards to the coaches being honored this year I have had the opportunity to be taught by Coach Hathaway as a PMHS student and work alongside Coach Wood and Coach LaMont. They are a group of great coaches and even more importantly are great people who are wonderful role models for our student-athletes.”
At the same assembly, potential future Hall of Famers Megan Morris and Connor Ayars were recognized as the school’s PEPPA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Morris is a multiple state champion pole vaulter and tennis player, while Ayars is football/track standout. Both competed at the Meet of Champions prior to attending the ceremonies.
Megan Morris (L) and Connor Ayars were named Pennsville’s PEPPA Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
8 ‘slam dunk choices’ headline the first Schalick High School Sports Hall of Fame induction class since 2015
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – When it’s been a while since you’ve had a Hall of Fame induction, it’s really important to make a splash on the night you bring it back.
The Schalick High School Sports Hall of Fame is inducting the seventh class in its history tonight with a group described as eight “slam dunk choices” for their first enshrinement ceremony in 10 years.
The Hall will welcome athletes Zyra Thomas, Sam Gerstenbacher, Joyce Perry, Sandra Cook and Jeremy Simkins, coaches Mike Hars and Steve Pierangeli and the Cougars’ 1996 South Jersey Group 1 champion boys tennis team into its lineup of Schalick luminaries in ceremonies at the high school auditorium.
“It’s just been a long time coming,” Hall of Fame chairman Erik Cagle said.
The Hall last welcomed a class in 2015 and after a brief pause were preparing to install another group when COVID infringed on everybody’s plans.
They were gearing for a reboot in early 2020 when COVID turned the world upside down and threw the project into a tailspin. They restarted the process about a year and a half ago with some new committee members and some new ideas and the result of their efforts will be on display tonight.
“We just needed to get the ball rolling and get things moving in the right direction,” Cagle said. “People asked from time to time if we were going to do the Hall of Fame again and I said please be patient with us, we’re going to get there. One year turned into two years turned into ten years.
“We’re giving new life to this and hopefully this is something that catches on it a big way. We just really had to kick ourselves in the pants to get moving again.”
One of the biggest changes involved taking the ceremonies from a successful run at a nearby country club back to the high school where it literally all began for the inductees. Now, a walk down the hall to the auditorium is a walk down memory lane.
“It’s a nice bit of homecoming for the athletes,” Cagle said.
With all the excitement surrounding the renewal, organizers are anticipating their largest turnout ever. They’ve already pre-sold a good number of tickets and expect a large walk-up crowd at the door to push attendance to record numbers.
A welcoming reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the program to begin at 7.
“I’d like to think it’s going to really reinvigorate the school’s attitude towards the Hall of Fame,” Cagle said. “Ten years, you start to wonder is this ever going to restart again? I’m glad I wasn’t there for the death knell of it. It’s nice that I’m able to keep it going.”
The plan is to have another induction next year and perhaps the year after, then do them every other year.
Cagle said he’ll breathe a huge sigh of relief after tonight’s closing remarks. There was a lot that went into planning this year’s renewal – fundraising, finding a venue, dotting and crossing all the Is and Ts, all the while sifting through an impressive list of nominees still in the fold from classes gone by to the ones nominated over the last 10 years.
“Obviously when you shut down for 10 years a lot of worth candidates accumulate,” Cagle said. “We need to clear the deck a bit, get some of the people who should have been honored a while ago back here.”
Those who turn out tonight will hear a lot more about the inductees, of course, but here’s a snippet (written by Cagle) of what they can expect.
Schalick athletics director and HOF co-chair Doug Volovar called the group “a quality class of people who have done some tremendous things at Schalick High School and helped build a legacy of quality athletes and sports and programs.”
SANDRA COOK (basketball): This is technically Cook’s second Schalick Sports Hall of Fame induction; she joined the ranks of Cougar greats in 2012 when her 1983-84 state champion girls basketball team was honored. She was a devastating paint player who averaged 22 points and 17 rebounds as a senior. She had 38 points in state semifinals and went for 16 and 12 in the title game.
SAM GERSTENBACHER (track/cross country): The 2016 graduate holds school records in the mile, 1500, 3200 and 3000 steeplechase and is the only Schalick runner to clock in under 10 minutes in the 3200, a feat he also accomplished in the 3000-meter steeple chase. Upon graduating, he held the Salem County records for the 3200, steeplechase and cross country.
JEREMY SIMKINS (football/track): It’s safe to say that Jeremy made his senior season with the Schalick football team a memorable one. On offense he piled up 26 catches for 634 yards and 11 touchdowns and on defense he reeled in seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He scored at least one touchdown in every game and holds eight program records. On the track he was a three-time Tri-County champion in the 110 hurdles and two-time champ in the 400 hurdles and as senior won the Group II state 400 hurdles crown.
JOYCE PERRY (field hockey/track): In field hockey, she’s the program’s single-season goal scoring leader with 31 and held the career goals record until 2020. In track, she holds the program best in the 400 hurdles, one of several events in which she flourished,. She also played four years on the girls basketball team.
ZYRA THOMAS (track): It’s easy to consider Zyra the greatest shot put thrower in Schalick history. She is a five-time state champion in the event and holds the South Jersey record with a heave of 48-9, which won her the national championship at the Armory in New York City. She also holds the distinction of being the first female Cougar football player in program history.
“I remember her being a really tough competitor and giving everything she had while she was on the field of competition,” Volovar said.
COACH STEVE PIERANGELI: “Coach P” is in his 97th season in 45 years of coaching Schalick athletics. He’s coached baseball, boys track, boys and girls cross country and girls basketball. His teams have amassed 383 victories, 61 championships and three South Jersey titles. A dozen of his former charges have gone on to become coaches themselves, three of whom he’s working under as a current Schalick track assistant.
“I’m honored to be recognized by the group and to be part of a long history of great athletics at Schalick,” he said. “Over the years with the programs I’ve been entrusted with I think we did a good job in developing the programs, individual athletes and individual people. I’m quite proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
COACH MIKE HARS: A beloved teacher, coach and colleague for 28 years, his passion for doing it right helped an array of athletes become legends at Schalick. Whether on the football field or at the throwing venues in track & field, Hars drove his charges to excellence. His name is on the Hars-Lake Trophy that goes to the winner of the annual Cumberland-Schalick football game.
1996 BOYS TENNIS TEAM: The Cougars went 20-1 with a school-record 15 shutouts. They won the Tri-County Classic Division, overall Tri-County Conference, South Jersey Group I Championship and finished runner-up in the State Group I Championship. The team was led by coach Karen Bowman, a member of the inaugural Schalick HOF Classic, and led on the court by singles players Ryan Jackson, Bryan Nardone and Chris MacNeill and doubles teams Scott Wark-Jim Zee and Rob Thomas-Ian Gardner.
“These are what I would call the ‘slam dunk choices,’” Cagle said. “Think back to the first Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony where you had Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, all the greats. These are people who have really accomplished great things at the state level, not just South Jersey. They were really easy to identify. We could have easily selected five more. That’s why we’re going to do it again next year – hopefully.”
A.P. SCHALICK SPORTS HALL OF FAME The Class of 2009: Jayme Majek, Karen Bowman, Crystal Bailey, Candyce DeLoatch, Donnie Jackson-Bey, Kevin Jackson, Brent Mathers, Sean Collins, Josh Hedgeman, Charles Armstead, Karl Haywood, Robert Johnson and Mark Boyle.
The Class of 2010: Paul Gause, Sharon Hawk, Mary Brown, Aisha Morgan, Greg Frith, Mike McGowan and the 1978 Softball Team.
The Class of 2011: Lorraine Hunt, Nicole Vit, Rachel Johnson, Darryl Gause, Andy Hughes, John Donovan, the 2001 South Jersey Group 1 champion and state finalist Boys Soccer Team.
The Class of 2012: Matt Newton, Dan Mannella, Laura Hodson, Aaron Wicox, Scott Baldwin, Rose Johnson, Dave Ewart, the 1984 Girls Basketball Team.
The Class of 2013: Rashonda Scurry, Pete Mavroff, Amadi Eze, Matt Bailey, G.R. Schalick, Erik Cagle, 2004 South Jersey Group 1 Champion football team
The Class of 2015: James Woodley, Ashley Hansen, Janet Ricards, Joey Mannella, Jimmy Tuller, Coach Dale Driver and the 2009 South Jersey Group 1 Champion field hockey team
The Class of 2025: Zyra Thomas, Sam Gerstenbacher, Joyce Perry, Sandra Cook, Jeremy Simkins, Mike Hars, Coach Steve Pierangeli, 1996 South Jersey Group 1 Champion boys tennis team
Assistant coach Leamy approved by board to become Schalick’s new head football coach; choice applauded by players
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Schalick has found its new head football coach – and he was already in the house.
Kevin Leamy, an assistant coach with big-picture focus already teaching in the district, was approved Thursday night to become the Cougars’ next coach in a board meeting at the high school.
“I am super excited, but also humbled, that they decided to go with me,” said Leamy, who attended the meeting. “There were a lot of qualified people who applied for the position who have a lot of wins in high school football so being someone who has no high school head coach experience it was something that was humbling, but I believe I sold my vision on what the program should be, is going to be, and they believed in me, so I’m excited to get started and see where it goes.”
He succeeds Mike Wilson, who is leaving at the end of the school year to become the head coach at Clearview. Wilson guided the Cougars for five years, taking them from a program that didn’t win a game his first season to playing for Group I sectional championships each of the last two years.
Leamy, 38, a special education teacher in the district, was an integral part of that staff. He coached various positions on both sides of the ball in his three years with Wilson, most recently as offensive line coach.
“He was a big help with some of the big picture stuff and you need that to run the program properly,” Wilson said. “It was very helpful to have him on the staff. As a head football coach you’re worrying about all that CEO stuff, so it’s nice to have a guy to help you out with the football stuff.
“He made some good adjustments, some really good calls. He was definitely an asset.”
The fact he was already in district, is raising his family in the district and is familiar with the players he inherits checked a big box for Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar, who recommended Leamy after interviews with six finalists that included some current and former South Jersey head coaches.
“He has been a very solid staff member as a coach for the last three years,” Volovar said. “I think he has the depth of knowledge and understand of the game, a very good rapport with the kids he currently coaches and I think he was a good decision with regard what we looking for – somebody who’s a pillar of the community, is vested in the school district and somebody who really cares what’s right for the kids.
“He fits all the bills for it.”
A group of about a dozen players sat in on the board meeting wearing their Schalick jerseys in a show of support for their new coach. Assistant coach Henry Papiano addressed the board during public comments and touted Leamy’s football knowledge and connectivity with the players that he called “second to none.”
“I really like it,” rising senior kicker Hunter Dragotta said. “Everyone knows him, he knows everybody. All the kids love him. When he was at practice he interacted with everybody. We’re all super excited. Everyone wanted it to be him. We were all praying and hoping it would be him.”
Leamy is the fourth new head football coach hired in Salem County within the past year. Pennsville’s Mike Healy is now the longest active head football coach at a county school.
Leamy played his high school football at Gateway and collegiately at Wesleyan University. He previously held coaching assignments at Gateway and Clearview. His background also includes spending a year and a half interning with the New York Jets game operations.
In his three years on the Schalick staff, the Cougars have gone 26-8 – 7-3, 11-1, 8-4 – won back-to-back WJFL Horizon Division crowns and played for Central Jersey and South Jersey Group I championships
“I like the idea there’s been a lot of success over last couple years and he’s been a part of it,” Volovar said. “There’s continuity and we have a group of kids (who) like him, they respect him and think he’s a very good football coach.
“Quite frankly, there were great candidates who applied for the job. Something that made sense was the idea he’s here for the long haul and to me that says lot about who he is and his character and that’s what I look for in a coach – somebody who has loyalty, somebody who thinks about our school and district first and is prepared to propel our program to higher level than it already is.”
Leamy’s vision for the program is to sustain the success provided by the “fantastic foundation” laid out by his predecessor. With so many of his players involved in spring sports – a situation he favors, by the way – he said he plans to hold a mini-camp for his team right after the Meet of Champions track championship and get started on meeting some ambitious goals.
“I have two goals and they’re big goals,” he said. “I want to beat Woodstown and Glassboro. That’s my goal.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve had a lot of success but we haven’t had any success against those two teams (the Cougars are 0-17 combined since 2014 and beaten each only once since 2010), and if you want to be what people talk about when they talk about Group I football you’ve got to start beating those teams. So, I think that’s the goal, to get over that hurdle and start beating those elite teams and then keep doing it every year.”
Leamy makes his head coaching debut at home in a Week Zero game against Somerville that originally had been a matchup for the Battle At The Beach. The Pioneers went 12-1 last season and lost to Mainland in the Group 3 state semifinals.
“I love starting the season off with that challenge, especially with the way that powr points and the index is set up,” he said. “Even if you lose that game you’re still going to be in a phenomenal position going forward.”
Cougars heading to Cooperstown
In other athletics related action, the board approved the Schalick baseball team’s two-day trip to Cooperstown, N.Y., to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and play Bridgeton in a May 12 game at Doubleday Field. It also approved the appointment of Robert Morris as a volunteer golf coach.
“The Cooperstown trip will be a unique opportunity for our players to learn more about the history of the game they play along with creating memories of playing on Doubleday Field,” Cougars baseball coach Sean O’Brien said. “It’s an experience not many players get to have and will create memories with their teammates.
“I have done this trip a couple times before when I coached at Salem and the former players still talk about their memories of playing at Cooperstown.”
Top photo: Kevin Leamy addresses the school board Thursday after being approved as Schalick’s new head football coach.
Schalick’s Simmons makes his longtime dream a reality, signing to play football at Millersville
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CENTERTON – Like most kids who play football in their youth, Kenai Simmons always dreamed of playing on the college level one day. Instinctively, those dreams focused on the biggest programs in the country, the teams he would watch every Saturday on television.
SIMMONS
As he got older and he saw how the recruiting game was played the focus of his future landing place started to change. And as he saw how the game is played today, with transfer portals and NLI deals, he even doubted at times whether his dreams would ever materialize at all.
That’s what makes today such a special day for the versatile Schalick senior. His dream of playing college football became a reality at about 7:30 this morning when he signed and sent scholarship papers to continue his athletic and academic career at Millersville University.
The Marauders touted the signing with a “welcome to the family” post on their social media pages and Simmons is expected to have a signing event at Schalick to celebrate the feat later today.
“One thing about college recruiting nowadays, you’ve got to be strong for it,” Simmons said. “There’s a lot of ups and downs as anybody who’s in my age bracket could tell you. The transfer portal has kids, kids like me. You could be a good athlete or a great athlete, if you don’t have the right grades and the right exposure you might not find a college that’s for you.
“I started doubting myself. I started thinking like I wasn’t going to be at any college at all, any university. I was starting to look up how much Rowan’s tuition was, stuff like that. I was starting to think of what I would do after high school.
“For a good period of time my mind was not on college because it just wasn’t really working out for me. I didn’t really tell anybody that, I was just hoping something would come up so I could get even more motivation and really get this thing through. But here comes Millersville with a pretty good deal.”
Simmons visited Millersville last Wednesday and committed Saturday. He also visited Widener and Shippensburg and planned to visit FDU, Kings and D-III Springfield (Mass.), but ended his recruitment after the trip to Millersville. He took an unofficial trip to Villanova.
“College football for me was just a big thing in general,” he said. “It was a dream since I was young. When I was younger it was different, I wanted to go to Oregon or Ohio State, that was my dream when I was young. Once you get older you realize it’s not even just about the college football, it’s about the education, so I had to make sure I was in the right spot, had the right niche for me and they treat me right in the classroom.
“I went on a couple visits before Millersville and was waiting on some things before I made my final decision. When I got there I just felt at home, coaches were welcoming, players were honest with me about things going on within the team and the coaches got it right and this is their year they feel like, so I think Millersville’s the right place for me.”
Outgoing Schalick coach Mike Wilson agreed Simmons was one of the most versatile player he has coached.
“I have coached some really good players at Schalick,” he said, “but Kenai is special because we could play him in different roles.”
While Simmons played multiple positions for the Cougars, Millersville likes him as something it calls the Falcon-back, a hybrid slot/running back who sometimes just might be called upon to throw a pass.
It’s really not much a departure from what he was used to and actually what he was hoping to find on the next level. He played something similar in his pre-high school days and right before accepting the quarterback’s role as a junior for the good of the team.
His versatility is reflected in his stats. He ran for 2,358 yards and 40 touchdowns in his four-year varsity career. He passed for 1,760 yards and 19 touchdowns in his last two, and caught 13 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns in his last three.
Before the move to quarterback reduced his role on defense, he had 67 tackles and three interceptions.
“I’d definitely say I was happy with what we accomplished,” Simmons said. “I wasn’t satisfied, but I was definitely happy. There’s definitely a difference there. Not to be cocky, I don’t think anybody on our team could have played the position I played and the way I played it.
“I think I really just pushed the idea (of playing quarterback( out of my head that I didn’t like doing it. But I did it for my team. I had guys on that team I really cared about. I did it for the guys. I did it so we could succeed and try to get a ‘ship under our belt.”
And succeed they did. The Cougars went from not winning a game the year before Simmons made the varsity to playing in a Group I sectional title game each of his last two years. Two years ago, in Simmons’ first year as the quarterback, they started 11-0.
His plan is to report to start his new adventure in August.
“I don’t think relief is the word, but I can’t find a better word than relief right now; we’ll go with relief,” he said. “It was definitely a lot of stuff coming off my shoulders. I think I sat down in the tub for the first time in forever. It was that great. I’m happy to have the opportunity and you know I’ll make it count.”
Schalick quarterback Kenai Simmons is joined by his family and the Cougars’ coaching staff in celebrating his signing with Millersville Wednesday.
Former Schalick head coach Wilson approved as Clearview’s new football coach; also includes Wednesday night’s sports results
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
It didn’t take long for former Schalick coach Mike Wilson to find a landing spot.
Five days after resigning as the Cougars football coach, Wilson, as anticipated, was approved Wednesday night as the new head coach at Clearview Regional.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I think it’s a good fit. I like the direction everything is going in. I’m excited. I’m ready to get to work.”
Wilson, who did not attend the rescheduled board meeting approving his appointment, plans to visit the Gloucester County school Thursday “to get a lay of the land” and hold a parent-player meeting Monday with offseason workouts starting next week. It is anticipated a number of his Schalick assistants will join him at Clearview.
He will remain a history teacher at Schalick until the end of the school year and while the Cougars search for his successor.
In his five years at Schalick, Wilson took the Cougars from zero wins to back-to-back regional championship games and increased its profile in other ways. With a 30-21 record, he is the program’s winningest football coach in terms of percentage (30-21).
“I enjoyed my five years at Schalick and look forward to the rest of the school year,” he said. “As I said before, my decision to pursue other opportunities had nothing to do with the football players.”
With a few exceptions he moves into a situation similar to the one he took at Schalick. The Pioneers have had success in their past and Wilson remembers having some good battles with them when he was an assistant at Mainland, but the team was 0-8 this past season and have had only one winning season since COVID.
“It’s a rebuild,” he said, “but our goal is to be as competitive as possible as quickly as possible.”
One thing is certain: He won’t have to change a lot of his wardrobe. Clearview wears green, too.
Wednesday’s results
WRESTLING PENNSVILLE 48, PENNS GROVE 30 106: John Sassi (P) pinned Jose Santiago, 1:13 113: Brett Land (P) pinned Avery Curriden, 0:55 120: Mekhi Dicks (P) won by forfeit 126: Devine Arce (PG) pinned Vincent Ciccantelli, 0:32 132: Nathaniel Mason (P) pinned Adan Gonzales, 3:59 138: Gave Supernavage (P) pinned AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailmTart, 4:27 144: Telvin Duk (P) won by forfeit 150: Travis Hagan (P) won by forfeit 165: Tre Brown (PG) pinned Juan Velasquez, 0:41 175: Clinton Bobo (PG) pinned Joseph Halstead, 4:42 190: Connor Ayars (P) pinned Sumir Brown, 3:30 215: Antonio Cooper (PG) won by forfeit 285: Wayne Scott (PG) pinned Jacob Hand, 0:28
WOODSTOWN 47, DEPTFORD 29 190: Paul Banff (WO) pinned Najee Johnson, 1:28 215: Walter Carter (WO) pinned John Friffith, 3:32 285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Daniel Maguire, 0:33 106: Corey Hoffman (D) won by forfeit 113: Hunter Allen (WO) pinned Julian Colon, 5:12 120: Carson Bradway (WO) pinned Dylan Smith, 1:13 126: Travis Balback (WO) pinned Amir Barnes, 3:50 132: Ethan Christmas (D) tech fall Barry Coverly, 18-2 (5:03) 138: Jaylen Huertas (D) dec. Ryan Polk, 5-2 144: Quentin Boyce (D) pinned Diego Mondragon, 0:49 150: Odess Myers (D) pinned Thomas Lacy, 1:50 157: Brett Rowand (WO) pinned Devin Trotter, 1:03 165: Mel Maguire (D) dec. Laitton Roberts, 4-0 175: Greyson Hyland (WO) tech fall Joseph Crowley, 17-1 (2:26) Records: Woodstown 3-4, Deptford 5-1.
SCHALICK 77, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 6 175: Ricky Watt (S) pinned Michael Lazorko, 0:40 190: Evan Elliott (S) pinned Jamel Ward, 0:26 215: Gerardo Felipe (S) pinned Brody Driscoll, 0:32 285: Julian Reid (S) pinned Diego Torres, 0:19 106: Victor Fenske (S) won by forfeit 113: Caleb Jenkins (S) won by forfeit 120: E’Shion Underwood (S) won by forfeit 126: Luke Silva (S) won by forfeit 132: Ryan Miller (S) won by forfeit 138: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Joseph Slavin, 0:32 144: Ayden Jenkins (S) tech fall Jude VanAuken, 18-1 (4:14) 150: Koen Martin (S) pinned Luke Goss, 2:17 157: Riley Papiano (S) pinned Alejandro Melendrez, 2:35 165: Mason Toal (G) pinned Ayden Hubbard, 4:58
Salem at Cumberland
INDOOR TRACK Top eight finishes by Salem County athletes in the SJTCA Meet 10 at the Bennett Center in Toms River GIRLS 1600: 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 5:23.08 (Liliah Gordon, N. Burlington, won at 5:03.72) 4×200: 5. Salem (Amala Massengill, Kashira Patterson, MaKayla Smith, Anyzha Williams), 1:57.39; 8. Schalick (Sarah Torpay, Allyson Green, Brooke Valentina, Gia Martellacci), 1:59.31. Shot put: 3. Ava Rodgers, Salem, 30-1.25; 4. Allyson Green, Schalick, 29-9. Pole vault: 2. Morgan Morris, Pennsville, 9-6 (Rebecca Hoover, Haddonfield, won at 11-6)
BOYS 800: 7. Steve Chomo, Schalick, 2:09.20 55: 3. David Stewart, Schalick, 6.7; 5. Anthony Parker, Salem, 6.76 SHR: 6. Salem (Jelani Beverly, Gradin Busby, Timothy Gregory, Anthony Parker), 34.20 4×200: 4. Salem (Terrance Smith Jr., Anthony Parker, Timothy Gregory, DaviYonn Jackson), 1:36.11; 8. Schalick (Steve Chomo, Levi Feeney-Childers, Jacob Carter, David Stewart), 1:39.06. 4×400: 4. Schalick (Levi Feeney-Childers, Steve Chomo, Romeen Thomas, David Stewart), 3:42.87 Shot put: 3. Sheldon Goldsboro, Schalick, 42-8 Pole vault: T-7. Salvatore Longo, Schalick, 11-6
Schalick football coach, a Group I sectional finalist the last two years, has resigned after five seasons ‘to pursue other opportunities’
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Mike Wilson, an old-school football coach who took Schalick from zero wins to regional contender, resigned Friday after five seasons at the school “to pursue other opportunities.”
He told the players earlier this morning. It was one of the hardest things he’s had to do in coaching, he said. “Definitely not easy.”
“I’m stepping away to pursue other opportunities,” he said. “This has nothing to do with the kids who play football. We’ll see what the future holds.”
Wilson declined to comment on what those “other opportunities” might be. He is said to be a leading candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Clearview, a position that is expected to come before its board next week. Clearview officials declined to comment on their search.
Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar said his school would work quickly to bring in a new coach who is “really going to take hold of what’s there and kind of run with it.” He suspects the opening will attract a large pool of quality candidates and he already has had “a lot of people reach out” in advance of the job being posted sometime next week.
Volovar has experience as a head football coach but is not expected to be a candidate.
“I’m disappointed that he’s leaving, obviously,” he said. “He built the program up after it was down a few years and did a really good job (of it). He created a good foundation for the school and the program moving forward and I think there’s an opportunity for someone new to build on what he’s leaving behind.
“It’s not as it was before when it was a little bit bare before. I think there’s more there and there’s a ton of talent coming back. There’s an opportunity for somebody to take the program and continue to make it grow.”
Schalick hadn’t had a winning season since 2016 prior to Wilson taking over the program in 2020 with fewer than 25 players on the roster. The Cougars didn’t win a game that first season, but he steadily increased their profile every year since, ultimately playing Glassboro for the Central Jersey sectional title in 2023 and again for the South Jersey crown this past season.
He leaves the program as its winningest coach in terms of percentage. He was 30-21 (.588) in his five seasons, 30-14 the last four years and 19-5 the last two. Their season wins total increased every season until this past year when the Cougars went a respectable 8-4 against the toughest schedule in Wilson’s tenure. The 2023 team started the season 11-0.
They played in the demanding WJFL Diamond Division this season and finished third; they won the Horizon Division each of the two previous years. Their four losses this past season came to three Group I sectional champions, including both state finalists – state champion Glassboro (twice), runner-up Cedar Grove in the season-opening Battle at the Beach and Woodstown.
The Cougars had more than 60 players across grades 9 through 12 this past season.
“We’re leaving it in a better spot than we came from a numbers point of view, from competitiveness, resources,” Wilson said. “Whoever gets to take over is taking over a football program. They’re going to have great kids, great talent. They’re going to be in a good spot.”
“We didn’t hit our ultimate goal, but considering where this program was on Day 1 Year 1 to where it is today, Mike accomplished a lot and there is certainly nothing to be ashamed of or apologize for,” special teams coordinator and team historian Frank Amar said. “I think we’re leaving it way better than we found it. Anybody who thinks otherwise knows as much about football as I know about quantum physics.
“Real football people, people who know and understand the game and what it takes to build a successful program, understand what Mike accomplished and why it was the right thing to do at this time.”
Volovar said that foundation, the quality of players coming back and the support for the program within the school makes the opening attractive.
“The cupboard’s far from bare; things have been established,” he said. “We have tons of kids who are coming back with a lot of potential to be right back in the mix of things like we were this year and last year.”
Wilson’s resignation leaves Salem County with only one head coach with more than one football season at their respective school — Pennsville’s Mike Healy. Woodstown (Frank Trautz), Penns Grove (Mark Maccarone) and Salem (Kemp Carr) all were hired within the past year.
“Mike’s and our style of coaching may not have been everybody’s cup of team, but the proof is in the pudding,” Amar said. “The success we sustained hasn’t been achieved at Schalick in 20 years and the reason we were able to reach those levels is because of what we tried to instill in our players — accountability, commitment, things like the year-round weight lifting program that enabled our guys to withstand the rigors of our schedule. The kinds of things lay people (complain) about is what made us who we are.
“When people think of South Jersey Group I football, Schalick is a part of the conversation. It didn’t happen by accident or luck. That was the result of the hard work and sacrifices made by the players and coaching staff. When the dust settles, that will be Mike’s ultimate legacy at Schalick.”
WOODSTOWN – Rocco String truly is a man for all seasons. If there’s a game to be played any time during the school year, he’s usually right in the middle of it. He plays football, basketball and baseball for Woodstown and is a force in each.
STRING
At 6-foot-6, he’s hard to miss. On the football field he’s a big target as a tight end on offense and a giant terror as a rush end on defense. On the basketball court, of course, he’s the center. And on the baseball diamond, which is his first love, he pitches and plays first base.
The key to being ready in all three is concentrating on diet and doing the things necessary to have his body ready for each very specific grind.
String spent some time with Riverview Sports News before a recent basketball practice where he talked about the demands of being a year-round athlete, how big a grocery sack it takes to fill his gas tank, adjusting to two new head coaches his senior year and his aspirations for the future. The Wolverines open their regular season Wednesday at Salem, where new coach Ramon Roots used to be an assistant.
Here is the full length interview with the Wolverines’ “friendly giant” below.
RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: You really are a man of all seasons. How do you keep up with it all, going from one season right into the other?
ROCCO STRING: It’s more about eating. Drink a lot of water and eating. Every night I go in the hot tub. I make sure my body is all fueled up for the next day. Get cool. Do cold tubs. Mostly my body, just trying to make sure I’m not sore the next day, make sure I’m all stretched out, make sure I’m flexible and able to move into the next sport.
With football being so physical that was a big toll making sure my body was not all sore, fresh for the next day, fresh for the game, then transition into basketball, make sure my legs were all right. I’m burning 2-3-5,000 calories a day. It’s all about eating.
RSN: OK, give me a sense about your dietary regimen.
RS: In the morning I eat eggs, sausage, bacon. More like 6-8 eggs and then 6 to 8 strips of bacon, four sausages with like four pieces of bread. Sometimes I will miss breakfast because I’ve just got to get up and go. Most of the time I will have time to eat it. I usually do over easy with dipping the toast. That’s good.
Lunch I usually can do like two cheesesteaks or two meatball sandwiches, just anything with two sandwiches and any size. And dinner is more like meat, protein, like getting all the stuff ripped through my body, like steak, chicken, turkey, ham. Whatever my mom cooks. I usually have pasta one or two times a week with different kinds of sauces. Mix it all up.
RSN: Is the multi-sport thing something you’ve always done or just over the last couple years. Some guys might take a break, but you do everything.
RS: When I was younger I played football, baseball and basketball and I stopped playing football just to focus more on baseball. Coming back to Woodstown I wanted to play football again. As I was playing football again it brought back memories about going through all three of the sports.
It really didn’t have a major impact on me because going through three sports it’s more of an athletic thing. I have that, so being able to do that didn’t really affect me as much.
RSN: Luckily the state gives you a little bit of a buffer between each season. Where I was down south the seasons overlapped. How much do you appreciate whatever break you get between seasons and what do you during them to wind down and prep for the next?
RS: We actually went right into (basketball) because of the states (in football) and all that. If I do have that break I’ll kind of relax for a week and if I have two weeks I’ll relax for a week and then start working for a week for the next sport. If I don’t have a break, I’ll relax, eat a lot, drink a lot of water, make sure I’m ready to go for that next sport. If I do have it, I’m taking that week of a break. I think my body needs it, my mind needs it.
RSN: You’re all about maintaining your physical well-being. Have you ever been hurt, outside of the usual stuff that comes with the season?
RS: No. Being my size it’s hard. I’ve seen a lot of guys get hurt really quickly, so the big part is taking care of your body because once you take care of that then you’re basically all right.
RSN: Why do you play these three sports specifically?
RS: I’ve been playing baseball my whole life; that’s my first sport. Basketball, I kind of got into it when I was real young. My sisters played it. I think I was pretty good at it, especially when I got taller; people kept asking me if I played basketball and I would say yeah. I just loved it over the years and it’s my last year of playing all three so I figured to have the most joy out of it.
THE ROCCO FILE
FOOTBALL (TE-DL)
REC
YDS
TD
TKLS
TFL
2024
4
38
1
26
0
2023
0
0
0
2
0
BASKETBALL (C-F)
PPG
RPG
AST
BLK
STL
2023-24
9.2
4.9
32
65
29
2022-23
6.9
5.9
0
32
16
BASEBALL (RHP-1B)
BA
RBI
HR
IP
ERA
K
2024
.289
26
3
E
3.20
15
2023
.392
20
4
8.2
5.65
11
RSN: Have you done any of the other sports – track, wrestling, soccer, golf?
RS: I do golf on my free time for fun with some of my guys who are in college. Town & Country. Centerton. Some courses up north I go to. I’m okay. I wouldn’t say I’m real good, but I’m OK. Some of my buddies are better than me, but I can go with them to where we can play. I played lacrosse for one year (fifth grade), but I didn’t really like it
RSN: What are you – a football player, a basketball player or a baseball player?
RS: A baseball player. I’ve been playing my whole life. When I real younger I really took it seriously, playing baseball mostly. I really wanted to play just baseball, but my parents really wanted me to play all three sports, so that’s why I kind of play them now. Playing those other two sports helped me out a lot with baseball.
RSN: What are you going to do in college and why is that your sport? You probably have offers in all three.
RS: I want to play baseball. I want to do pitching and hitting and defense, whatever I have to do to help the team.
RSN: What’s the recruiting been like for all three. I’m sure there’s interest across the board.
RS: Basketball is out of the question, like nobody’s been here for basketball, which is obviously; Woodstown basketball is not that great. Football, there’s been a lot of D-II, D-III schools here, which I’ve talked to a lot; all of us guys have talked to them a lot. Baseball I’ve had a lot. I actually went on a visit today to RCSJ in Cumberland. I’ve been to Penn State-Abington and I’ve been to a couple others down south, which were pretty cool, like Alabama and Auburn. I was trying to go down to Florida, but I didn’t have a tournament down there so I couldn’t go.
I just want to play. I want somewhere I can get a degree, but I also want to just play for fun and just have a good time. Everyone says I have a unique size and you can’t teach size, so having that I can definitely work a lot harder with a lot of college guys, help me push a lot harder. And doing one sport at one time is even better.
RSN: Have you given any consideration or asked the programs that are talking to you if you could play multiple sports at their schools?
RS: There are some football coaches in here who say they want dual sport athletes, but I’ll mostly likely just want to focus on one sport.
RSN: Do you think playing multiple sports impacts that recruiting good or bad because they don’t know what sport you favor?
RS: I think it’s good because it shows that you’re very athlete, that you’re a team guy, you play with different people and you learn more about different sports. You’re training for that sport and then you have to transition to a different sport and you have to train for that, which not a lot of people can really do, so I think that’s a special gift to have.
RSN: As a multi-sport guy here you had the unique experience to adjusting to two new head coaches (football with Frank Trautz and basketball with Ramon Roots). That can be a challenge as well. What’s that been like?
RS: Fun, really. Roots was here for football as an assistant and getting to meet him before the (basketball) season was actually a little bit better because you were getting to know him and getting to see how functions around guys.
And Trautz coming in for football, we had him last year as an assistant and with coach (John) Adams stepping down we kind of saw it coming up and being a big part of this team. As we were going through summer camp we kind of thought this could be our year to do the same thing we did last year, which was go pretty far because of Trautz.
He had this big mindset going into the season, brought a lot of new plays in, a lot of new formations and a lot of new guys we had stepping up, which was big.
Even when they were assistants they talked to us about everything. They were there for us, so it really hasn’t changed. They were just always there.
RSN: If I remember right you’re related to Penns Grove football coach Mark Maccarone. That must’ve made that game pretty fun. Are there any other sports luminaries in your family tree?
RS: They’re my dad’s first cousins. It was a real fun game because he actually came over that night after the game, Greg and Mark, and it was real fun. We always talk throughout the season about football games. Even when Greg was at Glassboro coaching for them I always made jokes to him like “You shouldn’t be there, buddy, but you’re there.” He would laugh and whatnot, but we would have our times. Even his son Nick, whose at Montclair State, we talked about football, he gave me some advice and some pointers for it, so they’ve actually been a big help to me. They tell people all around they have a cousin who’s 6-6 who can play all three sports.
RSN: What makes Woodstown sports so successful every year across the board?
RS: Just working out from freshman year, you’re seeing all the juniors and seniors working and seeing how they move with the game, seeing how their coached and seeing how they are off the field. It’s growing every year, growing every year with your buddies as your group, you get a sense they’re like your brothers and when you’re on the field you’ve got discipline.
All of us as a group, this year as seniors, we all had a mindset we could be how we were last year even with the guys that we lost – and we did it.
RSN: Knowing the story isn’t completely finished, what have been your best one or two all-time Rocco moments so far?
RS: My first two were the first and second round of the playoffs last year in baseball against Maple Shade and Pennsville. I hit a home run in the fourth inning against Maple Shade to give us a 1-0 lead. That kind of changed the game. And in Pennsville going back-to-back with AP (Andrew Pedrick) that was a cool moment because I don’t that’s been done in a while here at Woodstown and we kind of knew what that game meant. That was our time.
In football it was that championship game against Shore. That was a really fun game for me. That has to be third. Just playing with those group of guys and kicking the crap out of Shore was real fun.
Rocco String stomps on the plate after hitting the back piece of back-to-back homers with Andrew Pedrick in the first inning of last year’s South Jersey Group I baseball playoff game at Pennsville.
RSN: What did you think of the football season and what are you expectations for basketball?
RS: I think we’ll be OK. I don’t think we’ll be as good as a lot of other teams up north because they breathe basketball up there. Basketball isn’t as strong down here, but we do it to the best of our ability. A lot of times basketball is not our strongest sport, a lot of guys just play it for fun, they play it to get exercise, basketball is just here.
For football at the beginning of the season we heard a lot of talk that we weren’t going to be that good, but we kind of had a chip on our shoulder and when Coach Trautz came in he had a chip on his shoulder, too. He was feeling kind of how we were feeling, like, listen, we’re not going to have anyone talk us down. Beating Delsea first game of the season that kind of ran something through our minds that we’ve got this, we can do it, we just have to work hard at it.
RSN: Can you tell any difference already how basketball is different with Roots here?
RS: We’ve been doing a lot more running, a lot more technical work that we didn’t really get to do last year, which has been helping us a lot. Running has been a big part. Last year we didn’t do much of that and we’ve been doing it every day at the beginning of practice, which is good for us. And we’re doing more defensive work, because that was a big struggle last year.
RSN: What’s Rocco all about off the field. What do you do that’s no sports related?
RS: My family has a construction business (MLS Lawns and Landscapes) that I work on a lot with my dad. I do all the hard work. I wake up at 4 in the morning and pour concrete with the guys. I do all the site work with my dad. And I also work on a farm with my uncle in Harrisonville.
When I’m working, that’s kind of my weight room. It takes a toll on your body, but when I’ve got the chance to go to the weight room I’ll go because I know I need to put a lot of weight on. I want to try to get to 240-250 of just lean muscle because I think that’ll help me out a lot in college. I think if I put on 20 pounds of muscle that’ll be perfect for me.
And I’m either fishing or hunting with my buddies that are around here and being around my girlfriend.
RSN: Just from your size, the position you play, your body type, you remind me of former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski. Do you get that?
RS: I’ve heard a lot about that, like you remind me of a professional player of this sport or that sport. I see that, but I don’t really feel like that because it’s just my size.
A lot of guys tell me I look like, baseball wise, Freddie Freeman, because he’s 6-6. Football wise it’s more like Gronk or Travis Kelce, just a tall tight end. In basketball it’s more like a (Nikola) Jokic, a type of guy who’s real tall but plays the game real lanky. There are a lot of people who say stuff like that.
RSN: Do you have any advice for kids who are playing multiple sports or may be having a hard time in one of the multiple sports they play?
RS: Just be a competitive person but also an energetic, fun and friendly person off the court and field. When you’re on the field you want to be as competitive as you can, talkative as you can, be a leader.
For baseball I’m a leader. Because I first base I talk to all the guys. Basketball, I’m a leader because I’m a center, making sure everyone’s in their places. Football, all of us were leaders, all of guys as seniors. When you’re on the field you have to have a mindset that you’re the guy everyone trusts, you’re the guy who puts people in position. I’ve gotten that the last couple years, I’ve kind of built that up. I’ve seen it in myself, telling guys where to go.
Don’t be scared of doing other sports. Try it. Even if it’s the first time. You’ll get coached. When you’re a little kid, like 10-12 years old, just try. Just do as many sports as you can. It won’t hurt you. It’ll just make you better.
RSN: Thanks for taking the time for this. We do these extended interviews in hopes of introducing people to the personalities of the players they watch beyond the arena.
Riverview Sports News 