BRINGS OUT REGION'S TOP KICKERS"
On the first day of camp, the kicking and snapping specialists were given expert instruction by current and former Division I players including Lee McDonald, former Rutgers kicker and director of STS.
"I liked the drills," said top field goal kicker Tim Weinclaw, senior at Kellenberg Memorial in Valley Stream, NY. "The camp was fun."
On the second day, the specialists were split into divisions by year: freshmen and sophomores, juniors, and seniors/junior college prospects. Each prospect was charted for distance, hang time and accuracy on five field goals, five kick-offs and five punts. Long-snappers were charted for speed on ten long snaps and five short snaps. The top eight in each of these three categories advanced to the finals where a runner up and champion were crowned.
In the senior/JUCO kicking group, Joe Janovic, a junior college sophomore, came in first in the punting; Weinclaw won the field goal competition; and Nick Jakelsky, from Lackawanna College, came in first in the kick-off competition. Janovic and Jakelsky are looking to transfer in the spring. Weinclaw is a solid all around athlete and is being recruited by multiple division one and two schools at several positions.
"I always like [it]," said Janovic, "Lee definitely knows how to run a great camp."
Senior at St. John Vianney, Anthony DiPaula, described the competition as "fun and exciting." DiPaula, a finalist in all three skills at the camp, is among the region's top kicking/punting prospects and is drawing serious interest from the likes of Rutgers, Maryland and Michigan.
The top performers of the long snapping competition were Rick Lovato of Middletown South in Middletown, NJ, and Sean Tobin of St. John Vianney in Holmdel, NJ.
"Practice is always good for us," said Lovato. "You gotta do as much as you can to get to the next level." Lovato is on the short list at Rutgers, Old Dominion and Towson.
Tobin, who is being recruited by Virginia Tech and Colorado State among others, commented on the importance of practice: "It's all about the reps," he said.
Division I coaches were not allowed to attend due to NCAA rules but many Division II and Division III coaches watched as the top kicking and snapping specialists from across the region competed against each other. The colleges in attendance included: Carnegie Mellon University, Kean University, Franklin & Marshall College, United States Merchant Marine Academy, SUNY Maritime College, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Kings College, Shippensburg University, Farleigh Dickinson University, Albright College, Gettysburg College.
"We had a great turnout with specialists from across the northeast and beyond," said Coach McDonald. "The competition was fierce with several prospects proving they deserve a serious Division I look."
Camp highlights include the following:
Senior 2011/Junior College Division
Field Goal Champion: Tim Wienclaw (Kellenburg HS-NY) connected on a long of 46 yards. Field Goal Runner-Up: Nate Benoit (Grand Island Catholic HS-NY) hit a long of 45 yards. Kickoff Champion: Nick Jakelsky (Lackawanna JC-PA) averaged 55 yards and 3.8 seconds. Kickoff Runner-Up: Dylan Smith (Riverdell HS-NJ) averaged 57 yards and 3.6 seconds hang. Punting Champion: Joe Janovic (JUCO-NJ) averaged 42 yards and 4.3 seconds hang. Punting Runner-Up: Tim Wienclaw (Kellenburg HS-NY) best punt included a 45 yard 4.0 hang boot.
Junior 2012 Division
Field Goal Champion: Hayden Pezzoni (Broughton HS - NC) made a long of 48 yards. Field Goal Runner-Up: Tim Sternfeld (Ramapo HS-NJ) hit a long of 45 yards. Kickoff Champion: Grant Belanger (Pocono Mt. E. HS-PA) best kick off of 56 yards, 3.8 seconds hang. Kickoff Runner-Up: Larry Gelok (Pompton Lakes HS- NJ) best kick off of 56 yards, 3.7 seconds hang. Punting Champion: Lucas Santangelo (New Hyde Park HS-NY) best punt of 51 yards, 3.8 seconds hang. Punting Runner-Up: Ryan Norton (Garden City NY - HS) best punt went 40 yards, 4.5 seconds hang.
Freshman 2014 /Sophomore 2013 Division
Field Goal Champion: Jim Cooper (Mainland HS, 2013 - NJ) hit a long of 48 yards. Field Goal Runner-Up: Michael Confuorto (Immaculata HS, 2013 - NJ) connected on a long of 46 yards. Kickoff Champion: Markus Colin (Allentown HS, 2013 - NJ) won finals with a 63 yard, 3.6 hang kick off. Kickoff Runner-Up: Jim Cooper (Mainland HS, 2013-NJ) averaged 55 yards with 3.5 seconds hang time. Punting Champion - Jim Cooper (Mainland HS, 2013-NJ) best punt was a 49 yard 4.6 seconds hang punt. Punting Runner-Up: Tim Mason (Egg Harbor HS, 2013-NJ) averaged 40 yards with 3.5 seconds hang time.
Long Snapping Division
Long Snapping Champion: Sean Tobin (St. John Vianney HS, 2011-NJ) averaged .71 per snap at 15 yards. Long Snapping Runner-Up: Rick Lovato (Middletown S. HS, 2011-NJ) averaged .78 per snap at 15 yards.
