Manalapan Braves 

June 27, 2023

2022: 

• 3-7 
• Lost to Jackson in South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins came against Middletown North, Freehold Township, and Freehold Boro 
• Losses came against Donovan Catholic, Red Bank Catholic, Middletown South, Rumson-FAir Haven, Marlboro, and Wall – five of those losses came by a combined 20 points 
• Scored 138 points for a 13.80 average 
• Allowed 140 points for a 14.00 average 

Graduation: 

• K/P Michael Calton – Monmouth 
• WR/DB Alex Dille – The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 
• LB Brendan Catalano – The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
• QB Matt Grzejka – Fairleigh Dickinson (Florham Park) 
• RB Joe Santana – Caldwell sprint 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters:  6 

Quarterback: 

• Ryan Dougherty, Junior, 6-0, 170 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Jason Rodriguez, Junior, 5-8, 180 – returning starter 
• Vin DiFilippo, Junior, 5-11, 200 – will spell Rodriguez 
• Ashere Woolfolk, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – will spell Rodriguez and play wide receiver 

H-Back: 

• Joe Melo, Senior, 6-4, 210 – returning starter 

Wide Receiver: 

• Anthony Macchio, Senior, 5-10, 175 – 3-year starter 
• Jackson Pfister, Junior, 6-1, 180 – projected starter 
• Ashere Woolfolk, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – projected starter 
• Jarrett Barber, Junior, 5-8, 165 – part of the rotation 
• Justin Troxell, Junior, 5-11, 170 – part of the rotation 

Offensive Line: 

• Matt Makfinsky, Senior, 6-2, 245 – returning starter at left tackle 
• PJ Ranieri, Senior, 5-11, 225 – projected starter at left guard; rotated last year 
• Nick Monteleone, Junior, 6-3, 275 – projected starter at center; started two games 
• Reggie Bennett, Junior, 6-1, 285 – returning starter at right guard 
• Evan Radosevich, Senior, 6-4, 260 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Brody Alfieri, Junior, 6-2, 280 – key reserve along line and started two games 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Reggie Bennett, Junior, 6-1, 285 – returning starter at nose guard 
• PJ Ranieri, Senior, 5-11, 225 – projected starter at end 
• Matt Makfinsky, Senior, 6-2, 245 – competing at end 
• The other offensive linemen may be part of the rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Joe Melo, Senior, 6-4, 210 – 3-year starter on the outside 
• Dennis Healy, Junior, 5-11, 185 – competing opposite Melo 
• AJ Mucciolo, Senior, 5-10, 180 – competing opposite Melo 
• Josef Mizrahi, Senior, 5-9, 175 – competing opposite Melo 
• Aidan WIlmot, Senior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter on the inside 
• Vinnie DiFilippo, Junior, 5-11, 200 – projected starter at other inside spot 
• Alex Osmun, Junior, 5-11, 215 – part of the rotation on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Anthony Macchio, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jackson Pfister, Junior, 6-1, 180 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Jarrett Barber, Junior, 5-8, 165 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Justin Troxell, Junior, 5-11, 170 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Aneesh Kurria, Senior, 5-10, 190 – projected starter at safety 
• Anthony Hammel, Junior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter at safety 
• Dennis Gabinelli, Junior, 5-9, 170 – part of the rotation at safety 
• Andrew Mucciolo, Senior, 5-8, 160 – competing in the secondary 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Jake Horowitz will be the kicker and punter 
• Macchio will be in his third year as a return man, with help from Pfister and Andrew Mucciolo  

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, Wall at home 
• Thursday, 8/31, at Jackson 
• Friday, 9/8, Long Branch at home 
• Thursday, 9/14, Colts Neck at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Raritan 
• Friday, 9/29, at Howell 
• Friday, 10/6, Point Pleasant Boro at home 
• 10/13-14, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/20, at Red Bank 

Concerns: 

• Inexperienced quarterback on varsity level 
• Tough schedule 

Recruiting: 

• Radosevich is a 1-AA/Ivy League candidate; his two brothers played in the Ivy, with one currently at Cincinnati as a transfer 
• Melo is a 1-AA candidate with interest from Monmouth, Wagne, and Stony Brook 
• Horowitz is also a 1-AA/Ivy League candidate 
• Macchio is 1-AA/D2 
• Makfinsky and Ranieri are D3 prospects 
• Kurria is a high-academic D3 candidate 
• Wilmot may go the lacrosse route 
• Underclassmen: 
• Pfister, Bennett, Monteleone, and Rodriguez are the top juniors 
• Woolfolk is the top sophomore 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We like our schedule, which is very challenging. We have a good group of seniors and juniors. The kids have taken the bull by the horns since January in the weight room and now it has to be translated to the field.” – Head Coach Dom LePore