Holmdel Hornets 

August 4, 2024 

2023: 

• 9-1
• Lost to Camden in the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional semifinals and beat Matawan in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Toms River South, Saint John Vianney, Manasquan, Ocean Township, Raritan, Shore, and Matawan  
• Scored 284 points for a 28.4 average  
• Allowed 48 points for a 4.8 average, including 6 consecutive shutouts

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Nick Bachmann – Montclair State 
• OL/DL Dante Calcaterra – Ursinus (Pa.)  
• K Connor Mendini – Marist (NY) 
• DB Will Gilfillan – Catholic U for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 3    

Quarterback: 

• Jack Cannon, Junior, 6-2, 195 – returning starter; passed for 1,049 yards, 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions; rushed for 508 yards and 7 touchdowns per nj.com  
• Trey Critchley, Senior, 6-3, 180 – provides depth 

Running Back: 

• Matt Iulo, Senior, 5-9, 193 – returning starter; rushed for 438 yards and 7 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Matt Scheinman, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – will see playing time 
• Peter Berardi, Junior, 6-1, 100 – provides depth 

Wide Receiver: 

• Frankie Serini, Senior, 6-0, 175 – projected starter 
• Trey Critchley, Senior, 6-3, 180 – projected starter and also the backup quarterback  
• James Murphy, Junior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter 
• Michael Todisco, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – projected starter 
• Anthony Serini, Freshman, 6-0, 150 – part of the rotation  

Tight End: 

• Alex Reyes, Junior, 6-0, 200 – projected starter 
• Carmine Aliperti, Junior, 6-1, 194 – part of the rotation 
• Peter Berardi, Junior, 6-1, 200 – provides depth 

Offensive Line: 

• Cipriano Bodnar, Senior, 6-0, 225 – projected starter at tackle
• Hamza Elmesei- Senior, 6-3, 225 – projected starter at tackle
• Demetri Lazarou, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at center
• Evan Savarese, Senior, 5-10, 230 – projected starter at guard
• Jack Tiller, Junior, 6-1, 247 – projected starter at guard
• Peter Vasiliadis, Senior, 5-10, 248 – could see playing time
• Luke Scheiss, Junior, 6-4, 211 – could see playing time
• Donny Mason, Senior, 6-4, 191 – could see playing time
• Robert Mioduszewski, Junior, 6-1, 190 – could see playing time
• John Gann, Sophomore, 6-1, 265 – could see playing time 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3-5 
• Returning Starters: 4  

Defensive Line: 

• Cipriano Bodnar, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at rush
• Hamza Elmesei, Senior, 6-3, 225 – projected starter at end
• Evan Savarese, Senior, 5-10, 230 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Luke Scheiss, Junior, 6-4, 211 – could see playing time
• Jack Tiller, Junior, 6-1, 247 – part of the rotation
• Carmine Aliperti, Junior, 6-1, 194 – part of the rotation
• John Gann, Sophomore, 6-1, 265 – could see playing time
• Donny Mason, Senior, 6-4, 191 – could see playing time
• Robert Mioduszewski, Junior, 6-1, 190 – could see playing time

Linebacker: 

• Matt Iulo, Junior, 5-9, 193 – projector starter on the outside
• Peter Berardi, Junior, 6-1, 200 – returning starter in the middle 
• Alex Reyes, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter on the outside 
• Ayden Ceka, Junior, 5-9, 170 – could see playing time on the outside 
• Demetri Lazarou, Senior, 6-0, 200 – could see playing time on the outside 
• James Murphy, Junior, 5-11, 180 – could see time on the outside, as well as secondary

Secondary: 

• Jack Powers, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Trey Critchley, Senior, 6-3, 180 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Frankie Serini, Senior, 6-0, 175 – projected starter at the bandit
• James Murphy, Junior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter at the spur
• Michael Todisco, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at free safety
• Matt Scheinman, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – part of the bandit/spur rotation  
• Jack Cannon, Junior, 6-2, 195 – part of the rotation in secondary 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Brandon Mueller, sophomore Jan Ibriham, and sophomore Nick Paulino are competing at kicker and junior Carmine Aliperti will be the punter 
• Serini, Murphy, and Todisco will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, Long Branch at home 
• Friday, 9/6, at Ocean Township 
• Friday, 9/13, St. John Vianney at home 
• Friday, 9/20, Manasquan at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at Wall 
• 10/4-5, Bye Week 
• Thursday, 10/10, Raritan at home 
• Friday, 10/18, at Monmouth 
• Friday, 10/25, at Manalapan 

Concerns: 

• After graduating a senior-heavy team from last season, who will lead the Hornets in 2024?

Recruiting: 

• Bodnar has offers from Wesleyan as well as Washington and Lee and has interest from several schools, including Johns Hopkins, MIT, Williams, Amherst, and others 
• Others will also have college football opportunities.  
• Underclassmen:
• Cannon has interest from Old Dominion, Monmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Villanova, UConn, Temple, and Rutgers 
• Iulo will probably go D2/D3 
• Reyes may wrestle in college but will have opportunities to play football  
• Others will also have college football opportunities.  

Coach’s Comments: 

“Our staff and players are extremely excited to start the 2024 season.  This program has had tremendous success last year, and is eager to take the program to even greater heights in the future.”  – Head Coach Noel Kavanagh