Mendham Minutemen
July 18, 2025
2024:
- 8-2
- Lost to River Dell in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 quarterfinals
- Wins included Warren Hills, Chatham, Montville, and Randolph
- Their loss was to West Morris
- Scored 319 points for a 31.9 average
- Allowed 134 points for a 13.4 average
Graduation:
- QB/LB Tommy Suchanek – Denison (OH)
- OL/DL William Wallace – Franklin & Marshall (PA)
Offense:
- Formation: Triple Option
- Returning Starters: 0
Statistics courtesy of nj.com
Quarterback:
- Rocco Racioppi, Junior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter
- Lucas Solazzo, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing
Running Back:
- Owen Lieberwirth, Junior, 5-8, 180 – projected starter
- Shea Kraft, Senior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter
- Ryan Kontely, Senior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter
- Jamie Ostaficiuk, Senior 5-8, 190 – part of the rotation
- Marco Casali, Senior, 6-0, 180 – part of the rotation
Wide Receiver:
- Thomas Guido, Junior, 5-9, 175 – projected starter; started on defense
- Blake Kotarski, Sophomore, 5-7, 150 – part of the rotation
Tight End:
- Vince Matteo, Senior, 6-4, 200 – projected starter
Offensive Line:
- Jimmy Gillard, Senior, 5-11, 230 – projected starter at left tackle
- Jackson Langone, Junior, 5-9, 175 – competing at left guard
- Isaac Mejia, Junior, 6-0, 185 – competing at left guard
- Chris Montana, Junior, 5-11, 240 – projected starter at center
- Ralph Langone, Senior, 6-1, 225 – projected starter at right guard; started on defense
- David Lomelo, Junior, 6-3, 210 – projected starter at right tackle
- Will Manno, Junior, 6-2, 215 – sixth man along the line
- Bryce Hancock, Senior, 6-0, 240 – will spell the tackles
Defense:
- Formation: Multiple 3-4
- Returning Starters: 2
Defensive Line:
- Jimmy Gillard, Senior, 5-11, 230 – projected starter at nose guard
- Ralph Langone, Senior, 6-1, 225 – returning starter at end
- David Lomelo, Junior, 6-3, 210 – projected starter at end
- Will Manno, Junior, 6-2, 215 – competing and part of the rotation
- Isaac Mejia, Junior, 6-0, 185 – competing and part of the rotation
- Chris Montana, Junior, 5-11, 240 – competing and part of the rotation
Linebacker:
- Owen Lieberwirth, Junior, 5-8, 180 – projected starter
- Shea Kraft, Senior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter
- Jamie Ostaficiuk, Senior 5-8, 190 – projected starter
- Jackson Langone, Junior, 5-9, 175 – part of the rotation
- Zane Russell, Senior, 6-0, 180 – part of the rotation
- Matt Finaldi, Senior, 5-8, 175 – part of the rotation
Secondary:
- Ryan Kontely, Senior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter at cornerback
- Marco Casali, Senior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter at cornerback
- Thomas Guido, Junior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter at safety
- Blake Kotarski, Sophomore, 5-7, 150 – projected starter at safety
Special Teams:
- Senior Victor Flaith will do the punting and kicking, after doing kickoffs last year
- Guido will return kicks and punts, while Kotarski and Casali will return kicks
*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change
Schedule:
- Friday, 8/29, at West Morris
- Friday, 9/5, Parsippany Hills at home
- Saturday, 9/13, at Madison
- Friday, 9/19, Dover at home
- Friday, 9/26, at Warren Hills
- Friday, 10/3, Morris Hills at home
- Friday, 10/10, Chatham at home
- Friday, 10/17, at Montville
- Friday, 10/24, at Randolph
Concerns:
- Inexperience – there have been improvements, but they have a tough opening opponent in West Morris
Recruiting:
- Ralph Langone was All-Conference and has had 1-AA looks, including Villanova, Marist, and Sacred Heart
- Gillard has interest from Gettysburg and Hobart: this is only his fourth year playing football
- Underclassmen:
- Guido has done well on the camp circuit
Coach’s Comments:
“We have to replace most of the team. We will be green, and the only way to get experience is to play. Only two starters return on defense, and they will have to play offense this year. The standard and expectations of Mendham have been set, and numbers are good. We look forward to competing against West Morris.” – Head Coach Ethan Jeros