Westfield Blue Devils 

August 11, 2025 

2024: 

• 5-6 
• Lost to Northern Highlands in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Elizabeth, Middletown South, and Bridgewater-Raritan 
• Losses were to Phillipsburg, St. Joe’s (Metuchen), Ridge, Hillsborough, and Plainfield 
• Scored 200 points for an 18.18 average 
• Allowed 218 points for a 19.82 average 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Sebastian Magherini – Salve Regina (RI) 
• OL Jack Martin – Amherst (MASS) 
• DL Zac Wragg – Amherst (MASS) 
• OL Brenton Hatch – Muhlenberg (PA) 
• K/P Niko Lukis – Trinity (CT) 
• TE/LB Colin Coyle – UMass for lacrosse 
• DL Lincoln Meyers – Delaware for rugby 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Pro 
• Returning Starters: 3   

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Jordan Walsh, Junior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter last half of the season, and could play at wide receiver; passed for 472 yards and 3 touchdowns, and rushed for 539 yards and 4 touchdowns  
• Cole Weidler, Senior, 6-3, 190 – returning starter from first five games; passed for 761 yards and 8 touchdowns 

Running Back:

• Anthony Tankard, Senior, 5-9, 165 – frontrunner 
• Luke Spaide, Senior, 5-9, 175 – competing and was injured for all of last year 
• Shaq McKenith, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing 

Wide Receiver: 

• Luke Spaide, Senior, 5-9, 175 – will start if he is not a running back 
• Luca Blasi, Junior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter 
• Jordan Walsh, Junior, 5-10, 175 – will start here is he is not the quarterback 
• Cooper Gleason, Senior, 5-10, 175 – projected starter 
• Shaq McKenith, Junior, 5-10, 175 – may start here is he is not playing running back 
• Justin Boufarah, Junior, 5-11, 170 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Connor Whelan, Senior, 6-6, 235 – projected starter and started on defense 
• Jack Schwarzenbek, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – will play here and as a fullback 

Offensive Line: 

• Gianluca Ciucci, Junior, 6-4, 270 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Luke Romano, Junior, 6-0, 330 – projected starter at left guard 
• Jake Zemsky, Senior, 5-10, 235 – returning starter at center 
• Wesley Thomas, Sophomore, 6-0, 245 – competing at right guard 
• Nikolas Speronza, Senior, 5-11, 210 – competing at right guard 
• TJ Maset, Sophomore, 6-0, 270 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 4-4 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Jake Zemsky, Senior, 5-10, 235 – returning starter at end, moving from tackle 
• Connor Whelan, Senior, 6-6, 235 – returning starter at end 
• Wesley Thomas, Sophomore, 6-0, 245 – projected starter at tackle 
• Branden Janusz, Junior, 5-11, 230 – projected starter at tackle 
• Nikolas Speronza, Senior, 5-11, 210 – part of the tackle rotation 
• TJ Maset, Sophomore, 6-0, 270 – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Joe DeMattina, Senior, 5-10, 190 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• Tim Cook, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter on the inside 
• Mike Kobin, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter on the outside 
• Brian Jordan, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing at hybrid linebacker/safety 
• Ben Seward, Senior, 5-10, 175 – competing at hybrid linebacker/safety 

Secondary: 

• Cooper Gleason, Senior, 5-10, 175 – projected starter ay cornerback 
• Shaq McKenith, Junior, 5-10, 175 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Max Jones, Senior, 5-10, 160 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Ben Seward, Senior, 5-10, 175 – will rotate at free safety 
• Jordan Walsh, Junior, 5-10, 175 – will rotate at free safety 

Special Teams:

• Sophomore Carter Surowitz and junior Blake Manson are competing at both kicker and punter 
• McKenith and Spaide are the return men 
• Senior Jake Grossman is the  long snapper 

*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, at Plainfield 
• Saturday, 9/6, Phillipsburg at home 
• Friday, 9/12, at Elizabeth 
• Saturday, 9/20, Union at home 
• Friday, 9/26, at St. Joe’s (Metuchen) 
• Saturday, 10/4, at Hillsborough 
• Friday, 10/10, at North Brunswick 
• Friday, 10/17, at Bridgewater-Raritan 
• Saturday, 10/25, Ridge at home 

Concerns:  

• Finding out who the quarterback is and where Jordan Walsh plays 
• Solidifying the offensive line 

Recruiting: 

• Whelan has many 1-AA schools interested in him 
• DeMattina is a D3 prospect 
• Zemsky may go for football or wrestling, where he finished eighth in the state 
• Underclassmen: 
• Walsh has schools such as Monmouth and Columbia interested 
• Ciucci will play somewhere 
• Thomas is the top sophomore 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We are both a faster and stronger team than we were last year. Many of the kids won state championships this spring in baseball or lacrosse. These are kids who know how to win, and they are highly competitive. Now we need to win some big games.” – Head Coach Matt Andziel