Manalapan Braves 

June 14, 2026

2025: 

• 7-4 
• Lost to Middletown North in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals, and beat Hamilton West in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included St. John Vianney, Freehold Township, and Middletown South 
• Losses were to Donovan CAtholic, Wall, and Tottenville (Staten Island, NY) 
• Scored 312 points for a 28.36 average 
• Allowed 186 points for a 16.91 average, including two shutouts 

Graduation: 

• RB/DB DJ Corsaro – East Coast Prep (Mass.) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Wing T in the gun 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Cameron Desfosse, Senior, 6-2, 180 – returning starter; passed for 1,634 yards and 16 touchdowns-to-4 interceptions; rushed for 347 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• PJ Pape, Junior, 5-9, 165 – provides depth and started on defense 

Running Back:  

• Nick Palmieri, Senior, 5-9, 180 – 3-year starter at tailback, moving from wingback; rushed for 693 yards and 6 touchdowns, and 13 receptions for 275 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Tommy Donaway, Senior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at wingback; started on defense 
• Ethan Fogelstrom, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter at wingback, moving from tight end 
• Luke Mettrick, Junior, 5-8, 175 – provides depth 
• Tyler Lutsky, Junior, 5-8, 165 – provides depth 
• Michael Gelicke, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing at wingback 
• Franco Zecchino, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing 

Wide Receiver: 

• Cooper Savage, Senior, 5-11, 180 – returning co-starter; 21 receptions for 263 yards 
• Justin Carlson, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning co-starter 

Tight End: 

• Anthony Relay, Senior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter 
• Chase Osmun, Junior, 5-10, 190 – provides depth and play in two-tight end situations 

Offensive Line: 

• Giovanni Catania, Senior, 5-10, 230 – returning starter at right tackle, moving from the left side 
• Chris Cruz, Junior, 5-10, 230 – projected starter at right guard 
• Ryan Zaleski, Junior, 6-0, 220 – projected starter at center 
• Gabe Habrack, Junior, 6-1, 210 – projected starter at left guard 
• Christiano Alves, Senior, 6-0, 235 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Salvo Pizzuto, Junior, 5-9, 210 – competing at guard 
• Mike Hetzel, Sophomore, 6-4, 275 – competing 
• Merik Tchir-Spence, Sophomore, 6-2, 270 – competing 
• Dennis Vella, Senior, 5-10, 205 – competing 
• Aiden Lynch, Junior, 6-2, 240 – competing 

Defense:  

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

Defensive Line:  

• Ethan Fogelstrom, Senior, 6-1, 210 – 3-year starter at end, moving from linebacker 
• Gabe Habrack, Junior, 6-1, 210 – projected starter at the opposite end 
• Mike Papagiannakis, Junior, 5-11, 230 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Vincent Palmiotto, Junior, 6-1, 210 – part of the end rotation 
• Aiden Lynch, Junior, 6-2, 240 – competing at nose guard 

Linebacker:  

• Nick Palmieri, Senior, 5-9, 180 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• Donnie Rocco Sosa, Senior, 5-11, 220 – returning starter on the inside 
• Chase Osmun, Junior, 5-10, 190 – part of the inside rotation 
• Vincenzo Russo, Senior, 5-9, 180 – part of the inside rotation 
• Anthony Relay, Senior, 5-11, 185 – competing on the outside 
• Cooper Savage, Senior, 5-11, 180 – competing on the outside 
• Luke Mettrick, Junior, 5-8, 175 – competing on the outside 
• Michael Gelicke, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Tommy Donaway, Senior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Xander Roberts, Junior, 5-10, 160 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Joe Rinaldi, Senior, 5-9, 165 – competing at the opposite corner 
• PJ Pape, Junior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter at safety 
• Nate Feiss, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter at safety  
• Franco Zecchino, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing in the secondary 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Brandon Kaplan returns as the kicker, and senior Cooper Savage is back as the punter 
• Zaleski will be the long snapper 
• Palmieri, Pape, and Roberts are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, Hillsborough at home 
• Thursday, 9/3, Marlboro at home  
• Thursday, 9/10, at Wall 
• Friday, 9/18, Red Bank Catholic 
• Friday, 9/25, at Rumson-Fair Haven 
• Friday, 10/2, Toms River North at home 
• Friday, 10/9, St. John Vianney at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Central Regional 
• Friday, 10/23, at Holmdel 

Concerns:  

• Inexperience of the offensive line and coming together 

Recruiting: 

• Fogelstrom and Desfosse are receiving 1-AA and D2 looks 
• Palmieri has verballed to Sacred Heart for lacrosse 
• Donaway, Alves, Kaplan, and Carlson are D3 prospects 
• Underclassmen: 
• Pape will play somewhere and may play baseball 
• Other juniors will have a chance 
• Hetzel and Tchir-Spence are the top sophomores 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We feel good about the returning starters, especially the quarterback, Cameron Desfosse. We have a challenging schedule. We need to stay healthy; if we can, we can make a run.” – Head Coach Dom Lepore