River Dell Golden Hawks 

June 22, 2026 

2025: 

• 7-4 
• Lost to Old Tappan in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Pascack Valley, Newark Central, and Teaneck 
• Losses were to Old Tappan, Westwood, and Nutley 
• Scored 321 points for a 29.18 average 
• Allowed 209 points for a 19.0 average 

Graduation: 

• QB Zion Yoo – Montclair State 
• RB/LB Cain Lanza – Muhlenberg (Pa.) 
• DL Youssef Ibrahim – Springfield (Mass) for wrestling 
• WR/DB Jordan Mellaci – FDU (Florham) for baseball 
• TE/DL Jayden Thomas – U Pittsburgh (Bradford campus) for baseball 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Option 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Brooks Esler, Junior, 6-2, 191 – competing 
• Jayden Kim, Senior, 5-10, 186 – competing and returning starter at wide receiver 
• Iain Rossig, Junior, 6-2, 171 – competing and returning starter at wide receiver 
• Jackson Lee, Junior, 5-10, 186 – competing and returning starter at running back and wide receiver 
• Chris Barone, Sophomore, 5-10, 166 – competing 

Running Back:  

• Jackson Lee, Junior, 5-10, 186 – competing and returning starter here and wide receiver 
• Jayden Kim, Senior, 5-10, 186 – competing and returning starter at wide receiver 
• Luke Van Dam, Senior, 5-10, 188 – competing; started on defense  
• Caleb Yoon, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing 

Wide Receiver: 

• Iain Rossig, Junior, 6-2, 171 – competing and returning starter; 27 receptions for 413 yards and 2 touchdowns  
• Mike DeGroat, Senior, 6-3, 212 – competing and returning starter at tight end; 20 receptions for 298 yards and 5 touchdowns 
• Nick Cordts, Junior, 6-1, 183 – competing; started on defense  
• Jathniel Iyonsi, Junior, 6-4, 188 – competing 
• Jaeden Raguindan, Sophomore, 5-6, 155 – competing 
• Andrew Kelm, Senior, 5-9, 171 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Mike DeGroat, Senior, 6-3, 212 – competing and returning starter; 20 receptions for 298 yards and 5 touchdowns 
• Eric Raimondi, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing 
• Gavin Roux, Senior, 5-9, 196 – competing; started on defense  

Offensive Line: 

• Matt Jung, Senior, 5-9, 242 – competing at center and guard and a returning starter 
• James McNeill, 6-0, 208 – competing along the line and a returning starter 
• Pete Zariczny, Senior, 6-0, 232 – competing along the line and a returning starter 
• Sam Lee, Senior, 6-3, 238 – competing along the line and saw action 
• Mike Koth, Junior, 6-4, 255 – competing along the line 
• Adam Ibrahim, Junior, 5-11, 221 – competing along the line 
• Jayden Rodriguez, Senior, 6-1, 201 – competing along the line 
• Aiden Son, Senior, 5-9, 200 – competing along the line 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple Fronts 
• Returning Starters: 

Defensive Line:  

• All of the offensive linemen are competing here 

Linebacker:  

• Luke Van Dam, Senior, 5-10, 188 – competing and a returning starter 
• Eric Raimondi, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing and a returning starter 
• Nick Cordts, Junior, 6-1, 183 – competing and a returning starter; may end up in the secondary 
• Caleb Yoon, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing 
• Mike DeGroat, Senior, 6-3, 212 – competing 
• Benny Dapito, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – competing 
• Noah Choflet, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – competing 
• Teddy Schwanewede, Junior, 5-9, 190 – competing 

Secondary: 

• Jackson Lee, Junior, 5-10, 186 – competing and a returning starter 
• Jayden Kim, Senior, 5-10, 186 – competing and a returning starter 
• Andrew Wilhelm, Senior, 6-1, 172 – competing and a returning starter 
• Iain Rossig, Junior, 6-2, 171 – competing and a returning starter 
• Nick Cordts, Junior, 6-1, 183 – competing and a returning starter at linebacker who may play here 
• Mark Spano, Sophomore, 5-9, 168 – competing 
• Chris Barone, Sophomore, 5-10, 166 – competing 
• Harrison Roth, Senior, 6-0, 171 – competing 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Jayden Kim returns as the kicker and punter, plus all the quarterbacks can punt 
• Lee, Kim, Spano, and Raguindan are the probable return men 
• DeGroat and McNeill are back as long snappers, and Koth can also do it 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, at Matawan 
• Friday, 9/4, at Westwood 
• Thursday, 9/10, Pascack Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/18, at Old Tappan 
• Friday, 9/25, at Teaneck 
• Friday, 10/2, Fair Lawn at home 
• Friday, 10/9, Sparta at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Paramus 
• Friday, 10/23, Ramsey at home 

Concerns:  

• They are more concerned with taking care of themselves 

Recruiting: 

• They have good football players who will play D3 in football or another sport 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We have enough returning to be very good, and we lost enough to not be very good. There is no reason why we cannot be a good team.” – Head Coach DJ Nimphius