West Essex Knights 

June 30, 2026

2025: 

• 6-4 
• Lost to Summit in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 semifinals and beat Mendham in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Caldwell, Lakeland, Passaic Valley, and Morris Knolls 
• Losses were to Old Tappan, Wayne Hills, and Hanover Park 
• Scored 310 points for a 31.0 average 
• Allowed 227 points for a 22.7 average 

Graduation: 

• QB Jake Long – Muhlenberg (Pa.) 
• WR/DB Justin Perini – Tufts (Mass.) 
• OL Santino Perri – St, John Fisher (NY) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Gaetano Iavarone, Senior, 5-10, 180 – competing
• Ben Cirigliano, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – competing 

Running Back:  

• Mike Lozito, Senior, 5-7, 180 – returning starter who is competing 
• Anthony Cirigliano, Junior, 5-7, 180 – competing; started on defense 
• Ayden Green, Junior, 5-11, 165 – competing 

Wide Receiver: 

• Anthony Conforti, Senior, 5-11, 175 – projected starter; started on defense  
• Luke Kesack, Senior, 6-0, 185 – projected starter; started on defense  
• Rocco Pontrella, Senior, 5-8, 160 – projected starter; started on defense  
• Nick Dungo, Junior, 5-8, 160 – part of the rotation 
• Jake Piccirillo, Junior, 5-6, 160 – competing 
• Mason Holmes, Senior, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation 

Tight End/H-Back: 

• Frank Iavarone, Junior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter 
• Nate Levine, Junior, 6-0, 220 – pushing hard for time 

Offensive Line: 

• DJ Fiore, Senior, 6-0, 275 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Rocco Maglione, Senior, 5-10, 220 – projected starter at left guard; saw action 
• Ethan Ivers, Senior, 6-3, 270 – competing at center 
• Nick Duva, Sophomore, 5-11, 220 – competing at center 
• Luca Ciffeli, Junior, 5-11, 205 – competing at right guard 
• Luke Fasulo, Senior, 5-10, 185 – competing at right guard 
• John Napholz, Junior, 5-10, 250 – competing at right tackle 
• Joe Napholz, Junior, 5-10, 250 – competing at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line:  

• Ny’shawn Muldrow, Senior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter ate nd 
• DJ Fiore, Senior, 6-0, 275 – projected starter at nose guard or end 
• Rocco Maglione, Senior, 5-10, 220 – projected starter at nose guard or end 
• Some of the offensive linemen will compete here 

Linebacker:  

• Frank Iavarone, Junior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter in the middle 
• Thomas Bertonaschi, Senior, 5-11, 175 – projected starter on the outside 
• Anthony Cirigliano, Junior, 5-7, 180 – returning starter on the outside, moving from safety 
• Ben Cirigliano, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – competing on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Anthony Conforti, Senior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Rocco Pontrella, Senior, 5-8, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jake Piccirillo, Junior, 5-6, 160 – pushing for time at cornerback 
• EJ Henry, Sophomore, 5-11, 160 – pushing for time at cornerback 
• Luke Kesack, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter at safety 
• Nick Dungo, Junior, 5-8, 160 – projected starter at safety 
• Nick Street, Senior, 6-0, 180 – competing at safety  

Special Teams: 

• Junior Chris Mannino will kick off, while senior Bobby Warmington will kick extra points and field goals; Senior Mike Lozito is the frontrunner at punter 
• Senior Rocco Pontrella is the long snapper 
• Holmes, Dungo, and Kesack are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, at Montville 
• Saturday, 9/5, at Chatham 
• Friday, 9/11, Hanover Park at home 2:00 
• Friday, 9/18, Sparta at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Weequahic 
• Friday, 10/2, Caldwell at home 
• Friday, 10/9, at Newark Central 
• Friday, 10/16, West Morris at home 
• Friday, 10/13, Nutley at home 

Concerns:  

• Replacing four offensive linemen 
• Tough schedule 

Recruiting: 

• Muldrow and Fiore are receiving D2/D3 interest 
• Others can play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Frank Iavarone has potential and could play in the Ivy, Patriot, or NESCAC 
• Others have potential 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We expect to win every game, and we have to compete with the best in Group 3. It’s up to the coaches, players, and me. They are holding their end of the bargain. Our schedule is tough. We have a lot of work to do before we are good, but the talent is there.” – Head Coach Dan Fulton