Cherokee Chiefs

July 5, 2026

2025: 

• 3-7 
• Lost to Atlantic City in the South Jersey Group 3 sectional quarterfinals 
• Wins came against Shawnee, Middletown South, and Lenape 
• Losses were against St. Augustine, Winslow, Atlantic City, Millville, Mainland, and Williamstown 
• Scored 187 points for an 18.7 average 
• Allowed 323 points for a 32.3 average 

Graduation: 

• DL Micah Lee – Franklin Pierce (NH) 
• DL Jon’te Truesdale – Albright (Pa.) 
• WR Ke-Marley Mason – Salem County Community College 
• RB/LB Dylan Kolinsky – Wagner for lacrosse 
• WR/DB Steve Barbagiovanni – Misericordia (Pa.) for baseball 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Mason Schweiger, Junior, 6-3, 185 – competing 
• Jackson McCoy, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – competing 
• Cooper Burti, Senior, 6-0, 180 – 3-year starter who will miss the season because of Tommy John Surgery playing baseball 

Running Back:  

• Brendan Markovsky, Senior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter; rushed for 507 yards and 9 touchdowns 
• Jayden Guercy, Junior, 6-0, 180 – will spell Markovsky 

Wide Receiver: 

• Dylan Hopp, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing at one outside receiver; saw action 
• David Nnawuihe, Senior, 6-3, 175 – competing at one outside receiver 
• Davis Walker, Junior, 6-3, 185 – projected co-starter at opposite outside receiver; started on defense 
• Kaiden Aponte, Junior, 5-9, 160 – projected co-starter at opposite outside receiver 
• Mike Karwacki, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – projected starter at slot receiver 

H-Back: 

• Drew Gable, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – projected starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Bentley Lambrese, Sophomore, 6-3, 185 – competing at left tackle 
• Sebastian Goins, Senior, 6-2, 185 – competing at left tackle 
• Josh Taylor, Junior, 6-0, 300 – returning starter at left guard, moving from left tackle 
• Jaxon Jacobus, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at center, moving from right guard 
• Stephen Schultz, Senior, 5-11, 205 – frontrunner at right guard 
• Donovan Black, Sophomore, 6-2, 270 – competing 
• Lucas Surel, Junior, 6-1, 205 – frontrunner at right tackle 
• Harsh Patel, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple Odd Fronts 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Defensive Line:  

• Jacob Cranmer, Junior, 6-0, 230 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Harsh Patel, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing at nose guard 
• Jonah Bluestein, Senior, 6-3, 210 – returning starter at end 
• Davis Walker, Junior, 6-3, 185 – projected starter at the opposite end; saw action 
• Lucas Surel, Junior, 6-1, 205 – part of the end rotation 

Linebacker:  

• John Franz, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jayden Guercy, Junior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter on the inside; started a few games 
• Christian Goodman, Junior, 5-8, 210 – competing on the inside 
• Jackson McCoy, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – competing on the weak outside 
• Dane Gamble, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing on the weak outside 
• Sebastian Goins, Senior, 6-2, 185 – projected starter on the strong outside 
• Cole Gorman, Junior, 6-0, 205 – competing on the strong outside 
• Yohannis Mekonen, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – competing on the strong outside 

Secondary: 

• Ethan Noriega, Junior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Kaiden Aponte, Junior, 5-9, 160 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Casey Winkleman, Senior, 6-0, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Drew Gable, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – projected starter at safety 
• Joe McElhenny, Junior, 6-0, 175 – projected starter at safety 
• Ben Stillwagon, Senior, 5-11, 165 – competing at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Matt Mihalak will be the kicker and punter, and he has experience 
• Junior Brayden Ressler returns as the long snapper 
• The return game will be determined in camp 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, Middletown South at home 
• Friday, 9/4, at Burlington Township 
• Thursday, 9/10, Lenape at home 
• Thursday, 9/17, Pleasantville at home 
• Friday, 9/25, Rancocas Valley at home 
• Friday, 10/2, at Cedar Creek 
• Friday, 10/9, Washington Township at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Delsea 
• Thursday, 10/24, at Shawnee 

Concerns:  

• Youth and inexperience 

Recruiting: 

• Burti has verballed to Mississippi State for baseball 
• Bluestein is drawing 1AA interest 
• Markovsky and Franz are D3 prospects 
• Underclassmen: 
• Walker has offers from Rutgers, Penn State, Tennessee, and Boston College 
• Taylor may be as high as 1AA/D2 
• Gable is a sophomore who runs well and has a baseball option 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We’re looking forward to it. I love the youth, energy, and eagerness to learn. We are working at getting the talent up to speed, and playing good football by year’s end.” – Head Coach Shawn DiVece