Wood-Ridge Blue Devils 

July 25, 2026

2025: 

• 6-4 
• Lost to Hasbrouck Heights in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 1 quarterfinals 
• Wins included St. Mary’s, Park Ridge, and Weehawken 
• Losses were to Rutherford, Bogota, and Becton 
• Scored 263 points for a 26.3 average 
• Allowed 142 points for a 14.2 average 

Graduation: 

• C Abdul Elkeshk – Kean for wrestling 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 5  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Junior Ciliento, Freshman, 6-1, 170 – projected starter 

Running Back:  

• Aydan Ciliento, Junior, 5-10, 170 – projected co-starter; rushed for 336 yards and 4 touchdowns  
• Myles Simmonds, Junior, 5-7, 165 – projected co-starter; rushed for 555 yards and 8 touchdowns, and had 10 receptions for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns  

Wide Receiver: 

• Chance Iacovino, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 3-year starter; 44 receptions for 592 yards and 3 touchdowns 
• Nick Prato, Junior, 5-7, 165 – projected starter 
• Sonny Esposito, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – projected starter 
• Lukas Mabel, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation 
• Eliam Zabaleta, Sophomore, 6-3, 180 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Melvin Zabaleta, Senior, 6-2, 238 – 3-year starter; 39 receptions for 580 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• Michael Prato, Senior, 6-1, 180 – will spell Zabaleta 

Offensive Line: 

• Charlie Cannizzaro, Sophomore, 6-2, 245 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Jack Cannizzaro, Senior, 6-1, 220 – returning starter at left guard 
• Adrian Salgado, Sophomore, 5-10, 190 – competing at center 
• Stephen Hitchner, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – competing at center 
• Ali Jackson, Junior, 5-10, 210 – competing at right guard 
• Andres Kotkas, Junior, 6-0, 210 – competing at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line:  

• Charlie Cannizzaro, Sophomore, 6-2, 245 – competing at end and tackle 
• Jack Cannizzaro, Senior, 6-1, 220 – competing at end and tackle 
• Ali Jackson, Junior, 5-10, 210 – competing at end and tackle 
• Andres Kotkas, Junior, 6-0, 210 – competing at end and tackle 
• Jordan Gonzalez, Sophomore, 5-9, 250 – part of the nose guard rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Melvin Zabaleta, Senior, 6-2, 238 – 3-year starter on the outside 
• Michael Prato, Senior, 6-1, 180 – 3-year starter on the outside 
• Nick Mabel, Senior, 5-10, 180 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• Chase Christiana, Senior, 5-1, 190 – returning starter on the outside 
• Dylan Perez, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – part of the rotation on the inside and outside 
• Nicholas Sleszynski-Bastiao, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – part of the outside rotation  

Secondary: 

• Nick Prato, Junior, 5-7, 165 – 3-year starter at cornerback and will be in a 3-man rotation 
• Myles Simmonds, Junior, 5-7, 165 – returning starter at cornerback and will be in a 3-man rotation 
• Lukas Mabel, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of a 3-man rotation at cornerback 
• Glenn Wright, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Chance Iacovino, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 3-year starter at safety 
• Andrew Kikkert, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing at the other safety 
• Dominick DeCandia, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – competing at the other safety 
• Sonny Esposito, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing at the other safety 

Special Teams: 

• Sophomore Sonny Esposito is the projected kicker when he is eligible; junior Nick Prato will handle the duties until then, while senior Chance Iacovino returns as the punter 
• The return men are Iacovino, Nick Prato, and Esposito 
• Senior Michael Prato returns as the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, Roselle Park at home 
• Thursday, 9/3, Cresskill/Emerson at home 
• Saturday, 9/12, at St. Mary’s 
• Friday, 9/18, Weehawken at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Wallington 
• Friday, 10/2, Park Ridge at home 
• Friday, 10/9, at Bogota 
• 10/15-17, NJIC crossover 
• 10/24-26, NJIC crossover 

Concerns:  

• How does the team gel? 

Recruiting: 

• Melvin Zabaleta has an offer from Stonehill and interest from Lehigh, Villanova, Albany, and Pace 
• Iacovino, Mabel, and Michael Preato could go the D3 route 
• Underclassmen: 
• Charlie Cannizzaro, — Ciliento, Esposito as a kicker, and Simmons will play college somewhere 

Coach’s Comments:   

“The team is in a good place, and it’s good to see it come out. We want to get going, and our goals are the division, the playoffs, and a sectional final.” – Head Coach Andrew Carbone