Mountain Lakes Herd 

August 27, 2023 

2022: 

• 11-2 
• Lost to Woodbury in the New Jersey Group 1 final 
• Beat Weequahic in the North Jersey regional championship 
• Berat Brearley in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 1 sectional championship, Waldwick in the semifinals, and Boonton in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Hanover Park, Madison, Morris Catholic, and Lenape Valley 
• Their other loss was to Caldwell 
• Scored 321 points for a 24.69 average 
• Allowed 183 points for a 14.08 average 

 Graduation: 

• RB/LB Nico Dunn – Hamilton (NY) 
• RB/DB Jimmy Elliott – UMass for lacrosse 
• WR/DB Gavin Ananian – Lafayette for lacrosse 
• DB Kevin Gillespie – Gettysburg for lacrosse 
• LS/WR Matt Sentowski – Salisbury (Md.) for lacrosse 
• DL Nick Shuhet – Ride for baseball 

Offense: 

• Formation: Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 7   

Quarterback: 

• Ben Miniter, Senior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter 

Running Back: 

• Justin Hernando, Senior, 5-5, 160 – returning starter 
• Ian Redzepagic, Senior, 5-7, 165 – projected starter at halfback; saw action 
• Aidan Malnati, Senior, 5-9, 160 – frontrunner at fullback; started on defense 
• Carson Fitch, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – competing and will see action 

Wide Receiver: 

• Marco Dzamba, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter at tight end who will line up here 
• Justin Brennfleck, Senior, 6-1, 195 – will see action 
• Connor Higgins, Junior, 5-11, 155 – will see action 

Tight End: 

• Marco Dzamba, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter who will often line up at wide receiver 
• James Moschella, Senior, 6-1, 200 – second tight end who will see plenty of time 

Offensive Line: 

• Chris Dowling, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at center 
• Michael Mucci, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter at guard 
• Samson Veech, Senior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter at guard  
• Cosmo Fusco, Senior, 6-4, 250 – returning starter at left tackle  
• Will Tate, Senior, 6-2, 190 – competing at right tackle; started two games 
• Barry Donohue, Junior, 5-10, 210 – competing at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-5  
• Returning Starters: 5  

Defensive Line: 

• Trey Schneider, Junior, 6-0, 265 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Cosmo Fusco, Senior, 6-4, 250 – returning starter at and 
• Nick Fayo, Senior, 5-11, 165 – returning starter at end; may play some nose guard 
• Barry Donohue, Junior, 5-10, 210 – in the mix at end 
• Chris Dowling, Senior, 6-2, 215 – in the mix at end 

Linebacker: 

• Giacomo Bevacqua, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter on the inside 
• Aidan Malnati, Senior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter on the inside 
• Sebastian Borie, Junior, 5-9, 190 – competing on the inside 
• Marco Dzamba, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter on the outside 
• Bradley Rodgers, Junior, 5-11, 170 – projected starter on the outside  

Secondary: 

• Justin Brennfleck, Senior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Will Beck, Senior, 6-0, 160 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Connor Higgins, Junior, 5-11, 155 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Ian Redzepagic, Senior, 5-7, 165 – projected starter at safety; saw action 
• Nick Signorile, Junior, 6-0, 165 – projected starter at safety 
• Matthew Shertzer, Senior, 6-0, 170 – part of the rotation at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Seniors Matthew Shertzer and John Corbo will handle the kicking game 
• Bevacqua, Fitch, and Redzepagic are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/1, Lenape Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/8, at Morris Catholic 
• Thursday, 9/14, Madison at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Hanover Park 
• Friday, 9/29, at Verona 
• Friday, 10/6, Whippany Park at home 
• Friday, 10/13, Boonton at home 
• Friday, 10/20, at Caldwell 

Concerns: 

• Making sure they are ready for week one 

Recruiting: 

• Fusco verballed to Penn for football
• Hernando verballed to Bryant for lacrosse 
• Dzamba verballed to Penn for lacrosse 
• Bevacqua verballed to Holy Cross for lacrosse 
• Brennfleck verballed to Gettysburg for lacrosse 
• Malnati is a D3 lacrosse prospect 
• Underclassmen: 
• Schneider is a football prospect 
• Borie and Rodgers will go wrestling or football 
• Signorile is a lacrosse prospect 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We are excited to get back. This is the most experienced team we’ve had returning in years. We have a good, tough schedule and we look forward to Friday nights, seeing what we can do.” – Head Coach Darrell Fusco