Manalapan Braves 

2020: 

• 2-4 
• 133 points scored; 22.17 average 
• 81 points allowed; 13.5 average 
• Wins: Freehold Township, Marlboro 
• Losses: Mater Dei, Freehold Boro, Howell, Colts Neck 

Graduation:  

• RB-WR/DB Anthony Matrone – Wagner 
• WR/DB Chris Marzo – Carnegie-Mellon 
• K Vincenzo Rea – Monmouth 
• OL Justin Nyers – Monmouth as long snapper 
• TE/DE Gavin Claro – LIU for wrestling 
• QB Mike DeMayo – Drew for lacrosse 
• OLB/RB Raymond Vender – Muhlenberg 

2021 Captains:  

• Not named 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple-I 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Quarterback: 

• Mike Heckel, Senior, 6-2, 180 – returning starter 

Running Back: 

• EJ Marquez, Senior, 5-10, 200 – projected starter 
• Matt Pirozzi, Senior, 5-10, 185 – will spell Marquez 
• Josh Debner, Senior, 6-0, 190 – will spell Marquez 

Fullback: 

• Brandon Catalano, Junior, 5-9, 185 – returning starter 

Wide Receiver: 

• Paul Wojciechowski, Senior, 6-0, 180 – 3-year starter 
• Mike Bimonte, Senior, 6-3, 180 – will share other wideout and play in 3-WR packages 
• Tyler Walker, Senior, 6-2, 175 – will share other wideout and play in 3-WR packages 
• Alex Dille, Junior, 5-11, 170 – provides depth 
• Darius Colleton, Junior, 5-10, 175 – provides depth in the slot 

Tight End: 

• Preston Birnie, Junior, 5-11, 190 – projected starter 
• Joseph Melo, Sophomore, 6-3, 190 – will play in 2-and-3-tight end packages 
• Anthony Petriello, Senior, 6-0, 195 – will play in 2-and-3-tight end packages 

Offensive Line: 

• Corey Holowach, Senior, 6-2, 230 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Andrew Roginski, Senior, 5-11, 205 – projected starter at left guard 
• Julian Santo, Junior, 5-11, 235 – returning starter at center 
• Jack Boyle, Junior, 6-0, 215 – returning starter at right guard 
• Mario Chierchia, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Artem Renikov-Jouk, Junior, 6-0, 225 – sixth man along the line 

Defense:  

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Artem Renikov-Jouk, Junior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at end 
• Mario Chierchia, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at end 
• Corey Holowach, Senior, 6-2, 230 – part of rotation at end 
• Preston Birnie, Junior, 5-11, 190 – part of rotation at end 
• Ryan Wosnitzer, Senior, 5-11, 220 – part of rotation at end 
• Anthony Cardinale, Junior, 5-10, 260 – part of rotation at nose guard 
• Julian Santo, Junior, 5-11, 235 – part of rotation at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Jonathan Gelb, Senior, 5-10, 210 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jordan Gravesande, Senior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter on the inside 
• Brendan Catalano, Junior, 5-9, 185 – part of inside rotation 
• Mike Bimonte, Senior, 6-3, 180 – projected starter on the outside 
• EJ Marquez, Senior, 5-10, 200 – projected starter on the outside 
• Joseph Melo, Sophomore, 6-3, 190 – part of outside rotation  
• Anthony Petriello, Senior, 6-0, 195 – part of outside rotation 

Secondary: 

• Paul Wojciechowski, Senior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter at cornerback in rotation 
• Tyler Walker, Senior, 6-2, 175 – returning starter at cornerback in rotation 
• Tommy Clark, Junior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter at cornerback in rotation 
• Darius Colleton, Junior, 5-10, 175 – provides depth at cornerback 
• Matt Pirozzi, Senior, 5-10, 185 – competing at safety 
• Josh Debner, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing at safety 
• Alex Dille, Junior, 5-11, 170 – competing at safety 
• Anthony Conti, Senior, 5-11, 170 – competing at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Michael Calton will be the kicker and punter 
• Dille, Clark, and Colleton will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 9/2, St. John Vianney at home 
• 9/10-11, Bye Week 
• Friday, 9/17, Holmdel at home 
• Friday, 9/24, Middletown South at home 
• Friday, 10/1, at Southern 
• Friday, 10/8, at Jackson 
• Saturday, 10/16, at Freehold Boro 
• 10/22-23, Shore Conference playoffs 
• 10/29-30, Shore Conference playoffs 

Concerns:  

• Staying healthy 
• Depth at quarterback 
• Replacing two All-Division safeties  

Recruiting:  

• Wojciechowski, Marquez, Walker, Bimonte, Heckel, and Chierchia are anywhere from 1-AA to D3 
• Underclassmen:
• Calton is at least 1-AA 
• Others need to prove it 

Coach’s Comments:  

“I feel like we’re in a good place coming off the COVID shortened season. It’s a good feeling to have a full offseason, which has been great with summer workouts and a full season ahead of us. Everyone is excited to get going.” – Head Coach Dom Lepore