Manalapan Braves  

2021: 

• 6-3 
• Lost to Edison in the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs 
• Scored 188 points: 18.80 average 
• Allowed 145 points: 14.50 average 
• Wins included Freehold Boro, St. John Vianney, Southern, Jackson, Central, and Holmdel 
• Losses were to Red Bank Catholic and Middletown South 

Graduation: 

• QB Mike Heckel – Pace 
• OL/DL Mario Chierchia – Pace 
• RB Eli Marquez – Stevenson 
• OL Corey Holowach – Stevenson 
• WR/DB Tyler Walker – New Haven 
• OL/DL Andrew Roginski – New Haven 
• WR/DB Paul Wojciechowski – Bloomsburg 
• WR/LB Mike Bimonte – SUNY Cortland 
• LB Jordon Gravesande – College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple-I
• Returning Starters: 7 

Quarterback: 

• Nick Heckle, Senior, 6-2, 175 – competing 
• Matt Grzejka, Senior, 5-10, 165 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Thomas Clark-Glasco, Senior, 5-11, 170 – projected starter; saw more time late in season; started on defense 
• Brendan Catalano, Senior, 5-9, 190 – will see time; started at fullback in 2020 
• Joe Santana, Senior, 5-7, 160 – will get some carries 

H-Back: 

• Preston Birnie, Senior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter 
• Joe Melo, Junior, 6-3, 190 – will see action; saw action last year and started on defense 

Wide Receiver: 

• Alex Dille, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter 
• Anthony Macchio, Junior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter 
• Darius Colleton, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter; saw action 
• Austin Stakemann, Senior, 5-10, 175 – part of rotation 
• Jackson Pfister, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – part of rotation 

Offensive Line: 

• Julian Santo, Senior, 5-11, 240 – 3-year starter at center 
• Jack Boyle, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at guard 
• Artem Reinikov-Jouk, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at guard 
• Evan Radosevich, Junior, 6-3, 240 – projected starter at tackle 
• Matt Makfinsky, Junior, 6-2, 245 – projected starter at tackle 
• Reggie Bennett, Sophomore, 6-0, 270 – provides depth along the line 
• PJ Ranieri, Junior, 5-11, 225 – provides depth along the line 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Artem Reinikov-Jouk, Senior, 6-0, 225 – 3-year starter at end 
• Julian Santo, Senior, 5-11, 240 – projected starter at end; played often 
• AJ Cardinale, Senior, 5-10, 270 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Reggie Bennett, Sophomore, 6-0, 270 – part of rotation at nose guard 
• PJ Ranieri, Junior, 5-11, 225 – part of rotation at end 
• Evan Radosevich, Junior, 6-3, 240 – part of rotation at end 

Linebacker: 

• Joe Melo, Junior, 6-3, 190 – returning starter on the outside 
• Preston Birnie, Senior, 6-0, 205 – projected starter on the outside; was part of the rotation at end  
• John Rutto, Senior, 5-11, 190 – part of the rotation on the outside 
• Brendan Catalano, Senior, 5-9, 190 – competing on the inside 
• Aidan Wilmot, Junior, 5-11, 200 – competing on the inside 
• Joe Kaminski, Senior, 6-0, 205 – competing on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Alex Dille, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at safety 
• Thomas Clark-Glasco, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at safety 
• Austin Stakemann, Senior, 5-10, 175 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Anthony Macchio, Junior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at cornerback; part of last year’s rotation 
• Darius Colleton, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at safety; part of last year’s rotation 
• Aneesh Kurria, Junior, 5-9, 165 – part of rotation at safety 
• Jackson Pfister, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – part of rotation at safety 
• Dennis Healy, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – part of rotation at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Michael Calton returns at kicker and punter 
• Dille and Macchio are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/26, at Freehold Township 
• Friday, 9/2, at Middletown North 
• Friday, 9/9, Middletown South at home 
• Friday, 9/16, at Donovan Catholic 
• Friday, 9/23, Rumson-Fair Haven at home 
• Saturday, 10/1, at Freehold Boro 
• Friday, 10/7, Red Bank Catholic at home 
• Friday, 10/14, Marlboro at home 
• Friday, 10/21, at Wall 

Concerns: 

• Tough schedule and staying healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Calton has offers from Yale and Columbia plus interest from Delaware 
• Dille and Clark-Glasco are 1-AA/D2 prospects 
• Reinkov-Jouk is a D2 candidate 
• Others may play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Radosevich has 1-AA potential, with one brother playing for Princeton and the other at Penn 
• Melo is a 1-AA/D2 prospect 
• It is too early to determine the sophomores 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re excited about this group of kids. We have a good core of starters returning to make a run and we feel good about them.” – Head Coach Dom LePore