Lombardi Awards Banquet-Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County, NJ USA

	39th Vince Lombardi Award Banquet presented by the Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County and the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation
The Annual Vince Lombardi Awards Banquet honors a lineman from each Monmouth County high school football team. The individuals selected to receive this special award best exemplify the traditions, beliefs and ideals of the legendary coach Vince Lombardi. The Lombardi committee also selects and honors a 'Coach of the Year', a 'Team of the Year' and a football player to receive the coveted 'John Tuggle Award' for overcoming extreme adversity, met overwhelming challenges and still succeeded. The 39th Annual Lombardi Award Banquet was held March 3, 2011 at the Eatontown Sheriton and honored the players and coaches of the 2010 season.
Linemen from all 27 Monmouth County High Schools received their Lombardi Trophys on March 3, 2011. The winners of the 2010 Vince Lombardi Outstanding Lineman Award are: Robert Doherty – Allentown Darryl Johnson - Asbury Park Mark Kapnick - Colts Neck Harrison Stokes - Freehold Boro Adam Rihacek - Freehold Township Chris Marciano - Holmdel Tim Donahue - Howell Robert Flannigan - Keansburg Greg Velasco - Keyport James Parnell- Long Branch Andrew Morgenbesser - Manalapan Edward Kapalko - Manasquan Max Spano - Marlboro John Faccas - Matawan Regional Dwight Sheehan – Mater Dei Brian Crosby - Middletown North Thomas Masi - Middletown South Ryan Greenwood - Monmouth Regional Philip Seidle - Neptune Connor Hayes - Ocean Township Christian Marchena - Raritan Mike Russell - Red Bank Catholic Ronald Vilardi - Red Bank Regional Sam Waters - Rumson Fair Haven Matthew Conte - Shore Regional Nick Dragonetti - St. John Vianney Garrett Foster - Wall Township View Photo Gallery
"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." --Vince Lombardi Vince Lombardi's niece and husband joined the festivities.	Rumson-Fair Haven High School’s head coach, Shane Fallon, honored as “Coach of the Year” Coach Shane Fallon has been the Head Football Coach at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School for 13 years. He has a career record of 89 wins and 46 losses. Coach Fallon took over the football program when it was spiraling downhill and has been able to revive the program. He has achieved 4 Divisional Championships, 2007 State Finals, 2009 New York Jets Coach of the Week, 2010 Center Jersey Group 2 State Champions, 2010 Coach of the Year – Asbury Park Press, Star Ledger, and All Shore Media. Numerous players who Coach Fallon has worked with have gone on to play at the collegiate level. His quarterback/wide receiver camp is a proven winner. Congratulations Coach Shane Fallon!
Shore Regional High School, “Team of the Year.” Shore Regional High School football team had a spectacular title season with a 11-1 record. The Blue Devils won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 Championship record in 2010. Much of the credit goes to their head coach Mark Costantino. This is the second state title for Coach Costantino. Shore Regional has a multitude of weapons this year; Shore averaged over 31 points per game while allowing an average of only 8 points. The teams top performers on offense included quarterback Evan Ruane, running backs Mark Coleman and Pat Maggio (both rushed for over 1,000 years and scored 26 TDs between them), and kicker and wide receiver Shane Carroll let the team in scoring with 115 points. Congratulations Shore Regional!
Raritan's Gurczeski Receive's Tuggle Award Jared Gurczeski, a senior at Raritan High School, has been named this year's recipient of the John Tuggle Award. Gurczeski received his award at the 39th Annual Vince Lombardi Awards dinner. Each year one special young man is selected to receive the 'John Tuggle Award', which is given to an athlete who has overcome adversity, met overwhelming challenges and succeeded. Gurczeski has shown great perseverance in overcoming many obstacles in his young life, obstacles that are not common to many teenagers. Gurczeski was diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy while in elementary school. His condition would bring on an intense cramping of the calf and shin muscles which could be most closely described as severe shin splints. This did not stop Gurczeski from playing competitive organized sports. It was common after a game to see Gurczeski on crutches on the weekend, sometimes until Monday in school. Cerebral palsy was only has the issue for Gurczeski. As a junior, Jared was competing against a senior QB for playing time. Both issues did not stop Jared from impressing the coaching staff and earning the respect of his teammates through his hard work and dedication. Jared would eventually earn starting time as the varsity QB and lead his team to victory against Point Boro. This would be short lived, as the next week he discovered a pilonidal cyst on the base of his tailbone that would require immediate removal via surgery. Jared never felt sorry for himself, he took everything in stride and kept his mind strong hoping he would get a second chance on the season. The team was lucky enough to extend their season and Jared worked his way back to Varsity playing time. Everyone believed that Jared's strife was behind him but that would not be the case. Gurczeski discovered a rash that was thought to be athlete's foot but that was not the case. In unbearable pain he left school to see the doctor and from there was rushed to the hospital for treatment of cellulitis. The infection was caught early but Jared was under 48 hours surveillance for the treatment of cellulitis with IV antibiotics. After Jared's release from the hospital he came back to practice with the same vigor, with the same passion, excited to get his team back on track. At the next game Gurczeski, on a late hit out of bounds, was lost with a MCL sprain. He was able to come back in the last minutes of the fourth quarter and lead his team to victory. Everyone faces adversity at some point in their life, but it is the special people like John Tuggle and Jared Gurczeski who show the fight of the human spirit and the strength of the human body and the courage of the mind, that gives us all a blueprint on how we face our problems in our life. Congratulations Jared! View Photo Gallery
For more information contact Diane Rotondelli at 732-544-1800 x231
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