Michael Lombardi of Freehold, a senior at St. John Vianney, Holmdel, was a co-winner of the John Tuggle Award at the recent Vince Lombardi Awards. The Lombardi Awards honor the top senior linemen from the 27 high schools in Monmouth County. They are named for the legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi.
The Tuggle Award honors a player who overcame adversity, met the challenge and succeeded. Lombardi and Asbury Park’s Joseph Tanner were the 2002 winners.
Michael Lombardi was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his throat four years ago. From that day in July 1998 and for the next 56 weeks, Lombardi battled for his life undergoing chemotherapy in three-week cycles, five days a week. In addition to the chemotherapy, Lombardi endured radiation treatments that overlapped with chemo for two months. Because of his weakened physical conditional Lombardi was unable to play football as a freshman or sophomore. In the summer of 2000 Mike was able to join the weight-training program at SJV and tried out for the football team that ball. By the end of the season, Lombardi had earned a starting position at outside linebacker and never relinquished the spot throughout the 2001 season. He never missed a game, a practice or a chance to prove his desire to play, according to his coaches. Lombardi is being heavily recruited by Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pa., where he hopes to join his brother on the football team as an outside linebacker.
Howell’s Kathy Lynch has been named the assistant director of athletics at Georgian Court College, Lakewood. She will also serve as officer/academic adviser and sports information director. The position was created to help Georgian Court in its jump to NCAA Division II.
Lynch, who graduated from Georgian Court College in 1987 with a degree in business administration and in 1989 with a teaching certificate, previously served as student activities director at the college for five years. Lynch was the assistant basketball coach for 11 years.
A Howell High School graduate, Lynch played basketball at Georgian Court from 1983-87. She held the school’s all-time single-game scoring mark with her 39-point effort against Rutgers Camden. She was team captain from 1985-87 and in 1986, she received the Coaches Award and was selected MVP in 1987. She was named to the CACC All-Tournament Team, CACC All-Conference Team and the All-District 31 Team during her career.
Marlboro’s Ralph Rosso finished second in the all-around in the Class Optional Division at the Maryland Gymnastics Cup 2002 held at the University of Maryland Baltimore County Arena. Rosso, who competed for the Surgent Class II Men’s Team, scored a 49.4 in the all-around. Rosso did collect a pair of individual wins, capturing the floor exercise (8.95) and the high bar (8.3). He was also second on the still rings (8.2) and third on the parallel bars (8.1) and the pommel horse (7.5).
Surgent teammate Anthony Accardi of Manalapan was fifth in the all-around (44.45). Accardi’s best event was the horse where he finished second with an 8.1. He was fourth on the vault (8.55) and sixth on the bars (8.0). Rosso and Accardi led Surgent’s to the Team Cup Trophy. The Surgent’s men’s team is coached by Jim Surgent and Matt Stevenson.
The Trenton Titans will hold their second annual Trenton Titans Jersey Auction to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid-Jersey Chapter, on Tuesday at the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton. The auction will take place immediately following the Titans vs. Charlotte Checkers hockey game. Players will auction off their St. Patrick’s Day-themed jerseys. Face-off for the Trenton-Charlotte is 7:05 p.m. Call (609) 599-9500 for tickets to the game.
The Monmouth Power Sports Club’s fourth annual Slam Fest Basketball Tournament for boys’ teams ages U-10-U17 will be held in the Marlboro/Freehold area April 22-28. Cost is $350 per team and teams are guaranteed six games. Call (732) 833-5020 or Icon13@optonline.net for more information.