The Jackson Memorial High School football team rekindled some of its past glory during the 2011 season, but with 15 starting positions emptied by graduation, the question during this off-season is whether the players who are going to fill those positions are making strides.
“Our success [in 2012] is going to be based on how those young players come up to speed,” Jaguars coach Walt Krystopik said. “They had a good off-season. A lot of our kids are two- and three-sport athletes. A lot of them were on the track team.”
Krystopik was an assistant coach for the Jackson Memorial boys track and field team in 2012.
Jackson Memorial has five departing players in all-star showcases from a team that went 8-2 and qualified for the Central Jersey Group IV state playoffs, losing its opener to eventual champion Sayreville War Memorial High School.
Dimitrie Christodoylakis is scheduled to play in the New Jersey North-South All-Star game at Kean University on June 28, and he and four others are playing in the July 12 Shore Classic pitting the best of Ocean County against Monmouth County’s finest on July 12.
Other Jaguars who are scheduled to play in the Shore Classic are two-time 1,000- yard rusher Brandon Winston, defensive back Maurice Jackson, wide receiver and defensive back Johntel Thomas, and defensive tackle James Cowen.
“Dimitrie was a standout all year at linebacker and he was a good backup running back, as well as playing on special teams and returning kickoffs,” Krystopik said.
Christodoylakis made 43 tackles and assisted on 34 others in 2011. He rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns.
“He was a leader for us all year,” Krystopik said.
Christodoylakis and Winston are going toAlbright, where a few Jackson Memorial players have gone in the past. Winston rushed for 1,121 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2011.
Jackson will be taking his defensive talents to American International, and Cowen and lineman Ian Leary are going toWilliam Paterson. Quarterback Jim Celidonio is headed to Springfield.
The new starters in the Jaguars’ backfield will have a veteran offensive line in front of them in 2012. The players on the line have worked hard and have collectively improved in the off-season, and they are all seniors, Anthony LoRocco, Nick Trent, John Gaboff, Max Mundello and Ben Collins.
Kenneth Bradley, who started at middle linebacker in 2011 and will be a junior this fall, projects as the No. 1 running back when practices officially begin onAug. 15. Along with team workouts through July and into August, the quarterbacks and receivers will be competing in 7-on-7 passing camps.
Jackson Memorial will open the 2012 season at home against Manalapan on Sept. 14.
Chris Sims, a rising senior, is the only other returning starter. Sims plays strong safety.
Bradley received the running back award and Gaboff earned the defensive lineman award at the Drew Duddy Camp last week where 46 Jackson Memorial players participated.
“Last year the offensive line was young and those guys got a chance to step up, and this year it’s one of our strong points,” Krystopik said. “We have good leadership on our offensive line.”
In addition to the veterans, there are young players ready to emerge, Krystopik said.
MarcusAdemilola, who will be a senior, won the tight end award at the Drew Duddy Camp and also plays defensive end.
Rising juniors Khani Glover at slotback and cornerback, and Justin Gullo at running back and cornerback competed in the sprints for the track and field team this spring.
Former Jackson Memorial and Albright player Mark Bergery will join the staff as secondary coach. The rest of the staff remains from 2011. Corey Lavin coaches the quarterbacks and Jeff Brown coaches the offensive line, while Tom Bradley, Kenneth’s dad, coaches the defensive line with Chris Rush. Rob Schultz is the linebackers coach and Keith Anderson works with the offensive skill players. Luke Wainczak coaches the freshman team.