By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
CJ Markisz was thrilled just to be a part of last Sunday’s National Football Foundation Delaware Valley Chapter’s George Wah Scholar Leader Athlete Dinner.
When the West Windsor-Plainsboro High North senior was awarded the top prize of the $5,000 Jack Stephen Scholarship presented by New Jersey Manufacturers, it only added to the memorable night.
“I was very surprised because to be in that event in first place with so many very notable candidates was a huge honor,” Markisz said. “To be picked from that crop was very exciting. So it was super surprising and a great experience overall.”
Markisz was one of 23 high school players honored at the event. He joined Notre Dame’s Xavier Lezynski and Steinert’s Frank Lucchesi as the top award recipients.
“It was great event,” Markisz said. “The whole black tie event with tuxedos just amplified the atmosphere of the night with the speeches and everything else that went on. Coach (Eric) Hamilton did a great job with the organization of the event. It was just a cool night.”
Markisz put on a tux for just the second time in his life, this time going with a fitted one. His scholarship will help pay his way through Bowdoin College, where he will get to play football in the competitive New England Small College Athletic Conference.
“I was recruited to play there and I felt like that was the best fit for me,” Markisz said. “Coach (Todd) Smith was very helpful with that. I grew up watching Ryan Lupo who played for South and went to Williams and a few other guys from the area have played in the NESCAC. It just seemed like the right fit.
“I will be playing running back. At North, Coach (Jeff) Reilly had me at outside linebacker and safety on defense as well as running back. It will be nice to be on one side of the ball.”
Markisz was part of a successful winter track team at North this past winter and will run track in the spring before turning all of his attention to football.
“With the relay teams this winter we did well,” Markisz said. “The spring season is underway and that is going really well. I have a lot of football friends that have been running track, We have a tight knit group that keeps that same football vibe that we have had all year. It has been great training the younger guys.”
And those younger guys are getting to look up to one of the area’s top scholar athletes.
“The whole thing was very cool, especially since I had played against a lot of the kids in football and baseball,” Markisz said. “Frank Lucchesi, who also got a top award, I had been playing against him in baseball since I was 10. It was nice to meet his folks and see those guys off the field.”
