Flag football teams battle in fundraising games
By Mary Ellen Zangara Special Writer
The second annual Pay to Play flag football tournament to benefit Jake Whitenight on Nov. 4 at Gerber Field pitted four area teams against each other on the gridiron.
But the real winner was Jake Whitenight, the infant son of Lynn and Paul Whitenight of South 21st Avenue, born with congenital birth defects, including bilateral microtia atresia, one missing outer ear, and one malformed outer ear. The bilateral microtia atresia causes a bony plate where an ear canal should be, with accompanied hearing loss.
The tournament was organized by the Manville Youth Athletic League to help raise money for the family to help defray medical costs for Jake’s operations.
”The path of his journey is already lined with the love, goodness and faith of the finest people we could ever hope for,” Ms. Whitenight said. “In spite of it all, what a lucky little boy.”
Ms. Whitenight said the effort by MYAL and the players who formed the teams to help raise money left her “in awe.”
”Our strong support from family, friends and our community makes Jake’s long road seem a lot shorter than if our family had to go it alone,” she said. “Paul and I have such an inspiring and supportive group of friends here within the community. I can tell you that we have the kind of friends that you build the foundation of your life upon without worry. That alone is priceless.”
”Our lives have changed dramatically since Jake was given to us it has changed tenfold for the better,” she added.
Ms. Whitenight said Jake is expected to have reconstructive surgeries for his ears completed before he’s 5 years old, using a new method called “Medpor reconstruction.”
”His doctors are located in both Palo Alto and Los Angeles, California,” she said. “By this time next year, Jake will be nearing 2½ and his first operation will already be planned.”
He will undergo a series of subsequent operations in hopes of gaining full hearing.
”By the time he has his last reconstruction operation he will have endured more than most people will in their entire lives,” Ms. Whitenight said.
Perhaps not ironically, the team wining the Nov. 4 tournament was named Jake’s Boys.
The team included Shane Rebuth, Ray Thompson, Clarence Anthony, Dan Bardar, Ke Dao, Matt Bardar, Pete Buttitta, Rob Willard, Joe Carraquillo, Bob Demeter, Jess Thompson, Frank Passe, Sara Delacruz, Mike Saraison, Paul Whitenight, Steve Tokarzewski, Rich Armstrong, Mike Lamastro and John Norz. The team won the first game against the MYAL team by a score of 19-7.
The MYAL team included coaches, parents, and former players who came back for the good cause. Gregg Snyder, Rob Snyder, Walt Mathewson, Eddie Mathewson, John Bentz, Judy Miller, Katie Ader, Michele Hanover, Al Rizk, Dave Rubin, Jon Gangwer, Cody Gatto, Justin Jurkowski, James Spinola, Jimmy Horsburgh and Rob Wood made up the team.
The next game was between the American Legion Post 304 and No Excuses team of Manville School District personnel with the school district claiming the victory. The players from the No Excuses team were Don Frank, Sean Troj, Betheny Hirsch, Jenn Deitrich, Ken McElland, Katie Dempsey Cristine Michelli, Mike Magliacano, Jorge Rentor, Chris , Rich Ozieblo, John Schieterstein, Andrew Schaeffer, Paul Gallagher, Doug Kolody and Chris Gosmer.
Players of the American Legion Post 304 were Sandy Baranowski, Billy Baranowski, Bill Turner, Thomas Cornelson, Russ Huntley, Jenn Jannone, Kelli Schwertlegger, Victor RoskowskiDave Harabin, John Freuler, James Johnson, Pasquale Rago, Billy Demeter Sr. Billy Demeter Jr., Barbara Burton, Jackie Giardino, Amanda Thomaszefski Scott Hickey, John Santostefano, Michael “Bingo” Mascola and Mike Janes.
The third game pitted the losers from the first games, with MYAL winning.
That left the championship game between the Jake’s Boys and No Excuses teams to battle for the top prize, and Jake’s Boys took their second consecutive championship title.
The game was officiated by Paul Gibbons and Ruben Crespo, with Giovanni Antonelli handling the sideline chains. Tom Caswell served as the event announcer, and Matthew Bardar captured the action on videotape.
Spectators and players had chances to also win off the field there were three prize raffles during the benefit, with Gatto’s Sports Bar donating two gift certificates and Drewby’s Bar & Grille also donating a gift certificate. The three winners were Denise Iadanza of Somerset, Brenda and Dan Bickar of Manville and Matthew Bardar of Piscataway.
MYAL noted the American Legion Post 304 donated the use of their hall for a post-game gathering, which included food donated by the Manville Reformed Church.