By Brett Carroll
Staff Writer
Colts Neck High School teammates Thomas Clark and Vincent Gargiulo are happy they got to share one last memory together before their scholastic careers were over — and they made some new friends along the way as well.
The two Colts Neck players spent a week bonding with each other and new teammates when they participated in the 2017 Phil Simms North-South All-Star Football Classic that was played at Kean University in Union on June 26.
Clark, at 6-foot-2, 290 pounds, played on the offensive line for the South All-Stars. He reflected on his experiences in the all-star game that annually attracts the top graduated seniors throughout New Jersey.
“It felt awesome,” Clark said. “Being able to play with the best in New Jersey was definitely one of the top experiences I’ve ever had. It was an unbelievable experience — an unbelievable weekend — and I wish I can do it all over again.”
The South All-Stars won this year’s annual all-star game, 30-22. That victory put the all-time series record at 18-18-2 between the North and South.
Clark revealed that the South had a little more incentive to win because of the friendly trash talking that the two sides took part in during the week leading up to the game.
“The win felt great,” Clark said. “All week, there’s been trash talk. In the dorms. In the locker rooms. Just to get this win, and to go all out on the field, is something special.”
Clark said sharing this moment with Gargiulo was special, despite the fact that Gargiulo couldn’t play in the game because of an injury.
“It was awesome,” Clark said. “I’ve played with him for four years. Unfortunately, he was hurt and he didn’t get to play, but it was awesome to go out there one last time with him.”
Gargiulo, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 240 pounds, suffered a torn ACL during one of the practices but said he still enjoyed the experience.
“I enjoyed it,” said Gargiulo, who is a linebacker. “Even though I practiced probably twice in total, it was a great experience. It was an honor to be able to participate in this, and I really enjoyed it.”
Gargiulo said he’s looking forward to seeing the new friends and teammates he made, and he expects the bond the group made over the week will last a long time.
“I met a lot of new friends that will probably be friends with me for a while,” Gargiulo said. “I met new kids that I’m going to be going to college with, and I already know that we connected very well and we’re already going out. We’re going to be great friends later on in life.”
Gargiulo also loved being with his Colts Neck teammate and was happy that at least one of them got to play in the game.
“It was fun,” Gargiulo said. “Me and Tom really enjoyed everything here. It [stinks] that I couldn’t participate more because my ACL’s torn, but I really enjoyed everything that I was able to do here, and I’m happy he enjoyed himself out there.”
Gargiulo will return to Kean when he starts his freshman year at the school in September. Meanwhile, Clark will attend Cheshire Academy in Connecticut.