Snapple Bowl XXV: Father, son to be reunited on the gridiron
Greg Tufaro
NORTH BRUNSWICK - As the son of a highly respected head football coach at a rival high school, Bishop Ahr senior Jack Roarty fully understood scheduling conflicts would prevent his father from seeing many of his scholastic games.
“He knew that this (coaching) is what I did,” said Roarty’s father, Tom, who is about to begin his sixth season at the helm of the Colonia gridiron program. “He was okay with it. But it was very hard for me. It’s one of those things where you look back and say, ‘You know, did I do the right thing?’ I missed so many of his games.”
Tom coached Jack through his years as a Colonia Pop Warner player, but when his son enrolled at Bishop Ahr, Tom continued coaching Jack’s former youth league teammates, spending more time on the sidelines with children other than his own.
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A three-sport athlete who will play baseball at the next level, Jack will have an opportunity to end his scholastic career with his dad coaching him as the duo will become the third father-and-son combination to take part in the MyCentralJersey.com Snapple Bowl, which this summer is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
“It’s really special, getting to go out there one more time to play football, especially with my dad on the sidelines,” said Jack, who will line up at tight end in the game. “I love football. Out of the three sports I play (including basketball), it’s one of my favorite. As soon as I was picked (for the Snapple Bowl), I knew exactly what it meant – that I get to play for my dad one more time.”
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Jack was among more than 170 cheerleaders and players competing in this year’s installment of the charity all-star football game between recently graduated seniors from Middlesex and Union counties who were formally introduced during a news conference at North Brunswick High School on Monday night (complete rosters can be found at the conclusion of this article).
"Jack was a really good football player for us, but what really impresses me is the young man he’s grown into over the last four years,” said Bishop Ahr head coach Joe Vigilante, noting Jack served as a ball boy for the Trojans many years ago. “I’ve been very lucky to watch him grow over the last 11 or 12 years. I couldn’t be happier for him. I think he’s going to be successful in any walk of life he chooses. He deserves to play in this game.”
All proceeds from the game, which has raised $642,000 since its inception, benefit the Edison-based Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities, and Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.
During game week, players and cheerleaders will visit children from both charities, which has proved over the years to be a life-altering experience for many Snapple Bowl participants, leading some to pursue careers as special education teachers.
READ: MyCentralJersey.com Snapple Bowl raises more than $50K for third straight year
Each county will conduct the first of seven practices at Woodbridge (Middlesex) and Union (Union) high schools on July 9. Players and cheerleaders from both sides will gather for the annual Snapple Bowl banquet at the Pines Manor in Edison on July 18.
Marcus Borden, the game’s founder and director, said he has assembled an all-star lineup of sponsors and contributors including Body Armor, Bai, 1-800-Autoland of Route 22 in Springfield, the Pines Manor, FieldTurf, Chick-Fil-A of Union and Woodbridge, Metro Team Outfitters, Adidas, Sports Shots Unlimited, Riddell and MyCentralJersey.com.
Middlesex leads the series 14-10 and has won nine of the past 12 Snapple Bowls. Seven of the past 14 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. Union rallied for a 27-14 victory last summer.
This year’s contest will be held 7 p.m. July 19 at Woodbridge High School’s Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium, returning to the site where two years ago the Snapple Bowl raised a single-game record $55,000.
Tom is in the middle of his second stint as a Snapple Bowl assistant coach, his first running from 2001-03 during which Jack used to tag along with his father to practice.
During one of those practices, when Jack was 3, a play rolled out of bounds where he was standing 15 yards behind the sideline, and the toddler found himself at the bottom of a pile that included a burly defensive end and the quarterback he was pursuing.
“I backed up and forgot to take Jack with me and he wound up at the bottom of the pile,” said Tom, noting longtime Snapple Bowl volunteer coach Ben LaSala, “never let me forget it. Jack was a little scared at first, but then he was fine with it. His mother (Patricia) didn’t like it, but she didn’t hear the story until a few years later.”
Tom later brought his younger children – twins Thomas and Andrew, who are sophomores at Bishop Ahr – to football practices. Tom graduated from Bishop Ahr, where he played offensive line for the school’s 1984 and 1985 state championship teams. Tom began coaching at his alma mater in 1988, two years after graduating high school. Thomas (wrestling) and Andrew (lacrosse) play varsity sports at the high school. Thomas also plays football, while Andrew never really took to the sport, instead opting to play soccer, prompting his father to jokingly wonder aloud, “Where did he come from?”
“Jack would love it, Thomas was okay with it and Andrew was like, ‘When is this over,’” Tom recalled with a laugh of his kids’ reaction to being at football practice, adding with a serious tone, “I’m proud of all my sons.”
Unlike former Woodbridge mentor Bill Nyers and former Colonia mentor Ben LaSala, who each coached their sons, Anthony Nyers and Joe LaSala, in high school and in the Snapple Bowl, Tom Roarty could only watch his son play for Bishop Ahr when the Trojans’ games did not conflict with those of the Patriots, or when the teams scrimmaged one another, which they did each of the past two seasons.
Honored last year as a Greater Middlesex Conference Sportsmanship Award winner, Jack carries himself with the same demeanor as his father, who is more respected as a person than he is for being an outstanding coach with a 37-16 career record. Jack was named All-Blue Divison and third-team Home News Tribune All-Conference at the end of last season.
To keep abreast of the action he missed of his son, Tom would watch game film with Jack or rely on his wife to provide specifics of plays in which their son was involved. Tom was able to make a couple of Saturday games, one in which Jack made a terrific catch and was tackled at the 1-yard line.
“It happened right in front of me,” Tom said of the play, of which he had a bird’s eye view while standing on the sidelines at Spotswood High School. “That was a proud father moment. The few games I did get to, it was really nice to get there.”
Tom was coaching in Perth Amboy when Jack had his Senior Night, a missed opportunity the father and son hope the Snapple Bowl will help them recapture.
Middlesex County All-Star Football Roster
Bernardo Abreu (J.F. Kennedy, OG, 6-2, 230); Amir Alderman (North Brunswick, WR5-10, 175); Ahmed Aly Edison (WR, 6-1, 180); Branden Barnes (Edison, DT, 6-4, 265); Kyle Baszak (South River, LB, 6-1, 195); Tristan Behr (Sayreville, OT, 5-10, 220); Donavan Benoit (Edison, FB 5-11, 225); Kaylon Bradley (Monroe, LB, 6-1, 213); Jevon Buckmire (Piscataway, LB, 5-9, 210); Xavier Cargile (South Brunswick, DE, 5-10, 210); Paul Cocozziello (St. Joseph, QB, 5-11, 210); Diario Demorla (Carteret, WR, 6-1, 180); Jon Desmelyk (Dunellen, C, 5-9, 215); Oliver French (Colonia, OG, 6-2, 260); Tyler Hernandez (North Brunswick, OT, 6-0, 310); Anthony Imbimbo (Old Bridge, WR, 5-9, 170); Mike Izzo (Spotswood, OG, 6-2, 280); Tyler Jack (Perth Amboy, WR, 5-9, 170); Taj Calvin Johnson (Colonia, CB, 5-9, 165); Dan Kindler (Metuchen, SS, 5-3, 135); Liam Knowles (Old Bridge, WR, 6-0, 190); John Kressbach (Middlesex, OLB, 5-10, 190); Dylan Kriz (South Brunswick, SS, 5-9, 190); Devin Lanza (Middlesex, FS, 5-7, 160); Charles Lovett (South Plainfield, FS, 6-2, 185); Damian Lupo (Sayreville, DT, 5-10, 240); Nick Nyers (Woodbridge, LB, 5-10, 210); Chad Opoku (J.P. Stevens, NG, 6-1, 290); Ramon Paulino (Old Bridge, DE 5-10, 240); Luke Pero (Colonia, RB, 5-7, 150); Feliz Quinones (South Brunswick, CB, 5-7, 155); Manny Resto (St. Joseph, RB, 6-0, 205); Jack Roarty (Bishop Ahr, TE, 6-2, 200); Alex Rossman (North Brunswick, OG , 6-0, 280); James Schuld (East Brunswick, QB, 6-1, 212); Dwayne Sharpe (Carteret, RB, 5-10, 195); David Strzeminski (North Brunswick, DE, 6-1, 225); Travis Thomas (South River, WR, 6-1, 175); Gianfranco Tiseo (Colonia, P-PK, 6-0, 160); Lou Truppa (J.F. Kennedy, C, 5-11, 235); Luke Vizzoni (Bishop Ahr, LB, 5-8, 180); Izaiah Webb (New Brunswick, LB, 6-0, 180); Manny Wheagar (Old Bridge, WR, 5-10, 150); Nahjir Woods (Piscataway, CB, 6-1, 170); Matt Zurawiecki Monroe (DE, 6-4, 235)
Union County All-Star Football Roster
Alex Acevedo (Union, OL, 5-10, 250); Temi Adanlawo (Union, DL, 6-3, 205); Elijah Arroyo (Cranford, DB, 5-10, 170); Nicholas Basilage (Roselle, DL, 5-11, 260); Khalid Bonnet (Brearley, RB, 5-10, 230); Dylan Budnik (Cranford, LB, 6-3, 215); Chauncey Caffey (Union, OL, 6-4, 235); Dylan Camillo (Roselle Park, RB, 5-7, 150); Jack Carroll (Cranford, OL, 6-4, 240); Michael Casolino (A.L. Johnson, DB, 5-5, 155); Mike Ceceri (Brearley, OL, 6-0, 260); Elijah Cotton (Hillside, DL, 5-11, 255); Keyshawn Cummings (Rahway, WR, 6-0, 185); Luca Curran (Summit, LB, 6-0, 185); Shea Elliot (Westfield, LB, 5-11, 205); Bobby Emmanuel (Union, OL, 5-10, 225); Kwabena Ennin-Frimpong (Hillside, DL, 6-2, 240); Julien Fernandez (Roselle, WR, 6-2, 200); Terrell Frazier (Rahway, OL, 6-2, 240); Maurice Garner (Linden, LB, 5-10, 215); Jawahn Gasque (Roselle Park, OL, 6-4, 240); Patrick Green (Rahway, DB, 5-10, 165); David Hall (Rahway, DL, 6-1, 215); Jabriel Harmon (Elizabeth, WR, 5-10, 170); Ben Hasenkopf (New Providence, LB, 6-0, 220); Max Hayford (Summit, WR, 6-0, 175); Cooper Heisey (Scotch Plains-Fanwood, QB, 6-4, 230); Devin Hilburn (Roselle Park, LB, 6-1, 180); TajIrby (Hillside, QB, 5-9, 160); Adham Khalil (Roselle, OL, 6-3, 280); Dwight Laylor (Scotch Plains-Fanwood, WR, 6-3, 185); Marvens Lormejuste (Roselle, DB, 6-1, 165); Mike Magliacano (Governor Livingston, DL, 6-0, 220); Andrew Martin (Union, WR, 5-11, 175); Sean Matthews (Roselle Park, OL, 6-3, 240); Adam McDaniel (Westfield, WR, 6-0, 160); John Morales (Elizabeth, DL, 6-1, 250); Drew Ortiz (Westfield, LB, 5-11, 225); Lawson Paden (Linden, DB, 6-0, 170); Mike Ramos (Brearley, DB, 5-9, 160); Antonio Salcfas (Dayton, RB, 6-1, 210); Joe Shepard (Summit, TE-FB, 6-3, 230); Joe Turek (A.L. Johnson, LB, 6-0, 205); Jake Vall-Llobera (Westfield, DL, 6-3, 235); Haleem Woods (Plainfield, WR, 6-0, 185)
Middlesex County Cheerleading Roster
Mary Abate, South Plainfield; Camryn Andrulewich, Spotswood; Marin Bohinski, Spotswood; Nicole Carrera, East Brunswick; Jordan Cinelli, Woodbridge; Danielle Corless, Old Bridge; Leomarie Crespo, Perth Amboy; Caroline Cruz, South River; Dana Dantoni, Spotswood; Sophia DiGiovanni, South River; Victoria Dowd, Colonia; Marin Finis, J.F. Kennedy; Julia Fischer, J.F. Kennedy; Jordan Fraraccio, J.P. Stevens; Ashley Graham, South Brunswick; Deanna Graulich, North Brunswick; Joselyn Hererra, Dunellen; Caitlyn Hochron, Sayreville; Jayla Jackson, South River; Lauren Kodros, Old Bridge; Christopher Lewis, New Brunswick; Marykate Lukasiuk, Carteret; Devin Mauriello, Dunellen; Madison Menafro, Bishop Ahr; Kimberley Mikic, Spotswood; Nicole Napoli, Bishop Ahr; Rachele Nagy, Carteret; Aneri Parehk, Colonia; Amiah Purcell, Edison; Alexa Quinn, Monroe; Syleen Reyes, South Plainfield; Brittany Sa, Woodbridge; Jeannie Shor, South Brunswick; Courtney Short, North Brunswick; Kara Tackach, Middlesex; Tian Vacca, East Brunswick; Kiara Warfield, J.P. Stevens; Emma Yuan, Edison
Union County Cheerleading Roster
Eseoghene Aghoghovbia, Dayton; Daniella Aeillo, Governor Livingston; Amanda Anthenelli, Governor Livingston; Khalia Bethea, Plainfield; Stephanie Cantrell, Roselle Park; Gianna Cassara, Scotch Plains-Fanwood; Katie Clark, Westfield; Jessica Cronin, New Providence; Tamara Daliguar, Scotch Plains-Fanwood; Elena Del Duca, New Providence; Emily De Lima, A.L. Johnson; Elizabeth DePaola, Scotch Plains-Fanwood; Devon Everton, New Providence; Drew Ferriss, Westfield; Alyssa Figueiredo, Brearley; Nick Gamboa Governor Livingston; Lexi Gonnelli, Governor Livingston; Caitlyn Harms, Dayton; Teshona Hicks, Elizabeth; Aliza Howard, Hillside; Nicole Jankowski, New Providence; MacC Johnson, Hillside; Serafina Kardonova, Dayton; Myra Kenner, Elizabeth; Caroline Kliesch, New Providence; Aylen Mendoza, Roselle Park; Khaya Newell, Rahway; Adriana Palmucci, A.L. Johnson; Rayana Patania, Dayton; Emily Peres, Roselle Park; Marissa Petronella, A.L. Johnson; JaNay Porter, Plainfield; Amanda Pratt, A. L. Johnson; Samantha Tavares, A.L. Johnson; Nicole Tomich, Governor Livingston; Ally Vuono, Scotch Plains-Fanwood; Aniyyah Williams, Elizabeth; Allegra Wyrick, Brearley; Alexa Zsak, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
MIDDLESEX COUNTY ALL-STAR FOOTBALL ROSTER
Bernardo Abreu (J.F. Kennedy, OG, 6'2, 230)
Amir Alderman (North Brunswick, WR5-10, 175)
Ahmed Aly Edison (WR, 6-1, 180)
Branden Barnes (Edison, DT, 6-4, 265)
Kyle Baszak (South River, LB, 6-1, 195)
Tristan Behr (Sayreville, OT, 5-10, 220)
Donavan Benoit (Edison, FB 5-11, 225)
Kaylon Bradley (Monroe, LB, 6-1, 213)
Jevon Buckmire (Piscataway, LB, 5-9, 210)
Xavier Cargile (South Brunswick, DE, 5-10, 210)
Paul Cocozziello (St. Joseph, QB, 5-11, 210)
Diario Demorla (Carteret, WR, 6-1, 180)
Jon Desmelyk (Dunellen, C, 5-9, 215)
Oliver French (Colonia, OG, 6-2, 260)
Tyler Hernandez (North Brunswick, OT, 6-0, 310)
Anthony Imbimbo (Old Bridge, WR, 5-9, 170)
Mike Izzo (Spotswood, OG, 6-2, 280)
Tyler Jack (Perth Amboy, WR, 5-9, 170)
Taj Calvin Johnson (Colonia, CB, 5-9, 165)
Dan Kindler (Metuchen, SS, 5-3, 135)
Liam Knowles (Old Bridge, WR, 6-0, 190)
John Kressbach (Middlesex, OLB, 5-10, 190)
Dylan Kriz (South Brunswick, SS, 5-9, 190)
Devin Lanza (Middlesex, FS, 5-7, 160)
Charles Lovett (South Plainfield, FS, 6-2, 185)
Damian Lupo (Sayreville, DT, 5-10, 240)
Nick Nyers (Woodbridge, LB, 5-10, 210)
Chad Opoku (J.P. Stevens, NG, 6-1, 290)
Ramon Paulino (Old Bridge, DE 5-10, 240)
Luke Pero (Colonia, RB, 5-7, 150)
Feliz Quinones (South Brunswick, CB, 5-7, 155)
Manny Resto (St. Joseph, RB, 6-0, 205)
Jack Roarty (Bishop Ahr, TE, 6-2, 200)
Alex Rossman (North Brunswick, OG , 6-0, 280)
James Schuld (East Brunswick, QB, 6-1, 212)
Dwayne Sharpe (Carteret, RB, 5-10, 195)
David Strzeminski (North Brunswick, DE, 6-1, 225)
Travis Thomas (South River, WR, 6-1, 175)
Gianfranco Tiseo (Colonia, P-PK, 6-0, 160)
Lou Truppa (J.F. Kennedy, C, 5-11, 235)
Luke Vizzoni (Bishop Ahr, LB, 5-8, 180)
Izaiah Webb (New Brunswick, LB, 6-0, 180)
Manny Wheagar (Old Bridge, WR, 5-10, 150)
Nahjir Woods (Piscataway, CB, 6-1, 170)
Matt Zurawiecki Monroe (DE, 6-4, 235)
UNION COUNTY ALL-STAR FOOTBALL ROSTER
Alex Acevedo (Union, OL, 5-10, 250)
Temi Adanlawo (Union, DL, 6-3, 205)
Elijah Arroyo (Cranford, DB, 5-10, 170)
Nicholas Basilage (Roselle, DL, 5-11, 260)
Khalid Bonnet (Brearley, RB, 5-10, 230)
Dylan Budnik (Cranford, LB, 6-3, 215)
Chauncey Caffey (Union, OL, 6-4, 235)
Dylan Camillo (Roselle Park, RB, 5-7, 150)
Jack Carroll (Cranford, OL, 6-4, 240)
Michael Casolino (A.L. Johnson, DB, 5-5, 155)
Mike Ceceri (Brearley, OL, 6-0, 260)
Elijah Cotton (Hillside, DL, 5-11, 255)
Keyshawn Cummings (Rahway, WR, 6-0, 185)
Luca Curran (Summit, LB, 6-0, 185)
Shea Elliot (Westfield, LB, 5-11, 205)
Bobby Emmanuel (Union, OL, 5-10, 225)
Kwabena Ennin-Frimpong (Hillside, DL, 6-2, 240)
Julien Fernandez (Roselle, WR, 6-2, 200)
Terrell Frazier (Rahway, OL, 6-2, 240)
Maurice Garner (Linden, LB, 5-10, 215)
Jawahn Gasque (Roselle Park, OL, 6-4, 240)
Patrick Green (Rahway, DB, 5-10, 165)
David Hall (Rahway, DL, 6-1, 215)
Jabriel Harmon (Elizabeth, WR, 5-10, 170)
Ben Hasenkopf (New Providence, LB, 6-0, 220)
Max Hayford (Summit, WR, 6-0, 175)
Cooper Heisey (Scotch Plains-Fanwood, QB, 6-4, 230)
Devin Hilburn (Roselle Park, LB, 6-1, 180)
TajIrby (Hillside, QB, 5-9, 160)
Adham Khalil (Roselle, OL, 6-3, 280)
Dwight Laylor (Scotch Plains-Fanwood, WR, 6-3, 185)
Marvens Lormejuste (Roselle, DB, 6-1, 165)
Mike Magliacano (Governor Livingston, DL, 6-0, 220)
Andrew Martin (Union, WR, 5-11, 175)
Sean Matthews (Roselle Park, OL, 6-3, 240)
Adam McDaniel (Westfield, WR, 6-0, 160)
John Morales (Elizabeth, DL, 6-1, 250)
Drew Ortiz (Westfield, LB, 5-11, 225)
Lawson Paden (Linden, DB, 6-0, 170)
Mike Ramos (Brearley, DB, 5-9, 160)
Antonio Salcfas (Dayton, RB, 6-1, 210)
Joe Shepard (Summit, TE-FB, 6-3, 230)
Joe Turek (A.L. Johnson, LB, 6-0, 205)
Jake Vall-Llobera (Westfield, DL, 6-3, 235)
Haleem Woods (Plainfield, WR, 6-0, 185)
MIDDLESEX COUNTY CHEERLEADING ROSTER
Mary Abate, South Plainfield
Camryn Andrulewich, Spotswood
Marin Bohinski, Spotswood
Nicole Carrera, East Brunswick
Jordan Cinelli, Woodbridge
Danielle Corless, Old Bridge
Leomarie Crespo, Perth Amboy
Caroline Cruz, South River
Dana Dantoni, Spotswood
Sophia DiGiovanni, South River
Victoria Dowd, Colonia
Marin Finis, J.F. Kennedy
Julia Fischer, J.F. Kennedy
Jordan Fraraccio, J.P. Stevens
Ashley Graham, South Brunswick
Deanna Graulich, North Brunswick
Joselyn Hererra, Dunellen
Caitlyn Hochron, Sayreville
Jayla Jackson, South River
Lauren Kodros, Old Bridge
Christopher Lewis, New Brunswick
Marykate Lukasiuk, Carteret
Devin Mauriello, Dunellen
Madison Menafro, Bishop Ahr
Kimberley Mikic, Spotswood
Nicole Napoli, Bishop Ahr
Rachele Nagy, Carteret
Aneri Parehk, Colonia
Amiah Purcell, Edison
Alexa Quinn, Monroe
Syleen Reyes, South Plainfield
Brittany Sa, Woodbridge
Jeannie Shor, South Brunswick
Courtney Short, North Brunswick
Kara Tackach, Middlesex
Tian Vacca, East Brunswick
Kiara Warfield, J.P. Stevens
Emma Yuan, Edison
UNION COUNTY CHEERLEADING ROSTER
Eseoghene Aghoghovbia, Dayton
Daniella Aeillo, Governor Livingston
Amanda Anthenelli, Governor Livingston
Khalia Bethea, Plainfield
Stephanie Cantrell, Roselle Park
Gianna Cassara, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Katie Clark, Westfield
Jessica Cronin, New Providence
Tamara Daliguar, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Elena Del Duca, New Providence
Emily De Lima, A.L. Johnson
Elizabeth DePaola, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Devon Everton, New Providence
Drew Ferriss, Westfield
Alyssa Figueiredo, Brearley
Nick Gamboa Governor Livingston
Lexi Gonnelli, Governor Livingston
Caitlyn Harms, Dayton
Teshona Hicks, Elizabeth
Aliza Howard, Hillside
Nicole Jankowski, New Providence
MacC Johnson, Hillside
Serafina Kardonova, Dayton
Myra Kenner, Elizabeth
Caroline Kliesch, New Providence
Aylen Mendoza, Roselle Park
Khaya Newell, Rahway
Adriana Palmucci, A.L. Johnson
Rayana Patania, Dayton
Emily Peres, Roselle Park
Marissa Petronella, A.L. Johnson
JaNay Porter, Plainfield
Amanda Pratt, A. L. Johnson
Samantha Tavares, A.L. Johnson
Nicole Tomich, Governor Livingston
Ally Vuono, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Aniyyah Williams, Elizabeth
Allegra Wyrick, BrearleyAlexa Zsak, Scotch Plains-Fanwood