Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Anthony Starego has autism, but is playing a vital part of the Dragons' football team
When Anthony Starego was 12 years old, he watched as Jeremy Ito lined up to kick a 28-yard field goal for Rutgers, then watched as the ball sailed through the uprights, giving the Scarlet Knights a 28-25 upset victory over the Louisville Cardinals, then ranked No. 3 in the nation. "He watched it and watched it and watched it," says Ray Starego, Anthony's father, who's been a Rutgers season ticket-holder since 1988. A few days later, Anthony went to his dad and told him he wanted to be a kicker, too. So his parents, Ray and Reylene, sought out the Brick Pop Warner program and enrolled him. The first practice didn't go smoothly. When a coach placed his hands on Anthony to move him to the right position, Anthony balked, Ray said. "He told the…
Friday, September 21, 2012
Board may consider conduct policy
Board members and at least one member of the public called for better behavior at high school football games at a Board of Education meeting Thursday, after what was described as a plethora of foul language and overall poor conduct at the recent rivalry game between the Dragons and Mustangs. "The language, the activities of some of the students and even parents, was deplorable," said board vice president John Talty, calling the display "a disgrace." "I hope the administrators make sure that they take every action to make sure that this never happens again," he said. After the Sept. 7 football game, hosted this year by Brick Memorial, township residents on Patch and elsewhere discussed the behavior of fans at the game, including some …
Friday, March 2, 2012
Brick advances to the third round of the Public 'B' state tournament with a 3-1 win over Mendham
For a team with plenty of offesnive dynamo often stealing the headlines, the Brick Dragons defensive corps are quietly garnering respect of many ice hockey observers around the state. For the second time in three days, the Green Dragons allowed their opponents very few shots – this time in a 3-1 victory over Mendham. Mendham shot the puck five more times than opening round opponent Wayne Hills did earlier this week, but the Dragons still have averaged just 12.5 shots against per game in their two playoff contests. "It really comes down to the guys working hard, getting in lanes, taking shots away," said Brick head coach Bob Auriemma. Backstopping the tight defense has been sophomore goaltender Jake Lampiasi, who was a mere 68 seconds away …
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Ten unanswered goals fuel Brick
One year ago, Brick's second line of three freshmen each got their postseason feet wet by deep runs in the Shore and State tournaments. So far, a year later, the experience has been paying off as Brick shared the Handchen Cup with Middletown South as co-champions and in the Public 'B' state playoffs. The trio of Chris Mooney, David Kearns and Andrew Reiss flew up and down the rink again Tuesday night, as Brick crushed Wayne Hills 10-1 at home. Kearns and Reiss netted three goals each, earning hat tricks. "They have shown how capable they are plenty of times before," said Bob Auriemma, head coach of the Dragons. "(Hills) really loaded up on our first line and tried to slow them down but (Mooney, Reiss, and Kearns) connected." It was two …
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Dragons' linebacker will play football at Monmouth University
Surrounded by his family and coaching staff, Tom Winters put his athletic and academic future in the hands on Monmouth University Wednesday. After four successful seasons under three different head coaches for the Brick Dragons football team, Winters signed his national letter of intent Wednesday morning, officially committing to Monmouth University. Winters was the star of Brick's defense this fall, and will play linebacker for the Hawks next year on scholorship. "It's definitely a relief, I'm just really excited to get after it and start playing Monmouth football," Winters said. Winters' 28 tackles were the team-high for Brick, which finished 6-4 in it's first season under head coach Rob Dahl. As for choosing to play in West Long Branch…
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Only 13 shots recorded on net for the Brick Dragons on their 4-2 loss at Christian Brothers Academy.
Playing against another top team in the Shore Conference, the Brick Township boys ice hockey team knew that they would have to weather heavy pressure at times from the Christian Brothers Academy Colts. While they certainly did – holding the Colts to four goals on 24 shots on net -- offensively they could not build a consistent counter attack of their own for multiple shifts in a row in the Dragons 4-2 loss at CBA on Wednesday night. Brick managed two goals generating 13 shots on net, easily their lowest shot total of the year through three games. "We threw a lot towards the cage," said Brick head coach Bob Auriemma. "But missed the net on a ton of them." Brick started flat in the first surrendering two goals in the opening frame, …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Five goals in the final period give the Dragons an 8-3 win over Monsignor Donovan
Heading into the third period of the Dragons' 8-3 win over the Griffins of Monsignor Donovan, the Dragons held just a 3-2 lead while dominating in puck possession and shots 37-9. Yet they remained one broken play away from a tie game with 15 minutes to play. Coming out flying to start the third, the Dragons drew a powerplay 1:58 in. Nine seconds later, Tyler Martin made the most of the open space, walking in from the point to the lower left circle before the senior captain put a wrist shot upstairs past Donovan goaltender Alex Mollicone. The insurance goal sparked a three goal minute for Brick as senior defensemen Austin Blanco would score five-hole on a shot from the center of the blueline 40 seconds later. Off the following faceoff at …
Monday, November 7, 2011
Brick Memorial to take on Manalapan in first round of sectional playoffs.
Oh, what a season it has been. With monstrous hype surrounding the Brick Memorial and Brick Township football programs preceding 2011, both teams played up to the potentional that many expected of them, although for different reasons. Brick Memorial (4-5), in an effort to reach the Central Jersey Group IV sectional title for the fourth consecutive year, did just that, qualifying for the seventh seed in their fifth year under head coach Walt Currie. After missing the playoffs in his first year under the headset, Currie has lead Brick Memorial to three consecutive sectional finals. The Dragons (5-4), who finally had their guy under the headset, had a remarkable run, coming just plays away from winning the Shore Conference Class 'B' South …
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Zack Santos, Mike Basile late interceptions seal win for Brick Memorial.
In Brick Memorial's three losses this season, the total differential margin has been nine points. The Mustangs ended that trend Saturday night, toppling Toms River North (4-3), 27-21 in a Shore Conference class A-South match-up, in a game the Mustangs (4-3) needed to win to stay afloat in the hunt for a playoff spot. Zack Santos and Mike Basile came up with interceptions on Mariners' quarterback Scott Buxbaum on the final two Toms River North drives of the night, leading the 'Stangs to a much-needed victory. "I just knew we all had to pick it up as a team," Santos said. "Them doing there job makes my job easier - to make interceptions." Ryan Cieplenski continued to progress, pitching, debatebly, his most impressive game as Brick Memorial's…
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Bengals and Dragons needed overtime Friday night to decide the winner
For how close they have been the past few years, it was fitting for the Barnegat Bengals to have to scratch and claw their way to a win; setting themselves up to clinch a share of the B-South division title with a win over Pinelands Regional on Thanksgiving. Coming into the game, huge B-South implications were on the line in the balanced division as a Brick win would have clinched a share of the title. In the end, the Dragons fell 27-21 to the Bengals. "It's unexplainable," said junior wide out Pat Moran. "It's far from just me though, coach Davis, all the coaches, we have a great line and a quarterback too." Moran caught six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, all while handling defensive duties, kicking and kick returning as well. …
Brittney Gambone
11:29 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Great story and even better that ESPN is picking it up. We need to bring more great stories like this into media. Individuals with autism and other special needs have so much to contribute...... Also, I'm glad to see the Brick Patch used person first language instead of the title I saw in Facebook- Autistic kicker.......Those things are important. more ›