Bill Denny/Rutgers Football Letterwinners honor scholar-athletes from area schools

Posted by author March 3, 2025 Football

Spread the love

Staff Report
| MyCentralJersey.com

Senior high school football players from Middlesex and Somerset counties were honored for their performance on the field, in the classroom and in the community during the Bill Denny/Rutgers Football Letterwinners Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s 54th annual scholar-athlete luncheon at the Pines Manor in Edison on Sunday.

A total of 36 student-athletes — one each from every football-playing high school in the two counties — received a scholarship check and a commemorative crystal plaque (a complete list of honorees can be found below).

Terrence Hanratty of Bernards was selected as the Frank Burns Scholarship Award recipient from Somerset County, while Ja’Kir Thomas of Carteret received the William Denny Scholarship Award from Middlesex County.

Since its inception, the Bill Denny Chapter has awarded more than $365,000 in scholarship funds to scholar-athletes.

The National Football Foundation is a nationwide organization designed to promote American amateur football as an integral and wholesome part of the educational process, to encourage the beneficial direction and playing of the game at schools and colleges throughout the country, to provide the proper incentives and ideals for American youth, and to set standards of sportsmanship for the individual player.

All of the award recipients embody the spirit of the National Football Foundation as leaders on and off the field.

In addition to celebrating high school scholar-athletes, the Bill Denny/Rutgers Football Letterwinners Chapter honored a Rutgers player, two coaches, two educators, an official, two Pop Warner players, and a contributor.

Rutgers University offensive lineman Reggie Sutton received the Rutgers Football Letterwinner’s Scholar-Athlete Award.

Woodbridge Athletics Director Joe Ward and former Bridgewater-Raritan Athletics Director Carl Weigner received the Chester Zdrodowski Educator of the Year Award for Middlesex and Somerset counties, respectively.

Metuchen’s Jordan Leitner was honored as Middlesex County Coach of the Year, while Somerville’s Matt Bloom was feted as Somerset County Coach of the Year.

Connor Sanginari of Monroe and Daniel Warren of Somerville represented Middlesex County and Somerset County, respectively, as Pop Warner Scholar-Athletes.

Veteran official Mark Moran received the Edward “Red” Losiewicz Distinguished Official Award.

The East Brunswick and Hillsborough football programs received Sportsmanship Awards.

Former Home News Tribune and Courier News sportswriter Greg Tufaro received the Distinguished American Award.

Chapter President Fred Roselli served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Following is a complete list of high school honorees listed alphabetically by school:

Bernards: Terrence Hanratty. Bound Brook: Grant Guzzino. Bridgewater-Raritan: Dylan Tierney. Carteret: Ja’Kir Thomas. Colonia: Gianni Scaturro. Dunellen: Luke Pettersen. East Brunswick: Felix Munoz. Edison: Anthony Calantoni. Franklin: Ethan Villa. Highland Park: Jaylin Adams. Hillsborough: Chiemelie Ozokpor. Immaculata: Luke Laub. J.F. Kennedy: Dylan Driz. J.P. Stevens: Lamar Raiford. Manville: Armondo Lazzeri. Metuchen: Daniel Ayala. Middlesex: Jax Jarvis. Monroe: Anthony Salesi. Montgomery: Eamonn Kyler. North Brunswick: Jahir Dawud. North Plainfield: Aaron Potts. Old Bridge: John Soranno. Perth Amboy: Bryan Escotto. Pingry: Rafferty Harris. Piscataway: Nathan Tortorelli. Ridge: Joseph Dachnowicz. Saint Joseph: Ashton Irving. Saint Thomas Aquinas: Chase Young. Sayreville: Nick Nunez. Somerville: Maximus Nuzzi. South Brunswick: Chisom Asonye. South Plainfield: Ryan Balent. South River: Aiden Velez. Spotswood: John Wallace. Watchung Hills: Finn Slattery. Woodbridge: Tyler Simkovich.