The Press Runner of the Year
Matt Nelson
Barnegat, Jr.
Won the Group II state title after finishing the 3.1-mile course at Holmdel Park in 16 minutes and 19 seconds. Nelson also had wins in the sectional and Ocean County races, as well as finishing fifth in the Shore Conference Meet. The junior represented Barnegat at the Meet of Champions, finishing 11th and setting a personal best at Holmdel of 15:58.
Kevin Scott
Ocean City, Jr.
After helping Ocean City to a 10-0 regular season record, Scott finished first at the Cape-Atlantic League championships at Richard Stockton College, completing the 3.1-mile course in 15:16.33 and leading the Red Raiders to a CAL team title for the fourth straight year. He also finished 11th in the Group III state meet and qualified for the Meet of Champions.
Jacob Clark
Pleasantville, Jr.
Finished first in every dual meet during the season, leading the Greyhounds to a 10-0 record and the National Conference title. Won the Atlantic County Championships at Hammonton Lake Park by finishing the 5-kilometer race in 14:59.83. Finished second at the CAL championships, where Pleasantville was edged by first-place Ocean City 59-60.
Isaac Clark
Pleasantville, Jr.
Twin brother of Jacob Clark, Isaac was right with his sibling the entire year giving Pleasantville a devastating 1-2 punch at the front of the pack. He qualified for the Meet of Champions when he finished 11th at the state Group II meet at Holmdel Park.
Lou Corgliano
Hammonton, So.
The Blue Devils' number one runner all year helped turn the team's record from 2-8 in 2010 to 9-1 in 2011. His impressive year saw him finish third in the county race, fourth in the CAL, sixth in the sectional, and ninth at the Group III state meet.
Noah Jacobs
Lacey Township, Sr.
Began the season with a win at the 16th annual Cherokee Challenge then helped lead Lacey to their second straight Shore Conference B South title. Finished fifth in the Group III state meet, and had the best time of local runners when he took eighth at the Shore Coaches Invitational.
Eric Dragonetti
Southern Regional, Sr.
Led the Rams to the Shore A South title for the third time in the past four years and a perfect 5-0 season record. Dragonetti then finished fourth at the Ocean County races where Southern won a team title for the second consecutive year.
Second Team
Tom McLaughlin
Egg Harbor Township, Sr.
Salman Khalid
Absegami, Jr.
Brandon Triantos
Sacred Heart, Sr.
D.J.Gilhooley
Ocean City, Jr.
Dan Murray
Ocean City, Sr.
Chris Hutton
Mainland Regional, Jr.
Dagoberto Arias
Pleasantville, Jr.
Pat McCurry
Hammonton, Sr.
John Johnson
Oakcrest, Jr.
James Zequelle-Curtis
Vineland, Sr.
Jake LaSalla
Holy Spirit, Jr.
Ryan Herlihy
Middle Township, Fr.
Honorable Mention
Favad Akhtar, Jawanza Corbin
Atlantic City
Gage Fox, Josh Weiss, Michael Rossbach
Egg Harbor Township
Mark Kondratas, Brandon Babcock
Hammonton
Will Krause, John Scull
Mainland
Gage Whilden
Millville
Eddie Keenan
Ocean City
Rich Marchese, Ron Ferrari
St. Augustine Prep
Vineland - Leaquan James Pleasantville - Tyree Robinson, Radcliffe Narinsensingh, Noah Prevard Holy Spirit - Luke McCann, Jared Lopez, Nick Jiacopello Buena - Shea Simons, C.J. Middleton, Josh Olive Lower Cape May Regional - Matt McGaffney Cedar Creek - Christpher Rabush, Zach Zachowski Wildwood Catholic - Antonino Piro Wildwood - Trevor Gentek Cape May Tech - Josh Greenberg Middle Township - Zach Peterson, Chris Robinson St. Joseph - Joe Nuccio, Tyler Brennan Barnegat - Evan Megill, Paul Santolla, Connor Ross Lacey Township - Ryan Flannery, Keith Charette, TJ Phillips Southern Regional - Dan Marino, Sean Howley, Steve Mershon, Troy Gifford
Coach of The Year
Nick DeSantis, Hammonton
After working as a volunteer with the Hammonton boys cross country team for two years, Nick DeSantis stepped into the role of head coach for his first season in 2011 and saw immediate results.
The 2010 squad finished with a 2-8 record, then saw a vast improvement to 9-1 in 2011, making DeSantis our Coach of the Year.
"Success breeds success," DeSantis, 27 of Blackwood said. "All I do is tell them to go out and run. Keep them running and get them faster."
DeSantis works as a science teacher at Hammonton, and had been an assistant coach at Rowan until the position at Hammonton opened up. When it did, DeSantis jumped at the chance.
"I wanted my own team," DeSantis said.
DeSantis said much of their success this season can be attributed to more runners coming out for the team. This year saw about 30 kids join the program.
After enjoying some success in 2011, Hammonton has set the bar even higher, something DeSantis thinks they can handle.
"My main goal is to get better and to win the conference," DeSantis said. "We're going to try to get to the top. It's going to take a lot more work, but that's what we're going to need to do."
