The 2009 West Morris Central Wolfpack are coming off an impressive season where they tied to win their division and made it to the semi-finals of the State Playoffs. The bar are set very high but this Wolfpack team is up to the challenge. “Our goal is to win States!” Senior safety/tight end Ed McCracken swiftly stated. “Last year’s seniors set the standard and we got a taste of what success is like. We have worked very hard to exceed what we did last year.”

Losing play makers like Brett Bononno, Tyler Berntsen and Sal Carfaro will be hard to replace, but coach Kevin Hennelly likes how different guys are stepping up. “We have never had a playmaker like Bononno was for us last year. But different guys are stepping up. What is good for these guys is they saw the standard that last year's guys set.”

OFFENSE

The offense for this Wolfpack team all starts with senior running back Michael Burton who is one of the most explosive players in the conference. Last season he scored 14 touchdowns on 81 carries.  That is an average of one touchdown for every five carries. He also threw for a touchdown, caught another one and ran for a few more returning kicks.

Burton accomplished all these stats during the course of five games and was sidelined for half the season with a foot injury. With health on his side, Burton would like to get back to the States. “My goal for this season is to win States. I am not interested in my own personal achievements. We made it really far last season and I want to win it all this year.”

Joining Burton in the backfield will be juniors Shane Thompson, Garrett Jordan, John Kumpf, Ryan Millard, Tom Cabarle, AJ Caruso and sophomore Jason Mackewicz.  Thompson emerged as a playmaker last season when Burton went down.  He will help to be a change of pace back to trip up defenses, which will also allow Burton to get a break.

At quarterback the Wolfpack will look to senior Mark Rosenbaum who will be replacing two year starter Tyler Berntsen.  Replacing Berntsen won't be easy but Rosenbaum has the skills to do a great job.  He stands 6’ tall and has a rocket for an arm. He also has some speed if he has to escape danger in the pocket. Competing for the back up quarterback roles will be senior Scott McDermott and junior Jim Chanda.

Playing tight end this year will be three year defensive starter but new to the offense, senior Ed McCracken. He will be joined by fellow senior Dylan D’Alessio and junior Tony Castellani. At the split end, the Wolfpack will expect big contributions from senior back up quarterback McDermott and junior runningback Kumpf.

Up front, West Morris will be anchored at the tackle positions by three year starter Chris Truglio and last year letter winner Kelvin Veras. Both Truglio and Veras are seniors.  Junior Gerardo Antoniello will also be contributing to the mix at tackle.

At guard, the Wolfpack expect senior Herbie Skinner and junior Brian Wehrhahn to step up big for them. Center will be played with contributions from seniors Justin Zgombic and Jeremy Brown.

DEFENSE

Defensively it all starts with the scrappy 6'1" senior safety Ed McCracken. McCracken was a key part of last year’s success and is now a senior leader. “I think McCracken is one of the hardest hitting kids in the conference.” Assistant coach Dan Wydner said of McCracken. “He is poised to have a very good season for us.”

Joining McCracken in the secondary will be senior Scott McDermott and juniors John Kumpf, Tommy Cabarle, AJ Caruso and Ryan Millard. Linebackers will be a mix of juniors Brian Wehrhahn, Shane Thompson and the senior Michael Burton.

Up front, the Wolfpack are stacked with seniors Jeremy Brown, Chris Truglio and Kelvin Veras lined up at the defensive tackle positions. They will be supported by junior Gerardo Antoniello.

Rounding off the ends will be seniors, Herbie Skinner, Nate Cloeter, Dylan D’Alessio, Justin Zgombic and junior Tony Castellani. Skinner is a letter winner and will be the veteran of the bunch.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Burton is probably the most talented kicker and punter of the bunch. The only problem is he plays both ways and has to change into his kicking shoe if he is place kicking. So he’ll likely get a breather from a host of talented booters. Sophomore Shawn Barnes has a nice foot for punting and sophomore Connor Young has shown he can kick. But probably the most intriguing guy on special teams is senior place kicker Chris Semper.

Semper has the ability to kick touchbacks form the tee, nail extra points with ease and has even nailed a 47 yard field goal in practice.  What makes this so special is that he is actually blind! Well, not completely but almost. When he was in the third grade he was diagnosed with a disease called Stargardt’s which creates macular degeneration of his eye sight. Semper has limited vision.  He played soccer freshman and sophomore years and last year, as a junior, decided to play football.

“I just always liked kicking footballs and would always practice in my backyard so I decided to go out for the team last year.” Semper says of his kicking talent. “I can see peripherally, but it is hard to see things in detail. My vision is considered 20/200.”

Despite his disablity, Coach Hennelly gave Semper some varsity dunks last season.  During the playoff game against Nutley, Semper drilled in an extra-point.

Semper is open and willing to share about his adventures of being a so-called “blind kicker”. “Sometimes it’s hard to see who has the ball.” Semper jokes. “When everyone is running, it gets hard to tell.”

Last season during a junior varsity game against Morristown, Semper abandoned the fact of his limited vision and spotted a lone runner breaking away down the sidelines. “I saw only one guy running so I knew he had the ball and I made the tackle that prevented the touchdown.”

X-FACTOR

The X-Factor for the Wolfpack is definitely Michael Burton. From last year he looks like he’s put a solid 20lbs of muscle to an already skilled frame. Burton has a chance to be one of the best backs in the state this year. Another X-Factor that you cannot count out about any West Morris team is its “program”. No many coaches can say they have been to the State Finals. Coach Hennelly has been there four times, emerging State Champions twice. That is something opposing coaches cannot over look!

COACHES

Kevin Hennelly — Varsity Head Coach
Dan Wydner — Assistant Varsity Coach
Dave Quinn — Assistant Varsity Coach
Barry Buchanan — Assistant Varsity Coach
Richard Kumpf — Assistant Varsity Coach
Henry Frayne — Assistant Varsity Coach
Robert Goodwin — Freshman Coach
Dean Miller — Assistant Freshman Coach

ROSTER

1 McCracken, Ed TE•S 6' 1" 190 Senior
2 Kumpf, John RB•DB 5' 5" 105 Junior
6 McDermott, Scott QB•DB 5' 9" 165 Senior
10 Chanda, Jim QB•S 5' 9" 145 Sophomore
11 Roche, Dan RB•CB 5' 5" 125 Sophomore
12 Young, Connor RB•ROVER•K 5' 7" 150 Sophomore
13 Caruso, AJ RB•DB 5' 9" 140 Junior
15 Barnes, Shawn TE•QB•ROVER 6' 2" 170 Sophomore
15 Rosenbaum, Mark QB•S 6' 148 Senior
16 Doherty, Mike RB•S 5' 6" 145 Sophomore
17 D'Alessio, Dylan TE•DE 6' 186 Senior
21 Cabarle, Tom RB•DB 5' 11" 150 Junior
21 DeBiasse, Joe RB•S 5' 10" 145 Sophomore
22 Ciccone, Jon RB•CB 5' 6" 135 Sophomore
23 Jordan, Garrett RB•DB 5' 6" 114 Junior
24 Mazzei, Dan RB•SS 5' 2" 125 Sophomore
26 Tedona, Matt RB•DB 5' 9" 142 Senior
27 Hamilton, Nick RB•LB 5' 10" 165 Sophomore
28 Quatorze, Stephan RB•CB 5' 7" 145 Sophomore
29 Rodriquez, Kevin RB•LB 5' 7" 150 Sophomore
32 Burton, Michael RB•LB 6' 201 Senior
33 Millard, Ryan RB•LB 5' 9" 158 Junior
34 Thompson, Shane RB•LB 5' 11" 183 Junior
35 Semper, Chris K 5' 10" 153 Senior
35 Wallace, John RB•DT 5' 9" 165 Sophomore
37 Mackewicz, Jason RB•DE•K 5' 8" 160 Sophomore
41 Carfaro, Chris TE•LB 5' 10" 180 Sophomore
47 Morrissey, Joe TE•CB 5' 7" 130 Sophomore
48 Schade, Dillon RB•DE 5' 8" 150 Sophomore
50 Garrigan, Connor C•G 5' 11" 175 Sophomore
51 Grotefend, Bill G•DE 5' 8" 151 Junior
52 Veras, Kelvin OT•DT 5' 8" 203 Senior
54 Brown, Jeremy C•DT 5' 10" 187 Senior
55 Zgombic, Tyler RG•DT 5' 11" 165 Sophomore
57 McGroarty, Brendan C•DL 5' 7" 170 Sophomore
59 Gassler, Ben RG•DL 5' 9" 170 Sophomore
59 Huizenga, Cap G•LB 6' 178 Junior
60 Maranian, Josh G•DT 5' 11" 200 Sophomore
60 Truglio, Chris G•DT 5' 11" 198 Senior
61 Zgombic, Justin G•DE 6' 3" 224 Senior
62 Guenther, Justin OT•DT 6' 8" 250 Senior
62 Natale-Drown, Tommy LT•DT 5' 11" 200 Sophomore
64 Skinner, Herb C•DE 5' 11" 183 Senior
66 Cloeter, Nathan TE•DE 5' 10" 185 Senior
68 Wehrhahn, Brian G•LB 5' 11" 188 Junior
69 Mazzei, Chris C•DL 5' 10" 170 Sophomore
70 Antoniello, Gerardo OT•DT 5' 10" 264 Junior
70 Burke, Jared G•DL 0 Sophomore
71 Samper, Matt OT•DT 6' 1" 165 Junior
71 Veras, Brian LT•DL 5' 6" 215 Sophomore
72 Schommer, Austin OT•DT 6' 1" 189 Junior
73 Spina, Phil OT•DT 5' 7" 193 Junior
75 Yates, John OT•DT 5' 10" 185 Junior
76 Gruss, Tom OT•DT 6' 2" 192 Junior
81 Castellani, Tony TE•DE 6' 1" 171 Junior
81 Samper, Chris TE•DE 5' 10" 165 Sophomore
84 Clark, Brandon TE•DE 6' 1" 175 Sophomore
84 Williams, Matt TE•DB 5' 11" 119 Junior
85 DiGiralomo, Christian TE•DE 5' 9" 150 Sophomore

SCHEDULE

Week 1 Mendham
Week 2 @ Morristown
Week 3 Mt. Olive
Week 4 @ Morris Knolls
Week 5 @ Vernon
Week 6 Delbarton
Week 7 @ Randolph
Week 8 Roxbury
Week 9 Morris Hills

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