35th Lombardi Award recipients announced

The Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County along with the United Way of Monmouth County have announced the 35th annual Vince Lombardi Awards Dinner will be held Thursday, March 1, at the Sheraton Hotel, Eatontown.

The awards ceremony honors 26 of Monmouth County's outstanding high school lineman. The players selected, one from each high school, best exemplify the traditions and ideals of the legendary Vince Lombardi. In judging those eligible, the coaches and their staff considered the following: discipline, courage, endurance, desire, ability and performance.

Dave Jennings, former NFL punter and current television football analyst, will serve as master of ceremonies. One of the keynote speakers is Kevin Callahan, head football coach at Monmouth University.

The honorees will receive the Block of Granite Award, which symbolizes the 1936 Fordham University football team's "Seven Blocks of Granite," where Vince Lombardi played right guard.

The Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County received permission to present the award on the high school level several years ago; the award was originally awarded to college athletes only.

The funds raised from the dinner will aid in the fight against cancer, support the 69 health and human service agencies the United Way of Monmouth County assists, and will also aid in supporting the Rotary District 7500 Gift of Life Foundation, which provides funds to foster and promote the cure of children's heart disease. Children who have been diagnosed with heart disease may live in countries where open-heart surgery is not available. To date, District 7500 has sponsored 17 children for this lifesaving surgery.

The winners of the 2007 Vince Lombardi Outstanding Lineman Award are: Knowryl Hammery, Asbury Park; Peter Olson, Colts Neck; Christopher D'Olivera, Freehold Borough; Joseph Faiella, Freehold Township; Kevin DeMaio, Holmdel; Christopher Tash, Howell; Michael Kagabines, Keansburg; Craig Youncofski, Keyport; David Stone, Long Branch; Michael White, Manalapan; James Sullivan, Manasquan; Andrew Nutter, Marlboro; Anthony Grosso, Matawan Regional; Brian Von Bargen, Mater Dei; Michael Brandow, Middletown North; Brian King, Middletown South; Matthew DeSantis, Monmouth Regional; Zachary Nelson, Neptune; Garrett Culloo, Ocean Township; Carmen DeBari, Raritan; Harry Flaherty III, Red Bank Catholic; Keith Savage, Red Bank Regional; Tyler Hawley, Rumson-Fair Haven; James Fredenberg, Shore Regional; Andrew Alvarez, St. John Vianney; and Tyler Richards, Wall Township.

Other awards to be presented at the event include Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and the John Tuggle Award, which are to be announced at a later date.

The admission price for the evening, which includes dinner and awards program, is $50 per person. Silent and live auctions as well as raffles will also be held. For reservations or further information, call the United Way of Monmouth County at (732) 938-5988.