Twelve student athletes in the Jackson Memorial High School Class of 2020 signed letters of intent to schools –a showing that is believed to be the most in the school’s history.
National Signing Day took place on Nov. 13 at Jackson Memorial High School where the students signed with such colleges as Notre Dame, the Naval Academy, Rutgers and Wake Forest.
Kevin DiEugenio, the high school’s principal, has been at Jackson Memorial since 1994. He revealed that he has not seen this much talent before.
“I can tell you I have never seen this group of talent, that we have had this year, and it shows with the amount of scholarships in the room today,” DiEugenio said.
He stated that the school usually has around four or five student athletes signed with colleges.
“In a normal year you might have four or five, the Class of 2020 is extremely talented. Going to great tier one colleges like Notre Dame, Lehigh University, Wake Forest. That is why we made such a big deal about this today,” DiEugenio said.
The principal was soaking up the Jaguar pride.
“I really am, it is the pride of this school. 54 years of rich tradition at Jackson Memorial and they just continue to meet the level and exceed it. I am not surprised, I have watched these kids play, many conference championships, state championships, really high caliber athletes,” DiEugenio said.
He explained that this goes hand in hand with academics.
“A lot of our kids are going to tier one /Ivy League colleges cause of their outstanding academics, I am proud of that, I really am proud of that,” DiEugenio said.
Senior Kyle Epperly is a wrestler who has committed to Rutgers University.
“I was not always the best wrestler but I have improved a lot and I have come a long way,” Epperly said.
Epperly comes off a junior season when he placed seventh in the state tournament at 195 pounds. He finished this past season with a 43-4 record and enters his final year with 84 victories.
“(Rutgers) is an amazing school, the wrestling team has always been great and they have the best coaching staff in my opinion,” Epperly said.
Scott Goodale, formerly of Jackson Memorial, has been the wrestling coach at Rutgers since 2007.
Epperly said he is excited to be part of Rutgers as a Scarlet Knight since he did not really consider any other schools. He said he always watched the Scarlet Knights football games and wrestling.
“I made a goal, I worked hard and Rutgers just always had my eye,” Epperly said.
He credited the coaching staff at Jackson Memorial as one of the biggest effect on his wrestling career. Epperly said he knew once he started training hard and improving on his technique he would be able to go where he wanted to go.
The other 11 student athletes who signed included five baseball players–Carmine Petosa, who committed to Wake Forest University; Ryan Lasko, who committed to Rutgers University; Nicholas Beetel, who signed with Lehigh University; Thomas Cartnick, who committed to the University of Rhode Island; and Jacob Wendell, who will go to Caldwell University.
Two softball players signed. Jamie Sheeran committed to Iona College and Daniela Plaganis will head to Wilmington University in Delaware.
Two girls’ basketball players committed—Kristina Donza, who will attend the United States Naval Academy; and Bianca Giordano, who will go to East Stroudsburg University.
Meanwhile, Daniel Russo signed to play men’s soccer at Notre Dame University and Lacrosse player Joseph Iacobone committed play men’s lacrosse at Caldwell University.
