Reiss, Darby to be highlighted at Dinner
Hightstown High’s Kyle Reiss is getting ready to help his basketball team in the Mercer County Tournament while Hamilton West’s Jacob Darby is hoping to do big things in the shot put at Saturday’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III sectional meet.
Showing just how versatile they are, a few weeks later both will be rewarded for their prowess in the classroom and on the football field as their schools’ honorees at the 58th Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner. The event will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 8 at the Princeton Marriott and is sponsored by the Delaware Valley Chapter National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
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Reiss is the Rams leading rebounder as they enter the Mercer County Tournament as the top seed, and he was a leader in general for the football team. Kyle was a two-year varsity starter at defensive end and on the offensive line, and earned secondteam All-Conference honors defensively as well as serving as a team captain this year.
“Outside the classroom, Kyle demonstrates a unique stick-toitiveness that helped him on the field, as well,” Rams coach Ryan Fullen said. “He exhibited excellent leadership skills being named a captain by his teammates. Kyle took advantage of the opportunity by mentoring his younger teammates, including his (freshman) brother Keenan.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching Kyle and building a positive rapport with this outstanding young man. He prides himself on being dedicated, driven, tough, and charitable in his everyday life. He embodies the ideal candidate to represent our program as a ScholarLeader-Athlete.”
Reiss has been an honor student with a weighted cumulative grade point average of 3.67 and unweighted GPA of 3.52. He serves as an HHS freshman tour guide, is in the Senior Leadership Group and Junior Achievement, has done work for the Hightstown Soup Kitchen and Rise Food Pantry, and is a volunteer coach for HEWYBL, Pop Warner and Cranberry basketball.
“Kyle is an intelligent young man who works very hard,” Hightstown business education teacher/soccer coach George Wolkiewicz said. “Kyle never gives up on a task or assignment and ensures that his goals are met. He takes pride in the fact that can set goals and objectives and follows through on his plans. I have personally witnessed his ability to maintain this focus during difficult times.
“Kyle is an outstanding student. He is intelligent, determined, enthusiastic and focused. He is a passionate, softspoken young man that can be relied upon to get things done. His excellent listening skills coupled with his ability to get along with others have enabled Kyle to earn the respect of teachers, administrators and fellow students.”
One of the main reasons for Hamilton’s rise to prominence this year was a standout offensive line, of which Darby was one of the leaders. He was a three-year varsity performer and helped pave the way for running back Kevin Boswell’s record-setting season. Darby, who won the Mercer County indoor shot put championship last month, has received the Positive Coaching Alliance Award and was named second-team AllDivision this past season.
“Jacob’s elite work ethic in all aspects of life is evident to those lucky enough to come in contact with him,” Hornets coach Mike Papero said. “His desire for perfection has made him into the outstanding and caring person that he is today. Any coach would dream of having a team full of players like Jacob. A coach or teacher can only hope that he is lucky enough to find a player or student who has just some of the characteristics that Jacob encompasses.
“Upon facing a potentially season-ending injury, Jacob rose to heights unseen by working hard and overcoming adversity in order to become a key component in the best season had by our team in the last decade. Over the past four years I have watched a fine young man emerge as a mature studentathlete who is committed to hard work and excellence.”
Darby has a weighted GPA of 3.57 and unweighted of 3.42. He is currently talking courses in Architectural Drawing and CAD, Intro to Investments, Mathematical Functions with Applications and Telecommunications.
Since sixth grade, he has helped Sigma Beta Club/Phi Beta Sigma aid the homeless, poor or hungry at Christmas. He is a member of Hamilton’s “Talented Tenth”, a group that believes if 10 percent of school’s population holds itself to a high and respected standard the other 90 percent will do likewise.
“Jacob brought his thoughtful and bright personality into the classroom environment, which also showed through in his schoolwork,” West English teacher Tom Dolina said. “He regularly gives an interesting and fresh prospect to everything that he works on, inside and outside the classroom. Jacob makes schoolwork look easy, but the fact is he is a very hard worker; I believe this is one of the reasons why he succeeds at whatever he sets his mind to accomplishing.
“He is easy to talk to about any number of topics. His insights are mature and thoughtful. I know wherever he goes in life he will not only be a positive influence, but someone everyone will be glad to know.”