Hamilton’s Nielsen, Florence’s Hurley are DelVal scholars
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Two of the most storied football programs in the area are Hamilton West and Florence. One of the reasons for their great history has been the leadership and commitment its players have demonstrated.
Two of those players, West’s Michael Nielsen and Florence’s Tom Hurley, have demonstrated that leadership and commitment in the classroom and on the field. Both have been selected as their school’s honoree at the 59th Annual George Wah Scholar Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner.
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation Awards Dinner will be enjoyed in a very different manner this year due to the current pandemic.
This year the athletes and other honorees will be recorded at the Princeton Marriott on March 21 and then the event will be streamed on April 25.
The other high school scholarathletes that will be recognized and will receive a $1,000.00 scholarship are Daniel Poinsett (Bordentown), Dan Merkel (Allentown), Dayne Ellis (Ewing), Kyle Madden (Hightstown), Thomas Belsky (Hopewell Valley), Kelvin Smith (Hun), Rohan Dash (Lawrence), Drew Friedman (Lawrenceville), Jonny Percodani (New Egypt), Austin McHugh (North Hunterdon), Evan Tritt (Notre Dame), Elijah Baldwin (Nottingham), Aidan McHugh (Peddie), Nicholas Muscara (Pennington), Dylan Angelucci (Princeton), Michael Surtz (Robbinsville), Deklin Smith (Steinert), Devin Hairston (Trenton) and Moses Harris (West Windsor-Plainsboro Schools).
The adult award winners are national broadcaster and Phillies TV voice Tom McCarthy (Robert F. Casciola Distinguished American), Rick Mantz (George O’Gorman Contribution to Amateur Football), Andrew Patterson, Robbinsville High School (Hank Johns Coach Award), Justin Johnson, NJFOA, Central Jersey Chapter (Jack Millard Officials
Award), Harrison Kertes, Bordentown Bulldog Youth Football (Delaware Valley Chapter Little Scholar), David Wardell, Special Olympics of New Jersey (Eunice Kennedy Shriver Champion Award) and Andrew Donoghue, The College of New Jersey quarterback (TCNJ Earl H. Dean Scholar-Leader Athlete).
Hamilton West’s Michael Nielsen has been a gifted student, a talented athlete and an individual that continues to give back to the community over the last four years.
He serves as a volunteer coach with the Sunnybrae Little League and Nielsen is a youth mentor at Kuser Elementary School.
A two-year starter at quarterback, he led the Hornets to a 3-1 record this past season and over his career has thrown for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Nielsen is a four-year member of the Hamilton baseball team, too.
“One of the true measures of a leader is how he responds in uncomfortable and stressful situations,’’ said Hamilton coach Mike Papero. “Michael showed poise and stoicism at all times, giving his teammates the confidence in their leader that every team needs. He was the glue that held our offense together and having him at the helm was a calming force that others felt and responded to on a weekly basis.’’
He has mastered the classroom as well.
Nielsen is a member of the National Honor Society, has a grade point average of 4.61 and ranks 12th in a class of 330 students.
“Michael’s personal strengths are as impressive as his intellectual accomplishments,’’ said Timothy Kline, AP Calculus teacher and baseball coach. “Michael is an active, outgoing presence in class with a wonderful personality. His always positive attitude sets the tone for the rest of the class. I frequently rely on Michael to get group projects or class discussions rolling and to serve as a leader among his peers. His natural leadership ability encourages others to be leaders within the group. His quiet confidence, cheerful nature, and openness to feedback means he’s always growing as a learner, an impressive strength that will continue to serve him well in college and beyond.’’
Tom Hurley has been a consistent leader on the football field and in the classroom at Florence for four years. An offensive lineman, he was a team captain and the consummate teammate.
“Thomas always gives his best effort and he knows that with hard work and dedication great things will happen,’’ said Florence teacher Gina Carey-Smith. “Thomas is very active outside of school as he serves as a tutor to high school and middle school students. He donates his time at blood drives and volunteers at Post 39 Legion.’’
With all the community service, football and studies, Hurley has maintained a 3.8 grade point average.
This was anything but a normal season on the football field with testing, protocols and no state playoffs.
“Tommy never complained about the restrictions, conditions, protocols in an abbreviated Covid season,’’ said his coach Joe Frappolli. “He never griped or felt sorry for himself. Instead he was a positive leader out there day in and day out. He was the consummate TEAM FIRST, unselfish, and voice of reason that rallied our younger guys and other team members. He just kept grinding through it all…good or bad. Not one of our larger players but he always played hard and big, relentless, and with a lot of energy and emotion.’’