Bordentown’s Poinsett, Florence’s Skinner represent Burlco as DelVal scholars
Florence High and Bordentown have had some legendary football games and players that added to the spirit of the rivalry and this season Florence’s Luke Skinner and Bordentown’s Michael Poinsett are two who have represented their school and their community well.
It’s because of their ability and character, on the football field, in the classroom and in the community that they have been selected as their school’s honoree at the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s 61st Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Ceremony.
The awards ceremony will been held at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal and will begin a 3 p.m.
The Foundation and it’s sponsors honor high school football players from 21 schools in Burlington, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties as well as a Scholar-Athlete-Leader from Princeton University and The College of New Jersey.
Tickets are $75.00 and can be purchased by contacting Steve Tuckerson, Dinner Chair at delval.nffhf@gmail.com
A player will be chosen for the $ 5,000.00 Jack Stephen Scholarship, one for the $2,500.00 Ron Rick Sr. Scholarship, the $2000.00 Ed Cook Scholarship and the Delaware Valley Chapter Scholarship is for $1,500.00.
The remaining Scholar-Athletes will all receive a $1,000.00 scholarship.
The 21 players nominated are, Parker Schloss (Allentown), Dorian Williams (Ewing), Walter Cordero (Hamilton), Brianna Saragih (Hightstown), David Ellis (Hopewell Valley), Dante Barone (Hun), Graham Walter (Lawrence), Peyton Cosover (Lawrenceville), Declan MacCabe (Notre Dame), Jedaiah Carrette (Nottingham), Daniel Gredell (Peddie), Tyler Bock (Pennington), Jake Richter (Princeton), Tyler DelGrande (Robbinsville), Colin James (Steinert), Nasyr Ingram-McWhite (Trenton) and Manidhar Yeluri (WW-P).
These players are being recognized for so much more than their football ability, it’s recognizes the achievements in the classroom, their leadership qualities as well as their community involvement.
The other awards the Chapter will bestow
will be to Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes )Robert F. Casciola Distinguished American), the Bordentown Military Institute (George O’Gorman Contribution to Amateur Football), North Hunterdon’s Kevin Kley (Hank Johns Coach Award), Mike Rowan, of the Hopewell Valley Pop Warner (Contribution to Youth Football), Cooper Briehler, of the Hopewell Valley/Robbinsville Pop Warner (Delaware Valley Little Scholar), Fernando Santana, of SONJ (Eunice Shriver Champion Award), Bill Quirk, the longtime Hun Athletic Director (Nick Gusz Good Guy Award) and Sean Miller, of the Times of Trenton (Tony Persichilli Meritorious Service Award)
The Judge Arthur Lane Princeton University-Scholar-Leader-Athlete is Carter Christopher and the Earl H. Dean The College of New Jersey Scholar-LeaderAthlete is Joey Bellamy.
Florence has always been a program that likes to win the game in the trenches and Luke Skinner was the epitome of what a Flashes football player should be.
While his football acumen is off the charts so is his work in the classroom and in the community.
“Luke has a tremendous work ethic, as long as I’ve known him and he’s always been so self-motivated, has strong work ethic, selfless, and positive,” said Florence football coach Joe Frappolli. “Luke’s career goals include going to college after high school graduation and earning a degree in International Studies. His strong interpersonal skill set should fit very nicely into this career goal.”
Ranking 8th in the senior class, Skinner has a 4.68 GPA and he has been involved in the community with food drive, toy drives at Christmas and he has shown a lot of kindness and empathy for others.
“Luke represents the absolute best Florence has to offer with his academic excellence, his work ethic, his leadership ability, his service to his community, his strong character and his kindness toward others,” said John Cogan, Florence’s Principal. “He is a self-starter, who believes in himself and others. I believe that his determination and “will do’ attitude are a significant part of the reason why he is so successful.”
Bordentown’s Poinsett has never shied away from a challenge on the football field and he’s been challenging himself in the classroom and succeeding on and off the field.
His numbers on the field are mindboggling setting a new school record for tackles, most tackles for a loss, most sacks and most recovered fumbles.
Coaching Mike was an awesome experience for all of the coaches,” said Skip Edwards, the Scotties coach. “This past season another one of Mike’s accomplishments was to be selected as a captain by the coaching staff. He knows no other way but giving 100% effort while playing the game he loves so much. When I think of how much Mike has given to the Bordentown program through his career, I become overcome with satisfaction knowing I had the opportunity to play a role in his football game.”
Poinsett has given a great deal academically, too, as he has a 108.8 GPA and is very in his senior class ranking.
“While Mike was a quiet student in class, he was always willing to share his solutions with the class and help his peers,” said Beth Bokop, Mathematics Teacher. “He was always able to present thorough and comprehensive explanations. He has a work ethic that is superior to that of his peers. His homework was always detailed and complete, and he would demonstrate his knowledge by asking specific questions about the homework. He would strive to understand why mathematical processes worked rather than simply getting the right answer.”
Bokop added that Poinsett is in the top five percent of mathematically gifted students.
Michael’s brother Danny was a Delaware Valley Chapter Scholar-AthleteLeader in 2020 from Bordentown.
“He is a focused young man who knows how to use his time wisely for his studies as well as on the playing field,” said Edwards. “His passion is to become an Aeronautical Engineer for his life’s work. At Bordentown high school there isn’t a teacher who has one negative comment about this young man.”