It has been a great year for the Jim Thorpe Area High School football team with an overall win to loss of 8-3. With senior year drawing to a close, colleges have been out looking for new players. So far, three athletes from Jim Thorpe High School’s team have been picked up by college teams. Bailey Becker, Kevin Vitti, and William Nieves have all been recruited by college teams.

“They are all great workers, dedicated, and persevered on and off the field,” says their coach, Mr. Mark Rosenberger.

This coming fall, Nieves and Becker will be attending Wilkes University and already have been recruited by their team, while Vitti will be attending Bloomsburg University and be playing football for the college as well.

But how does one get noticed and picked up by these college teams? Coach Rosenberger answered the question simply, “College coaches come into the school during recruiting season. I sit down and share videos with them and then they come back senior year to make a decision.”

“Keep working and it will pay off,” is what Becker stated when asked if he had any advice to give the underclassmen of Jim Thorpe Area High School.

With the senior year coming to a close, Coach Rosenberger was asked what was it like to work with the guys and he first said this about Vitti, “He is an outstanding leader here at Jim Thorpe. He is always willing to go far on and off the field.” Next, he said this about Nieves, “Will is a very athletic kid. Each and every week he gets better.” Finally, he said this about Becker, “Being able to come back after surgery is incredible. He is a great person on and off the field.”

Finally, Coach Rosenberger was asked if he had anything to say looking back. He answered, “It’s going to be hard to let them go.”

 

All Star Football Players

 

Robert Geisinger

SCFCA North 2nd Team DB

SCFCA North 2nd Team Punter

Times News All Star team DB and Punter

 

Greg Palmer

SCFCA North 2nd Team Defensive End

2nd Team Defensive End AFL

Times News All Star Team Dline

 

Colton Hurley

SCFCA North 2nd Team Tight End

2nd Team Tight End AFL

Honorable Mention DL Pottsville Republican

Times News All Star Team DLine

 

John Fikentscher

SCFCA North 2nd Team Guard

2nd Team Guard AFL

Honorable Mention OL Pottsville Republican

Times News All Star Team- OL

 

Antonio Madera

SCFCA North 2nd Team DB

2nd Team DB AFL

1st Team DB Pottsville Republican

Times News All Star Team DB

 

Robert Heller

SCFCA North 1st Team RB

Schuylkill League Dream Team RB

1st Team RB- AFL

1st Team RB Pottsville Republican

Times News Running Back of the Year

Eastern PA football.com Honorable Mention RB

 

Kevin Vitti

SCFCA North 1st Team LB

SCFCA North 2nd Team FB

SCFCA North Co Defensive Player of the Year

1st Team LB AFL

1st Team LB Pottsville Republican

Times News Linebacker of the Year

Easter PA football.com Honorable Mention LB

Mini Maxwell Team 1 of 50 players in Eastern PA

Member of the Super 16 Dream Team