After two seasons that were influenced by Covid restrictions, there seems to be a sense of normalcy returning to high school football in NJ.
At Wayne Hills High, that means the usual trip to East Stroudsburg University for three days of summer camp. That camp is usually highlighted by the naming of team captains for the upcoming season.
Head coach Wayne Demikoff announced that the five captains for 2022 will be Tay Shim, Nick Hogan, Tyler Demikoff, Matt Quagliana, and Mike Fernicola, following this year’s return to East Stroudsburg, which concluded last week.
Wayne Demikoff was elated with the captain selection process.
“We are excited that we were in a position to name captains at East Stroudsburg,” said the coach, who begins his 10th season at the helm, after 14 years as an assistant coach, at Hills, under Chris Olsen. “That’s been our tradition for a long time. Last year we didn’t have captains, so to be able to name kids that have shown a tremendous amount of leadership to this point is exciting.
“All of these kids are great selections. Each has put themselves aside for the good of the team. All of our seniors have shown to be on it for the team, and not for themselves. That’s refreshing going into this season.”
The five captains are seniors. Hogan is a linebacker and fullback.
“Time, effort, and sacrifice are the three pillars of which our program is built off of,” said Hogan. “Making time for this program, putting in effort on and off the field, and most importantly the willingness to sacrifice for your team and the program are what being a Wayne Hills football player is all about.
“Captains have to lead by example, and I can say, sincerely, that my fellow captains and I have put in the time, effort, and sacrifice for this program.”
Quagliana will play linebacker and wide receiver.
“Being a captain shows that you are not only dedicated to this team but dedicated to the people next to you,” said Quagliana. “You need to be able to pick their game up along with picking your own game up. Even if the situation isn’t perfect, you have to be able to lead the people around by example and push them to greater heights.”
Tyler Demikoff is an aspiring quarterback, and was clearly honored to be selected.
“It is an honor, knowing that my teammates look to me as someone they can trust as a friend, a teammate, and as a leader,” he said.
Fernicola is a talented lineman, on both the offensive and defensive fronts.
“To be a captain for Wayne Hills, it means to hold the team accountable, lead through the highs and lows of the season, and to bring home our 11th state championship,” said Fernicola.
Shim is expected to play linebacker and wide receiver.
The selection of team captains is a long-time tradition at Hills, and is usually done following a gritty 3-days of work, at East Stroudsburg.
A season ago, the Patriots had a deceiving 3-7 record. The team played its season opener in MIssouri, and lost a heartbreaker, 38-37, in the game’s final seconds, to Harrisonville High. That game would be a precursor to the rest of the 2021 season. After winning its next two games, the Patriots would drop six straight, including three overtime contests, to Ridgewood, Pascack Valley and a double OT game against Wayne Valley, and two more games by 5 and 7 points to strong teams in Irvington and Ramapo, respectively.
For a program with a rich tradition of winning, the 2021 campaign was certainly an eye-opener. And it set the stage for what was assuredly a hard-working, off-season program, especially with another tough schedule this fall.
That slate includes games against Liberty Creek of Tennessee to open the season on Sept. 2, followed by a game at Ramapo just five days later. A pair of home games follows, opposite North Bergen and Wayne Valley, then road contests at Hackensack and Ridgewood and home battles to close out the season with Passaic Valley and Northern Highlands.
For the seventh time since 2015, Wayne Hills opens the season out of state. The Patriots previously played in North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Utah, South Carolina and Missouri. This year, it’s off to Tennessee. A 2020 game, scheduled for Mississippi, was canceled.
Mike Lamberti, From Margate To Cleveland, And Back ! 
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