2017 Walter Camp High School All-Connecticut Teams Announced; 11th Annual Breakfast of Champions is January 13
As part of its 51st annual Weekend festivities, the Walter Camp Football Foundation will host its 11th High School “Breakfast of Champions,” presented by Town Fair Tire and NFP Sports, on Saturday, January 13 at The Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale. The event starts at 8:30 a.m.
The four Connecticut high school 2017 state champions – Darien (Class LL), Daniel Hand of Madison (Class L), Killingly (Class M) and St. Joseph of Trumbull (Class S) – will be recognized. In addition, members of the 2017 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Teams (1st and 2nd) will be recognized.
The finalists for the 2017 Coach of the Year, presented by Stadium System, are John Marinelli (Greenwich), David Mastroianni (Daniel Hand) and Chad Neal (Killingly).
The three finalists for the 2017 Player of the Year, presented by Heavy Hitters, are Brian Casagrande (Daniel Hand), Markell Dobbs (Ansonia) and Spencer Lockwood (Killingly).
The Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented by NFP Sports, will be presented to former Shelton head coach Joe Benanto. Benanto, who coached three sports (football, baseball and basketball) while at Shelton, led the Gaels to the three football state titles (1995, 2000 and 2003).
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.
The Foundation will hold its annual national awards banquet, presented by David McDermott Lexus, on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Yale University’s Lanman Center. 2017 Walter Camp Player of the Year Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), along with members of the 2017 Walter Camp All-America team, and other major award winners (Alumni Award-Eddie George; Man of the Year-Calvin Johnson; Distinguished American-Lee Corso, and Connecticut Player of the Year-Ervin Philips), will be honored.
NOTE: The Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team is voted on by a Selection Committee, which is comprised of 10 high school head coaches that represent nine conferences around the state.
First Team Walter Camp All-Connecticut – 2017
Offense
QB: David Summers (St. Joseph)
RB: Markell Dobbs (Ansonia)*, Spencer Lockwood (Killingly)
WR: Jared Mallozzi (St. Joseph), Jackson Mitchell (Ridgefield)
TE: Luke Schoonmaker (Hamden Hall)
OL: Alex Fontaine (Killingly), Michael LaRovera (Ansonia), Michael Neary (Darien), Jack Stewart (New Canaan)
C: Kyle Woodring (Greenwich)
Defense
LB: Brian Casagrande (Daniel Hand), Connor Fay (Darien), Kevon Jones (East Hartford)
DB: Kyle Godfrey (West Haven)*, Dathan Hickey (Bristol Central), Connor Tienken (Darien), Tyrese Wright (Bullard Havens)
DL: Hassan Azeem (South Windsor), Gramoz Bici (Greenwich), Rondell Bothroyd (E.O. Smith), Travis Jones (Wilbur Cross)*
Special Teams
PK: Michael Aresco (Middletown)
P: Ryan Kost (Newtown)
Returner: Jevin Frett (Manchester)
Second Team Walter Camp All-Connecticut – 2017
Offense
QB: Will Levis (Xavier)
RB: Tysen Comizio (Greenwich), Mark Montano (North Haven)
WR: Ralph Gillard (Simsbury), Kyle MacGillis (Xavier)
TE: Phil Pasmeg (St. Joseph)
OL: Danny Brey (Joel Barlow), Jonathan Clark (Southington), Jack Conley (New Canaan), Eddie Radzion (Shelton)
C: Dominic Aiello (St. Paul)
Defense
LB: Zach Caffrey (Killingly), Ryan Montalvo (Southington), Cody Teodosio (Ansonia)
DB: Armstrong Antoine (Bunnell), Ian Butler (Daniel Hand), Noldylens Metayer (Westhill), Kwane Taylor (Wilbur Cross)
DL: Prince Boyd (Hillhouse), Michael Casinelli (Shelton), Max Mirizio (Masuk), Charlie Zuro (Darien)
Special Teams
PK: Zach Moore (Greenwich)
P: Colton Engel (Stafford/E. Windsor/Somers)
Returner: Jared Hubler (Foran)
* – 2016 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team honoree
