Students tackle a huge responsibility

By Roman J. Uschak, Staff Writer

Nutley Township took a hit from Hurricane Irene in late August, following a brief earthquake earlier in the month. But before that, a group of Nutley High School student-athletes took time out to help people who were hit even harder by a tornado in the South.

The Nutley Board of Commissioners recently honored Nutley High football coach Steve DiGregorio, assistant coach Jarret Vick, and more than a dozen players who journeyed to Tuscaloosa, Ala., this summer to help clean up some of the tornado devastation wrought there back in April.

The tornado left behind a wake of destruction as it swept through Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, according to the resolution that was presented by Nutley Mayor Joanne Cocchiola in front of more than 50 individuals at the board’s Sept. 6 meeting.“This was a true Nutley act,” said Cocchiola of the student volunteerism.

“It shows how much this community cares.”Vick, a Tuscaloosa native, was in Alabama when the tornado struck and has since worked to assist his home community in its clean-up and restoration efforts by organizing volunteers. He needed to look no further north than the gridiron at the Oval at Tangorra Field to find willing recruits.

The Nutley student-athletes who dedicated one week of their summer to help get Tuscaloosa back on track were Peter Burbank, Nick Gariano, Michael Goudie, Ryan Goudie, Michael Hovan, Joseph Iannini, Matt Kelly, John Milici, John Ratta, Nick Scherer, Jordan Yuppa, and Aaron DiGregorio, along with Dominic Pilione of Wayne Hills High School.“It’s nice to recognize young people for something positive,” said Public Works Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli.“This is a great group of kids, and they rose to the occasion,” said Public Safety Commissioner Al Petracco.“You all represent the best part of Nutley,” said Finance and Revenue Commissioner Thomas Evans. “We thank you for your selfless act, and you made us proud.”

“Thank you once again, and thank you to your parents as well,” said Parks and Public Property Commissioner Mauro Tucci.Jarrett also expressed pride in his players, for how they conducted themselves in Alabama as much as for the help they provided to people they had never met before.

“We didn’t have one single problem, although they are terrible singers,” he quipped of his charges. “The greatest quality of a leader is service.”DiGregorio held up a commemorative plaque he received in Tuscaloosa, a piece of wood that had been felled by the tornado and was subsequently decorated with parts of a fire hydrant.

He also said that the team had gotten to meet with University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, who led the Crimson Tide to the 2009 NCAA Division I national championship.DiGregorio also had some quips of his own, at least as far as his assistant coach was concerned.“Jarrett’s been through a lot in the last six months, with a tornado, an earthquake and a hurricane,” said DiGregorio. “Don’t go to the beach with him.

”The start of Nutley High’s 2011 varsity football campaign was no joke, however, as the Raiders rolled to a 42-6 victory over Millburn in their season opener at the Oval on Sept. 9.Roman J. Uschak can be reached at 908-686-7700, ext. 125, or nutleyjournal@thelocalsource.com.