Recinos is joined on this year’s Heart of a Giant Team by 10 other high school students who also share amazing personal stories of unique commitment, character, teamwork, dedication and will. These are their stories:
Weequahic High School, Newark, NJ
Ibrahim and his mother moved to the US from the Ivory Coast to escape civil war when he was a child. Had to learn English after growing up speaking French as a young student and had to overcome teasing because of it. Ibrahim didn’t know much about football as a freshman when he signed up for the team but has blossomed into one of the elite kickers in the state as well as the punter for Weequahic High School, while also working hard to maintain a 3.0 GPA. As the oldest child of a single mother, he makes sure to help out around the house, and recently helped care for his 4-year-old sister for over two weeks so his mom could focus on his 2-year-old brother who became very sick and was hospitalized for two weeks.
Dominick “DJ” DeMatteo (Quarterback & Linebacker)
Mahopac High School, Mahopac, NY
The starting quarterback and middle linebacker for his team, DJ is a leader on both sides of the ball and serves as team captain. Overcame two severe stress fractures in his foot that caused him to miss his sophomore season, and the opportunity to play on the same team as his brother who was a senior, while being coached by his father, Dominick DeMatteo Sr. He is also the grandson of legendary coach Tony DeMatteo, who coached for 52 years and retired with 360 career wins.
Joseph Gross (Defensive Line)
Summit High School, Summit, NJ
Two years ago, Joey lost his older sister, Justine, unexpectedly while she was away at college. Joey relied on his teammates for strength and used the football program as an outlet to help him and his family cope with this loss. His sister was a cheerleader for the high school, so when she passed on, a part of our program did as well. Joey made sure to keep everyone’s spirits high, honor his sister through our program with various events, and make sure she would be proud of what this group of young man is
going to achieve. He sees our program as an extension of his family, and being part of the football family lets him honor his own. Joey was a championship swimmer as a child, who took on football for a new challenge. He was recently honored as a Latin Scholar and is a promising songwriter who produced five songs in July 2023 with…
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