After reaching his 300th career coaching win last week, North Bergen’s Vince Ascolese was asked if reaching a milestone forced him to remember some of the best moments and players of his career.
He came up with a list of six players who rank among the all-time best Bruins.
- Rick Capozzi (RB/LB, 1978): "Capozzi never stopped churning, never stopped moving," Ascolese said.
- Eddie Duran (QB/DB, 1984): "Eddie was just so talented. He could kick, punt, throw and was our best defensive back."
- Mark D’Onofrio (FB/LB, 1985, played for Penn State and later the Green Bay Packers, currently the linebackers coach at Rutgers): "Mark did everything. He might have been the best ever."
- Kenny Bello (TE/DE, 1990): "Played at a higher level than anyone else."
- Gregg Ascolese (FB/LB, 1991): "Not just because he’s my son, but Gregg brought a lot to the table in everything he did."
- Czar Wiley (RB/DB, 1997): "He had an amazing senior year for us, leading us to the state championship. We don’t win it without him."
Ascolese pointed out that all six kids were All-State performers and all played for state championship teams as well.
They were all great players, with the latest, Wiley, being the recipient of the 1997-1998 Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Year Award.
In this reporter’s opinion, there was no finer high school defensive player than Bello, who literally dominated every time he took the field.
I vividly recall attending the Associated Press All-State voting that year at the Asbury Park Press offices. When the time came up for sportswriters around the state to nominate players from their area, I put up Bello’s name with the simple explanation:
"Kenny Bello, North Bergen, 6-2, 235 pounds, he’s the greatest defensive high school football player I’ve ever seen."
He earned unanimous selection status from the other 15 or so sportswriters in attendance, before he headed off to the University of Nebraska, then transferring to the University of Massachusetts.
Thirteen years later, Bello still holds that distinction in my eyes.
It’s still a fine collection of talent that remains at the top of coach Ascolese’s "Dream Team." – Jim Hague