It’s hard to truly sum up what kind of a weekend Vin Ascolese just had.
The North Bergen football standout certainly has had some memorable moments over the last few months, culminated by helping to lead his team to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV state championship at MetLife Stadium in his legendary grandfather’s final game as head coach after a brilliant and storied 50-year career.
In reality, it’s hard to top that achievement in December.
But after winning the state title, the first for North Bergen in 14 years, the younger Ascolese was named The Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player. He earned Player of the Year honors from one publication and was named First Team All-State by another. He participated in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.
All deserving accolades in their own right, but nothing can compare to the award he received last weekend, albeit while he was on a recruiting trip to the University of Arkansas.
“A fan tweeted to me that I was named Parade All-American,” Ascolese said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
But it was true. Ascolese earned the highest accolade bestowed upon a high school football player in the nation, being the lone representative from New Jersey to be selected among the top 50 players in the country.
“I had no idea,” Ascolese said. “It was pretty amazing and so very exciting. It wasn’t just being the only one from New Jersey that made it amazing, but I’m also the first one coming out of North Bergen to receive Parade All-American. North Bergen has had so many incredible players over the years and being the first one makes me feel very special.”
The younger Ascolese is in the final process of making his collegiate choice known. It’s been a lengthy and well researched process, one that took him to Arkansas last weekend, where he met head coach Bobby Petrino and other members of the coaching staff and players.
What was even more impressive was the way the Arkansas faithful treated Ascolese, rolling out the red carpet and treating the would-be linebacker like royalty.
“It was amazing,” Ascolese said. “That was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The fans were unbelievable. The coaches were awesome.”
Throughout the course of the weekend, Ascolese, who is obsessed with his Twitter account, must have received 500 messages from avid Razorbacks fans, all encouraging him to sign on with Arkansas.
It was an outpouring of affection hardly ever seen. One after another, the Razorback fans were showing the North Bergen teenager some love.
“I didn’t expect any of that,” Ascolese said.
After visiting Arkansas on Friday and Saturday, Ascolese and his mother Susan had to get on a plane to head back to New Jersey to arrive in time for the Maxwell Football Club’s awards banquet in New Brunswick on Sunday afternoon.
The Maxwell Football Club, based out of Philadelphia, has been honoring top collegiate and pro football players with awards since 1935. It branched out to honoring high school players in the Pennsylvania in 1985. Sunday, for the first time, the Maxwell Club honored New Jersey players at a banquet at the Heldrich Hotel.
The Maxwell Football Club made sure that they honored solid football players with excellent grades who donated their time to their respective communities.
Of the 49 New Jersey players honored, three were from Hudson County, namely Ascolese, St. Peter’s Prep standout tight end Michael Giacone, and Bayonne speedy running back Malcolm Robinson.
When the banquet started, Ascolese was still en route to New Brunswick, but arrived in time later to receive his award. His grandfather, the legendary Vince Ascolese, received a special award for his 50 years of service to high school football.
“Mom and I were running around all day, trying to get there,” the younger Ascolese said. “I was trying to get dressed with a shirt and tie in the car. But it was a big thing for me to be there, a great honor. All these awards have been special and it all came after winning the state championship. It was one of the best weekends of my life and something I’ll never forget.”
Ascolese will make his college decision known next week. For now, he will consider Arkansas after his tremendous visit.
“They’re definitely in the top three,” Ascolese said.
Giacone doesn’t have to worry about making his college decision known. He’s already given a verbal commitment to Rutgers and will sign his national letter of intent with the Scarlet Knights in two weeks.
“It really means a lot for me to receive the award,” Giacone said. “Someday, football will end and I’ll know there’s more to life than football. But this award was about academics and character and I like that. I’ve heard about the Maxwell Award on the college level and I knew how long they’ve been around. It’s exciting to be part of the first New Jersey award winners.”
Giacone said that he spent Monday night with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano in Giacone’s living room.
“I love that I’m staying home and love staying in state,” Giacone said. “I’m excited to get there.”
Robinson, who enjoyed a breakthrough season leading the Bees back to the NJSIAA Group IV state playoffs, was also thrilled to receive the award.
“It’s not just me, but the Bayonne athletic department and my whole family that share in this,” said Robinson, who rushed for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. “It shows that all the hard work I put in didn’t go unnoticed. I always believed in myself and my teammates, but not in my wildest dreams did I think I could receive this award.”
Robinson is considering offers from West Virginia State, Southern Connecticut and American International College.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” Robinson said. “It’s something that never would have happened a year ago.”
And the dream will continue for Ascolese when he makes his final decision about college known next week.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
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