Steve DiGregorio Young Men of the Year recipients announced by SFC, N.Y. Jets – NJ.com

His buddy, with high-level Autism and a love for baseball, knew every detail on the Period Table of Elements. So it was only fitting that today, Joe Grasso remembered the 79th element as well.

That one stands for gold.

Grasso, a senior football player at Ridgewood High School, held up two golden pieces of cardboard — life-size tickets to the upcoming Super Bowl — as a surprise for being named the Steve DiGregorio Young Man of the Year.

Like the NFL Man of the Year award, the golden honor went to a high-character senior who played as big of a role in the community as he did on the field. The New York Jets, in a partnership with the Super Football Conference, presented the award during a special presentation Wednesday morning at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

“Mr. DiGregorio was someone I admired,” Grasso said. “He was someone who always put family and his players first. He cared deeply about doing the right thing, and I’m honored to be here receiving the award in his name.”

A beloved coach and leader, DiGregorio inspired generations of student-athletes. Named NJ.com’s State Coach of the Year in 2020, DiGregorio led Nutley to an undefeated season through the pandemic — all while battling recurring phases of pancreatic cancer. His coaching career spanned four decades and included stints at multiple high schools and colleges.

On Wednesday, Zack DiGregorio, his oldest of three sons, told the crowd how much the award meant to his father. Having the award named in his honor “was one of his biggest joys” before his death in October, the younger DiGregorio said.

“For him, football was always the vehicle. It was incidental. It wasn’t the goal,” he said. “It was all about learning those skills about how to be a teammate, how to be a leader and a good member of the community. The football was just extra.”

Grasso also lost his father to pancreatic cancer. Like DiGregorio, Jim Grasso paved the way for thousands of student-athletes. Following his death in 2018, tributes poured in to honor a leader who spent decades as an athletic director in Bergen County.

Grasso said his father would have been proud today.

“He taught me to always do the right thing and never fake anything,” said the younger Grasso.

Grasso’s uncle, Jim’s brother, Greg, will be his plus-one for the Super Bowl trip to Los Angeles in February. The younger Grasso said he’s hoping his favorite team, the Packers, will make it there, too.

The surprise trip was presented by the Jets.

At Camp Sunshine in Ridgewood, Grasso volunteered as a peer mentor to bring friendship and brighten the days of children with special needs. Paired with an autistic buddy, Grasso brought an extra glove, whiffle balls and remembers many hectic chases around the base paths.

Grasso, who also plays baseball in the spring, volunteers with the Mount Carmel Youth Group, participating in food drives for the parish and working the scoreboard for CYO basketball games. He helped with the annual Kelly Creegan Coat Drive at Ridgewood High and has a passion for life that is contagious, according to Chuck Johnson, his football coach

“He has the uncommon ability to raise the level of effort and execution of all those around him,” Johnson said. “His words of encouragement are an inspiration to his teammates and his passion for life and the things he is involved in is just contagious.”

Grasso also shares a connection with the DiGregorio family beyond being the first award-winner. Like the award’s namesake, Grasso will continue his football career at Muhlenberg College. Grasso sported his blue MC tie Wednesday and said it will be his “lucky tie” moving forward.

Before naming Grasso this year’s recipient, officials from the Super Football Conference honored the 60 other recipients in attendance and announced the eight finalists. Each of the league’s 111 teams had a honoree this season.

Chris Corbo, from West Essex, was one of the eights finalists. After losing his uncle to ALS two years ago, Corbo remains an advocate and supporter for local charities supporting those with the disease. Among his many accomplishments on the field, Corbo is also one of the founders of Team 94 color run, an organization that promotes awareness for continuing education for adults with Autism.

The senior, who will play football at Dartmouth College next season, was honored to be recognized.

“This means everything to me,” Corbo said.

Seeking inspiration from his uncle’s character, Corbo said he learned what it means give back.

“He fought to his last day, and he’s inspired me to not only be a good person and athlete, but also a great person because he was always there for people,” Corbo said. “He put everyone before him, which is what this award is all about. That’s why he’s my inspiration.”

Two more finalists — Dover’s Zach Cooper and Chatham’s Anthony Miller — similarly put others before themselves. Cooper missed all of his junior season after battling Crohn’s disease. He played three games this fall before undergoing surgery. In between, Cooper led a volunteer program to renovate his school’s concession stand.

“It was difficult to fight through this, but I stuck around for my time to make sure they worked their hardest every day,” Cooper said.

Miller, a decorated boy scout, also chipped in on several renovation projects around his community. Recruiting players from the football, Miller and his teammates dug a 170-foot drainage ditch. He also has done projects renovating fire hydrants, building bee boxes and chipping in with food drives and Christmas tree sales.

“Being a boy scout and football player, I see the overlap,” Miller said. “This award embodies what both are about and recognizes young men for the work they’re doing in their communities.

You can find the list of award winners below.

• Anthony Miller, Chatham
• Zach Cooper, Dover
• Zaheem Crawford-Patterson, Irvington
• Michael Mastroeni, Hopatcong
• Michael McGuire, Madison
• Joe Grasso, Ridgewood
• Erik Perez, St. Peter’s Prep
• Chris Corbo, West Essex

• Alex Feliciano, Barringer
• Christian Ashe, Bayonne
• Markieth Stevens, Belleville
• John Kradenski Jr., Bergenfield
• John Fiore, Bergen Catholic
• Jason O’Hagan, Bergen Tech
• Randy Daniels, Bloomfield
• Donte Brooks, Boonton
• Pat Capazzoli, Caldwell
• Nick Coletta, Cedar Grove
• Anthony Miller, Chatham
• Jorge Gonzalez, Cliffside Park
• Bryan Feliciano, Clifton
• Stephen Henry, Columbia
• Jake Checchio, Delbarton
• Andrew Argenziano, Demarest
• Kennth Pierce, DePaul
• Kayee Williams, Dickinson
• Timothy Hinspeter, Don Bosco Prep
• Zach Cooper, Dover
• Eric Cueto, Dumont
• Lloyd Fields, Dwight Morrow
• Raeden Oliver, East Orange
• Nikolas Aponte, Fair Lawn
• Alejandro Perez, Ferris
• Janovic Lugo, Fort Lee
• Thomas Hausmann, Glen Ridge
• Curtis Whiting, Hackensack
• Jaiden Liferiedge, Hackettstown
• Ryan Runo, High Point
• Jason Jeannot, Hoboken
• Michael Mastroeni, Hopatcong
• Ethan Sosa, Hudson Catholic
• James Hickey, Indian Hills
• Zaheem Crawford-Patterson, Irvington
• Erik Garv, Jefferson
• Ryan Gill, Kearny
• Michael Lally, Kinnelon
• Luke Brex, Kittatinny
• Carter Pagan, Lakeland
• Jacob Perna, Lenape Valley
• Mike Reid, Lincoln
• Quinn Devlin, Livingston
• Michael McGuire, Madison
• Aidan Kayal, Mahwah
• Bradley Manso, Memorial (W. NY)
• Frank Kontely, Mendham
• Jack Witty, Millburn
• Solomon Brennan, Montclair
• Eriq Harris, Montclair Immaculate
• Mohammad Gaber, Montville
• Aaron Andino, Morristown
• Tim Liebhauser, Morris Catholic
• Joshua Babe, Morris Hills
• Collin Groome, Morris Knolls
• Cooper Anderson, Mount Olive
• Adam Lees, Mountain Lakes
• Mark Ingram, Newark Central
• Jaden Sampson, Newark Collegiate
• Hector Montalvo, Newark East Side
• Mozio Khayyam, Newark West Side
• Jack Young, Newton
• Deven Arthur, North Bergen
• Enzo Arjona, Northern Highlands
• Anthony Esposito, North Warren
• Matt Harbison, Nutley
• Anthony Ramundo, Old Tappan
• Jalen Phillips, Orange
• Corey Petruzzella, Paramus
• Matthew Murray, Paramus Catholic
• Jarrett Behnke, Parsippany
• Dominick Verducci, Parsippany Hills
• Ja’mair Diaz, Passaic
• Sammy Stewart, Pascack Hills
• Steven Demboski, Pascack Valley
• Justin Vazquez, Passaic Tech
• Andre Manzi, Passaic Valley
• Kelvin Medina, Paterson Eastside
• Jaylon Pou, Paterson Kennedy
• Kyle Tomaskovic, Pequannock
• Jacob Rubin, Pope John
• Nathan Park, Ramapo
• James Browning, Ramsey
• Darian Ghahary, Randolph
• Andrew Vargas, Ridgefield Park
• Joe Grasso, Ridgewood
• Aidan Cochran, River Dell
• Luke Schabel, Roxbury
• Owen Cook, Seton Hall Prep
• Devian Parker-Rogers, Shabazz
• Jean Pierre, Snyder
• Parker Williamson, Sparta
• Connor Mahoney, St. Joseph (Mont.)
• Erik Perez, St. Peter’s Prep
• Christopher Conyers, Sussex Tech
• Sebastian Jusma, Teaneck
• Jonghun Jeong, Tenafly
• Daham Kankanamala Subeappu, Union City
• Antonio Ciasullo, Wallkill Valley
• Angel Roman, Wayne Hills
• Nick Porada, Wayne Valley
• Asim Smith-Marsette, Weequahic
• Chris Corbo, West Essex
• Dylan Connors, West Milford
• Trevor Hillier, West Morris
• Matthew Bove, West Orange
• Kevin Kim, Westwood
• Thomas Ung, Whippany Park
• Shane Saulnier, Vernon
• Dan Vecchio, Verona

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Patrick Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatLanniHS and like his Facebook page.