Hills Senior Cal Lobello was nominated for the 2022-23 Steve Digregorio Young Man of the Year Award, presented by the Super Football Conference (SFC). Cal played on the varsity team this year, and although the season was the opposite of what he and the other players strived for, he and his teammates worked towards building a new culture of support and leadership that did not go unnoticed. 

One player from each high school in the New Jersey SFC is selected by the coaches, athletic director, and staff for the award. Steve Degregorio, the person whom the award is named after, was a “beloved coach and leader” who led Nutley High School to an undefeated season while battling pancreatic cancer. He passed away in 2021, but the award keeps his incredible spirit and leadership alive. A stellar student-athlete at Nutley High School and Muhlenberg College, Degregorio went on to be an assistant coach at Hobart College, Allegheny College, Princeton University, and later, head coach at Paramus Catholic and Nutley High. He has inspired student-athletes and as stated by the SFC, he “won with humility, and he lost with dignity. And he considered the opportunity to strive for those victories week after week each autumn a blessing.”

Cal Lobello explained that the award does not simply recognize athletic achievement. “The award is based on community service, selflessness before selfishness, creating a positive school/team environment, setting a positive example for teammates and peers, and good academic standing,” he said. Not only did Cal have to exhibit these qualities, but he also had to be in good academic standing with the school. He is an AVID student, and this year, he has tutored and mentored fellow students in the program. 

Cal worked off-season with all his teammates who were truly invested to win. He did his best to mentor underclassmen so that by Senior year, they could witness true success. He was glad to have given them the experience to improve in the upcoming years. “I try to invest myself in the good,” he shared, adding that he tries to be a positive influence and hold himself to the same standards on and off the field.

Although Cal will not be playing football in college, he is grateful for the experiences and lessons he has gained from his childhood, when he first started playing, into young adulthood. He plans to attend a four-year college and receive his degree in engineering, possibly pursuing a master’s. As he moves on from this stage of his life, his goal is to ultimately be successful and find other passions.

On behalf of the Morris Hills community, we congratulate Cal Lobello on this great achievement and on being recognized for his positive contributions to the school at large. “Quality is doing what is right when no one’s watching and no reward is guaranteed,” he stated.

All recipients of the award will be honored at a banquet this spring.