Fall Newsletter # 1
August 25th, 2025
The 2025 gymnastics squad boasts an impressive record of 5 wins and 1 loss. They delivered a standout performance against Point Boro and Lacey, achieving a season-best score of 102.225. Additionally, they claimed victories over Southern and TRE this season. The team is guided by Addison Plewa, Molly McQuillan, Madison McInerney, Cate Pongratz, Emma Camara, and Gracyn Donaldson. Their next competition will take place on September 23, where they will host Manasquan.
Amanda Smith
Amanda Smith is a 2000 graduate who excelled in both Field Hockey and Softball. In Field Hockey, she was a 3-year starter in goal who was named All Division and All
County twice. In her senior year, she recorded 15 shutouts and was named 1st Team All Shore, 2nd Team All State, and Ocean County Observer Player of the Year. She was a 4 year starter for the Softball team, and in her Senior year, the team won the Ocean County Tournament and the N.J.S.I.A.A. South Jersey Group III Championship. Within her Softball career, she was a 2X All Division, All County, and All Shore honoree. During her Senior year, she batted .463, was named 1st Team All State and the Ocean County Observer Player of the Year. That year, Amanda was awarded the prestigious Asbury Park Press Jim Sullivan Award, which is awarded to the best Female Athlete in the Shore Conference. She continued her softball career at Brookdale College, where she became a 2X All American, Region 19 Player of the Year, and helped secure the school’s 1st NJCAA National Championship.
Mike Bickford
Mike Bickford, a 2017 graduate of Central Regional, is a record-breaking multi-sport athlete whose talent and dedication has left a lasting legacy. In Football, he amassed an incredible school record of 5,417 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns, setting a total of 5 school records. Mike holds the most rushing yards (2,052) and touchdowns (25) in a single season. A 3 time 1st Team All Division and Zoneman Player of the year finalist, Mike also earned All State and All Shore honors while leading his team to 2 B-South Championships. In addition to Football, Mike excelled in Varsity Wrestling all 4 years. He achieved over 60 wins and was a District finalist. On the Baseball field, he was a 3 year starter who set a school record for most triples in a season. Mike’s achievements reflect his relentless drive to excel in every sport he pursued.
Rachel Iozzia
Rachel Iozzia, a 2013 graduate of CRHS, was a 4 year varsity starter & 3 time MVP & 3 time team Captain in Volleyball & Basketball. As a freshman, Rachel enjoyed sharing the court with her 2 older sisters in both sports. On the basketball court, she helped lead her team to 2 B-South Championships & was voted All Division in her Junior & Senior years. As a Senior, Rachel became a member of the prestigious 1000 Points Club and was also voted 3rd Team All Shore. Rachel holds multiple school records, including most assists in a single game (15), most assists in a single season (143), most career assists (345) & most career 3 pointers made (149). She accepted a full scholarship to play basketball at Division I Saint Francis College in NYC. Rachel helped St. Francis win their first ever NEC League title earning them a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they lost to eventual champion UConn. As a Graduate transfer, she was the Captain of San Francisco State University’s Basketball team where she led the team in assists, steals, & three pointers made.
Corinne (Mahoney) Parker
Corinne Mahoney Parker is a 2016 graduate who was a 4 year Varsity athlete on the Swim team and is the only Girls swimmer in CR’s history to be named Team MVP all 4
years. Upon her graduation, she held 6 of the 8 individual school records. She was also a key member of all 3 school record setting relay teams. She was a 2X Ocean County
Meet Individual Champion in both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle events. In her Sophomore year, she helped her relay team capture the 200 Freestyle (Ocean County Swim Meet Record) and 400 Freestyle Relay titles at the Ocean County Meet Championship. She was voted Swimmer of the Meet at the Ocean County Championship and named The Star-Ledger Ocean County Swimmer of the Year twice. She was also a 4 time Meet of Champions qualifier in 2 individual events. Corinne swam for Wingate University in North Carolina. She was an NCAA D2 National Championship qualifier and was named a CSCAA All American. She graduated with a degree in Marketing and now resides in South Carolina working in Human Resources.
Devyn (Flesch) Klich
Devyn Flesch, is a 2008 graduate, who was a standout in Lacrosse & excelled in Field Hockey. She was a 3 year letter winner, a 2 year starter & Captain for both teams. Upon her graduation, she set the single season school record in Lacrosse for goals with 77 & held the career goals scored record with 152. Her efforts earned her 2nd Team All Shore, 1st Team All County, & All Division her Junior & Senior years. In 2007, Devyn was an integral part of the 1st ever Divisional title for the Girls Lacrosse team. She was also a 2X All Division defender during her Junior & Senior years in Field Hockey. During those years, the team went undefeated in Divisional play which lead them to back-to-back Divisional titles. Upon graduation, Devyn continued her Lacrosse career on an Athletic Scholarship at D2 Georgian Court Univ. & finished her career at D1 Florida Atlantic Univ. After college, she coached Lacrosse at the High School & Club levels.
Coach VInny Kelly
Vinny Kelly began his career at CR in 1972 as a HS Math Teacher for 20 years and then as a HS Guidance Counselor until his retirement in 2009. He coached at the HS and MS levels at CR for 30+ years. In 1982, he became the Head Coach for the Girls Varsity Basketball team & continued in this position for 18 years. His teams won B-South Championships in 1984 & 1991. He was named in 1984 as Ocean County’s Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. In 2024, the CRHS Girls Basketball program honored Vinny by creating an annual scholarship in his name. Vinny was also an Assistant HS Girls Track Coach from 1981-2005, where he helped coach the teams to 10 B-South Championships. In 1983, the team won the N.J.S.I.A.A. South Jersey Group III Sectional Championship. Vinny along with Blaine Schwarz established CR’s 1st MS Boys & Girls Track programs in the early 1970s. Vinny has stayed active in sports programs by officiating Football, Basketball & Track for over 50 years.
Steve Kachmar
Steve Kachmar is a 3-sport standout in Football, Basketball & Baseball who graduated in 1981. Steve was a key member of arguably the greatest baseball team at Central Regional. The 1980 team won its Shore Conference Division, Ocean County Tournament, and the 1st ever Shore Conference Baseball Tournament. That year, Steve was the winning pitcher in the Shore Conference & Ocean County Tournament Finals & tied a then-school record with 39 hits while leading the Shore Conference with 5 home runs. In Baseball, Steve was a 2X All Group, 2X All Shore, and 2X All Ocean County selection. Steve also excelled on the football field as a Middle Linebacker & Fullback, where he was voted All County & 2nd Team All Shore during his Senior year. On the basketball court, Steve was named the Clear Channel 8 Player of the Year for CR and 2nd Team All County.
Nick Tenpenny
Nick Tenpenny is a 2007 graduate and was a 4X letter winner in wrestling. He owned a career record of 115-28 while being a key contributor to the team's championships. In 2004 & 2006, the wrestling team was Shore Conference Divisional Champions, as well as back-to-back N.J.S.I.A.A South Jersey Group 3 Champions in 2005 & 2006. During Nick's Senior season, he wrestled in the 2007 New Jersey State Invitational All Star Match, and was named 1st Team All County & 1st Team All Shore, while placing 3rd in the N.J.S.I.A.A. Individual State Tournament. Upon graduating, Nick held numerous records, including wins in a season (42), most points scored in a season (190), takedowns (116), falls (23), & fastest fall, 9 seconds. Nick received a Division 1 Athletic Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he wrestled Varsity for 4 years & earned All American Honors in 2009 at the University Men's Freestyle Nationals at 84kg. Nick is a New Jersey State Trooper & resides in Manahawkin with his wife Lisa & daughter Kennedy.
Shawn Kessler
Shawn Kessler is a 2009 graduate. He was a 3 year starter for the Golden Eagles Baseball Team and a member of the Basketball team. In Baseball, Shawn led the team
to back-to-back Divisional titles in 2008 and 2009. Over his career, Shawn collected 79 hits and drove in 54 runs while also scoring 48 on his way to a .391 lifetime batting
average. His career .589 slugging percentage was a school record at the time of his graduation. Shawn was a 2X All Division and All Ocean County selection. During his
Senior year, he was voted Team MVP, All State Group 3, All Shore and named the B- South Division Hitter of the year. Shawn went on to play 4 years at Richard Stockton
State College (Stockton University), where he was a 3 year starter. In those 3 years, Shawn was a lifetime .310 hitter with 91 hits, 22 doubles, 2 triples and 4 home runs.
During his Senior season, the team tied the school record for wins (23).
