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St. John Vianney football honors injured teammate after win over Marlboro

steven falk, asbury park press
·5 min read

HOWELL - The players on the St. John Vianney High School football team had just made their way through the post-game handshake line after their 28-14 win over Marlboro on Sunday at Howell High School when they then ran toward the stands on their side of the field.

There was a special purpose to the Lancers' players run to the stands. They had a special present for the family of teammate Aaron Van Trease, who sustained a spinal cord injury Sept. 23 in St. John Vianney's game against Manasquan and is currently at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick after he underwent surgery.

The players presented Van Trease's uncle, Chris Colaner, with the game ball. Chris Colaner then gave the game ball to his daughter and Van Trease's cousin, Chloe Colaner.

Aaron Van Trese's uncle Chris Colander (left) and his daughter Chloe Colander (right) smile after the St. John Vianney players present them with the ball Sunday after the Lancers' 28-14 win over Marlboro.
Aaron Van Trese's uncle Chris Colander (left) and his daughter Chloe Colander (right) smile after the St. John Vianney players present them with the ball Sunday after the Lancers' 28-14 win over Marlboro.

Chris Colaner said he and his daughter will present Van Trease with the game ball. "It will mean the world to him,'' Chris Colaner said. "The support the community has shown him has been nothing short of extraordinary. It means the world to the Van Trease family and to Aaron. ''

In the wake in dealing with the serious injury for a teammate, St. John Vianney's players, coaching staff and administration has shown how much Van Trease, family and friendship means to them.

"He loves all of us. We all love him,'' said senior linebacker Christian Buchanan, who said he has visited Van Trease. "His family was here watching the game. I know he's happy right now.''

Van Trease's spirit is with St. John Vianney

Van Trease's No. 18 was on the back of the sweatshirts the St. John Vianney coaching staff wore on the cold, rainy day.

The Lancers' players walked out on to the field before the game with seniors Jack Farrah and Kyle Verriest holding Van Trease's jersey while bag pipes were playing. Buchanan and freshman Jayden Vera held Van Trease's jersey during the pre-game coin toss.

The words Van Trease said to coach Jeff Papcun as he was being airlifted to the hospital -- "Don't worry about me. Go win this game'' -- is an example of what kind of teammate and friend Van Trease is.

St. John Vianney's Jack Farrah's (No. 7) and Kyle Verriest (No. 13) lead their teammates on to the field for Sunday's game against Marlboro holding the jersey of injured teammate Aaron Van Trease
St. John Vianney's Jack Farrah's (No. 7) and Kyle Verriest (No. 13) lead their teammates on to the field for Sunday's game against Marlboro holding the jersey of injured teammate Aaron Van Trease

"He's a family kid and a family guy,'' Papcun said. "He cares about us more than he cares about himself.''

"He's the strongest kid on this team by far,'' Buchanan said.

'Not the same without him'

The St. John Vianney players feel the best way to show how much they love Van Trease was to try and win Sunday's game.

The game got off to a shaky start for the Lancers (5-1), who have won five straight since an opening defeat to Red Bank Catholic, but they were able to rally from a seven-point first half deficit as Verriest returned a backward punt 37 yards for a TD and caught a 27-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Michael Foley. Foley also scored on a 1-yard sneak and Farrah had a 1-yard TD run.

"The goal definitely was to get this win for him,'' junior running back/linebacker Luca Minardo said. "It's really not the same without him, but we're going to come out every day, keep working hard. He's going to be watching us.''

"He was fighting for us every day. We're going to fight for him every day,'' Verriest said. "He's family. We do everything for each other.''

'An amazing kid'

Papcun said Van Trease has as much football knowledge as anybody.

"He's amazing,'' Papcun said. "Even last year, when he wasn't starting, he was like having a coach on the sidelines fur us.

"This year, it was having a coach on the field for us. We would call in a play and he would say, 'What about this?' Me and Coach Mike (St. John Vianney athletic director and assistant coach Mike Alberque) would actually look at each other and say, 'That's actually a pretty smart idea.' "If he can't play again, I know that he'll be a part of this game. He's just so smart - football smart. ''

A message for Van Trease

Buchanan, Verriest, Minardo and Foley all had a message in unison for Van Trease as they were about to leave the post-game interview session with the media.

"We love you Aaron. We love you Aaron. We love you Aaron. All for you 18,'' they said.

St. John Vianney 28, Marlboro 14

St. John Vianney 0 7 13 8 - 28

Marlboro 7 0 7 0 - 14

FIRST QUARTER

M: Matt Cassidy 2 run (Luke Rubin kick).

SECOND QUARTER

SJV: Michael Foley 5 run (Mike McCormick kick).

THIRD QUARTER

SJV: Kyle Verriest 37 punt return (McCormick kick).

SJV: Jack Farrah 1 run (kick blocked).

M: Ryan Mendes 95 kickoff return (Max Foley kick).

FOURTH QUARTER

SJV: Verriest 27 pass from Foley (Foley run).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: SJV: Michael Foley 16-50, Luca Minardo 9-43, Kyle Verriest 8-37, Jack Farrah 8-15, Kyle Pettus 1-9. M; Matt Cassidy 30-109, Brayden Klein 4-9, Dan Alcide 1-3, Ryan Mendes 2-1, Luke Rubin 1-(-14).

PASSING: SJV: Foley 3-8-0-54. M: Klein 1-2-0-8. Cassidy 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING: SJV: Verriest 1-27, Farrah 1-14, Minardo 1-13. M: Anthony Tropeano 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS: SJV: Verriest.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Aaron Van Trease honored with game ball from SJV win