Casey Kreiter presents NJEA Educator of the Year Award to Manchester Township Middle School's Michael Balog

 

Mar 17, 2025 at 03:36 AM

Dan Salomone

Senior Managing Editor, Giants.com

If the NFL didn't work out for Casey Kreiter, the long snapper was happy to go teach high school science. It did, but that only made him the perfect person to hand out the Educator of the Year Award to Michael Balog, a Social Studies teacher at Manchester Township Middle School.

 

Manchester Township Middle School had two other teachers recognized by the Giants – Susan Morgan and Kristine Laporte of the Science Department – as part of the Educator of the Week Program.

 

The recent visit by Kreiter and the Giants celebrated the first year of the organization's partnership with the New Jersey Education Association. They also presented the selected educators each with a $1,000 donation to be used for enhancements to their working environment. The Educator of the Year received a $2,500 donation from the Giants.

 

"On behalf of the Manchester Township School District, I want to express my gratitude for this partnership with the New York Giants and the recognition of our outstanding educators," said Diane Pedroza, Superintendent of the Manchester Township School District. "Their dedication to student success and engagement is truly commendable.

 

"At Manchester Township Middle School, we remain committed to fostering a positive school culture, and initiatives like Saddle Up for Success play a vital role in that effort. This program is designed to improve student attendance, increase motivation, and create a sense of belonging—all key factors in academic and personal growth. The generous awards made by the NY Giants and NJEA to our MTMS teachers will be used to support and expand these efforts, ensuring that students receive the encouragement and resources they need to thrive."

 

Kreiter, shortly before re-signing with the Giants, spent the day with the middle schoolers in conjunction with the Saddle-Up for Success campaign. It is play on words as it relates to the MTMS mascot, a Mustang.

 

As MTSDNews chronicled, Kreiter encouraged students to not only set goals but to use those goals as a way to measure their decision-making, especially in tough situations.

 

"When you have goals, you can make the right choices," Kreiter said. "Set your goals and let them guide you when tough decisions cross your path. Ask yourself if your decision is going to help or hinder you from achieving your goal."

 

Undrafted out of Iowa, Kreiter was cut at the end of training camp in each of his first two years by the Cowboys. The third time was the charm. The defending champion Broncos gave him a chance in 2016, and now he has played 142 games in the NFL.

 

"Without failure, you cannot understand success," Kreiter said, according to MTSDNews. "Failure does not mean you did something wrong if you learned ​something from that failed experience, which is most important. Success is a constant up-and-down process, not a steady climb. Learn from ​all of the slopes along the way."

Below are the Educators the Giants honored throughout last season. Each honoree received a $1,000 donation and tickets to a 2024 home game where they were highlighted on the video boards.

 

Tanisha Johnson - Wayne Education Association

Trent Johnson - Wayne Education Association

Felicia Hardman - Manalapan-Englishtown EA

Lauren Lio - Hillsdale EA

Sundjata Sekou - Irvington EA, Essex County

Ikechukwu Onyema - Irvington EA, Essex County

Jesse Ambriz - Gilmore J Fisher Middle, Ewing NJ

Linette Y. Castro - Winfield Scott School no. 2, Elizabeth NJ

Jason Sabol - Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

Kristine LaPorte - Manchester Township Middle School

Susan Morgan - Manchester Township Middle School

Monique Walker - Orange Education Association, Essex County

Michael Balog - Manchester Township Middle School

 

Before attending NFL Combine, Mike Vrabel made special visit at children's hospital

 

Before Mike Vrabel and his staff took off for Indianapolis to interview prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, there was one special man he wanted to meet first locally: a long-term patient at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Mar 06, 2025 at 11:22 AM

Before Mike Vrabel and his staff took off for Indianapolis to interview prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, there was one special young man he wanted to meet first here in Boston.

You won't find Jayden's name on any mock drafts or college football rosters – he's a 15-year-old from Cape Cod. But after he wrote a letter to the newly hired New England Patriots coach, Vrabel made it a priority to visit him before leaving town.

 "Jayden is a long-term patient at Boston Children's Hospital, and he's just an awesome kid," said Jane Searfoss, a child life specialist in the pediatric intermediate care unit.

"He makes everybody smile. We're always talking about Boston sports. He's a huge sports fan and he is always craving connection."

For his care team, sports have been a go-to way to give Jayden that connection.

His tutor, an Ohio State University graduate, was hoping to get the teenager motivated for a writing project back in January – right around the time when the Patriots hired Vrabel, another former Buckeye.

Inspiration struck.

"They connected over Ohio State and the Patriots and decided to make the writing project a letter to Mike Vrabel, and it was an awesome letter," Searfoss said.

"They got some Ohio State gear to send off to Mike in hopes of getting a letter or a video back."

Ultimately, Jayden got much more than just a letter or a video response.

When Boston Children's staff contacted the Patriots community relations team to deliver Jayden's message, Vrabel didn't just respond—he wanted to do more.

"(Vrabel) read what was going on with Jayden and asked to just come see him," said Alexandra Hladick Bueno, the hospital's media relations manager.

"He was like, 'Can I come? Can I come tomorrow to meet him?' And this was all right before he had this huge trip. For me and all of us here at the hospital that just says so much about who he is, coming here on a Friday night at 6 p.m. to see one patient."

Staff couldn't wait to share the news with Jayden. His first question? Whether his tutor could be there too.

Fortunately, his care team had already taken care of those logistics, so they got to work to give Vrabel a warm welcome.

"We spent the day getting his room decorated," Searfoss said.

"He got to tell his family and he talked about it all day. He was so excited. Things like this are so amazing because it gave him something to look forward to. It's hard to be here for so long. Days can pass by and just feel the same. That's why this was so important. He's already printed out the pictures for his room and has been showing everybody the Polaroids of them both."

Having two sons of his own, staff says Vrabel was a natural in his attempts to get through to the teenager.

They played catch, took photographs, and even talked about the upcoming NFL Draft. Jayden had plenty of insight to offer Vrabel, and the head coach was sure to instruct John Streicher, Patriots vice president of football operations and strategy, to write it all down.

"It was just awesome to see that connection because they clearly bonded immediately," Searfoss said.

"I know to see Jayden sit up and smile like that is really heartwarming for everybody on our staff. And for someone like Mike to talk to our staff and take a photo was a huge morale boost for everybody involved. It's a hard job to be here and support these patients through everything and he was just amazing."

At the visit, Vrabel also met with about 20 staffers at Boston Children's, who largely benefited from the morale boost.

"One thing that really stuck with me that he said while we were leaving was, "You know, those ladies up there, they really love him,'" Hladick Bueno shared.

"Just having that moment where he totally recognized how much our care teams love our patients. He was very struck by that."

Before leaving, Vrabel signed a football for Jayden, writing 'We're so proud of you." He told the boy that he'd be hanging up the letter inside his office at Gillette Stadium.

The head coach left with one request: for Jayden to keep writing to him.

Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Anthony Pleasant Meet & Greet, Catfish Fundraiser Saturday In Century

 

July 19, 2024

Two-time Super Bowl champion and Century native Anthony Pleasant will return to the park that bears his name for a youth football fundraiser Saturday.

 

Blackcats Black & Gold Night will be held 4-8 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at Anthony Pleasant Park off East Highway 4 in Century.

 

Catfish plates will be available for $14 each with preorder pick up at 6 p.m. Limited plates are available. Call or text Kaley at (850) 417-0412 to order. All proceeds will got to Century Blackcats Football & Cheer.

 

Admission is free.

 

A meet and greet with by held with Anthony Pleasant, and there will be flag football games for all ages.

Pictured: Sporting a “Blackcats Pride” hat, two-time Super Bowl champion and Century native Anthony Pleasant speaks to the Northview Chiefs football team in October 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos.

NFL veteran Trey Flowers hosts third annual Flowers of the Future Field Day Extravaganza

 

NFL veteran Trey Flowers hosts third annual Flowers of the Future Field Day Extravaganza (waff.com)

More than 300 kids signed up for a fun-filled day at the Shurney Legacy Center.

By Cam Derr

Published: Jun. 22, 2024 at 6:56 PM EDT

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - In a time where video games keep kids inside during the summer months, two-time NFL Pro-bowler and Huntsville native Trey Flowers returned home, Saturday afternoon to provide kids in his community a day full of fun in the sun. His foundation Flowers of the Future hosted its third annual Field Day Extravaganza.

More than 300 kids signed up for the event that featured bouncy houses, water slides and horse-back riding, as well as some friendly competition.

The Flowers of the Future foundation is a non-profit, started by Trey Flowers, that’s mission is to instill a healthy mindset in youth, whether it be through nutrition, exercise or mental health.

“This is where I grew up at and I just remember in the back yard days, back at my house, we played kick ball, we played basketball, we outside all day,” said Flowers, “It’s definitely fun just to be able to come back, show the community good energy and a fun time.”

This was the third time the Field Day was put on in Huntsville and is an annual summertime event.

Youth Football Return on Investment

 

A LOOK BACK

More than 150 youth football players took part in the first annual Thompson Family Football Camp on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Matthew Gilleran Field at the Truman Waterfront Park. Led by Carolina Panthers tight end Colin Thompson and his family, several of his Panthers teammates and coaches, as well as Jacksonville Jaguar running back and Key West native Mekhi Sargent and numerous college and high school coaches took part in the two-hour camp. Each registered camper got a T-shirt, lunch and a goodie bag.

Mekhi Sargent signed hundreds of autographs on shoes, shirts, caps and balls for the second annual Key West Football Camp.

 

By SCORE STAFF

Jul 8, 2023

A whole lot more time, money and effort were invested in youth football during the past year.

Before the Key West Junior Football League kicked off in August of 2022, the second annual Summer Football Camp was conducted at the George Mira Football Field with NFL and hometown hero Mekhi Sargent along with collegiate and prep coaches bringing their expertise to more than 100 local youth.

The Key West Junior Football League started with a football jamboree in August, with the regular season commencing on Saturday, Sept. 3, and running through Saturday, Nov. 12.

Before the season ended, Homecoming festivities took center stage as Dakota Lettie was named Homecoming Queen.

The final whistle sounded on Saturday, Nov. 12, as three teams completed the regular season with perfect marks.

In the B Division, the Shrimp Pimp Seahawks finished with a 6-0 record, while the Lass Re Captive Packers ended with a 7-0 mark in the C Division and AOK Realty Gators topped out at 7-0, too, in Flag play.

Things did not go so well for Key West in the postseason. On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Miami-Dade Extreme Youth Steelers won all three games against Key West All-Stars, two via shutout. The Key West U9 squad came close but made too many mistakes against the seasoned Steelers teams.

Just because the season ended, it was not the end, rather just the beginning for the 2023 season.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, NFL players converged on Key West to hold the first Thompson Family Football Camp. More than 150 youth football players were at the Matthew Gilleran Field at the Truman Waterfront Park. Led by Carolina Panthers tight end Colin Thompson and his family, several of his Panthers’ teammates and coaches, as well as Jacksonville Jaguar running back and Key West native Mekhi Sargent and numerous college and high school coaches took part in the two-hour camp.

And that’s not the end, just the beginning.

According to summer camp organizer Miguel Gonzalez, the third annual offering is slated from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, at Mira Field. The camp is free for youth players from the age of 5-14. Contact Gonzalez at 305-684-6727 for information.

Huntsville native Trey Flowers holds second annual field day extravaganza

 

by: Claudia Chakamian

Posted: Jun 17, 2023 / 10:19 PM CDT

Updated: Jun 17, 2023 / 10:19 PM CDT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Sometimes it’s just fun to run around and have fun like a kid, and Huntsville native and NFL defensive lineman Trey Flowers is making sure that the local kids get to have that kind of fun. On Saturday, the Columbia High School alum returned home to host his second annual field day extravaganza.

This year, Flowers said the event was bigger and better as kids got to play dodgeball, water balloon rights, ride horses, go on bounce houses, eat ice cream and more.

The two-time Super Bowl champ has always wanted to give back to his community but wanted to do something different than a normal football camp and that’s why he decided to have a field day instead. His goal is to just let these kids have fun, instill positivity and be a role model for his community.

“For them to come out and just have fun, and show them that they can smile and have fun, have a good time, it’s important to enjoy life. Just being the standard, being a role model for them to look up and see the example that I was just like them in the same city, same school system, same rec league, same whatever and I achieved the things that I achieved and you can do the same thing, if not more,” Flowers said.

Flowers added that he is already excited for next year’s event and to once again make it bigger and better for the local kids.

Colts legend Dallas Clark completes Ironman for great cause

 

By Surprise Sports Desk

October 24, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) – Former Indianapolis Colts tight end and Super Bowl champion Dallas Clark knows what it feels like to physically push your body to the brink. A first-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, Clark caught 505 passes for 5,665 yards and 53 touchdowns across 11 seasons in the NFL.

https://twitter.com/NFLLegacy/status/1582860824133005312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1582860824133005312%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FNFLLegacy2Fstatus2F1582860824133005312widget%3DTweet

But since retiring from football in 2014, Clark has taken it easy. He’s moved back to Iowa and turned the family farm – which has been in the Clark family for over 100 years – into an organic one. Clark thoroughly enjoys farming, particularly passing it down to his three children, but it’s not the passion that has kept him going since walking away from football. 

“My passion really is to be aware of opportunities to make a difference,” Clark said. “The philanthropy world is kind of where I get fired up and helping people who can’t help themselves.” 

Clark recently had a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many, but it didn’t come without plenty of work. It began with the idea of a marathon during a week when Clark felt unusually unmotivated to work out. 

“Then I was thinking, ‘Anyone can do a marathon,’” Clark remembers saying facetiously. 

That led to Clark pivoting towards the idea of an Ironman, a two-day triathlon that includes swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running another 26.2 miles. Clark then reached out to a friend – Tony Cannon, who has competed in multiple Ironman events over the years – for advice. 

“So, I reached out to him (Cannon) and I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m thinking about doing the Ironman. What should I expect?’” Clark remembers asking. “He said, ‘are you ready to die?’ and I’m like ‘absolutely, let’s do this.’” 

Clark decided that if he was going to do it, he’d go big. That meant that the 2022 VinFast Ironman World Championship in Hawaii would be the event of choice. Clark quickly found out that participation in the 140.6-mile journey was by qualification only. 

Enter Clark’s post-football passion: making a difference. With a goal of raising $1 million for the Indianapolis-based Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and University of Iowa Stead Children’s Hospital, Clark’s entry to the legendary course was set. 

“That was kind of my drive,” Clark said. “If I’m going to take this much time away from family, I can’t just do it for me; someone else has to benefit. 

“It’s one of those things where I feel bad because this is a dream,” Clark said of what’s known as the pinnacle of the triathlon landscape and an iconic, global sporting event. “I lived someone’s dream. So, I need to make sure that people realize that it wasn’t taken for granted and it was for a great cause.” 

Clark’s training for the Ironman began in November and he said the drastic difference between that and his lifelong football preparation was a difficult transition. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star hadn’t done a marathon, triathlon, 5k or anything of the sort which led to his participation in the Hollywood Beach Half Marathon in Oceanside, California on April 2 to prepare.   

The event was a huge confidence booster for Clark, he said, but also an eye-opening experience. 

“For a 230-pound, ex-football player, I stuck out like a bull in a China shop,” Clark said. “I was like, ‘OK, you guys (marathon athletes) are built differently and have different transmissions in your engine than I do.” 

After nearly a full year of preparation for the Ironman – including driving 20 miles daily to the nearest pool for swimming training – Clark made it to Kona on October 6 for the experience of a lifetime. The course takes athletes through Hawaii’s barren lava fields and Clark finished the two-day triathlon with a final time of 13 hours, 15 minutes and 40 seconds. 

Greeted by his three children at the finish line, Clark became filled with emotions: physical and emotional exhaustion, gratitude and pride. 

https://twitter.com/ACwishtv/status/1580004927136763904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1580004927136763904%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FACwishtv2Fstatus2F1580004927136763904widget%3DTweet

“It’s a lot and that’s all compounded when you cross that finish line, just the work and commitment that it takes,” Clark said. “Just to share that special stage with the pros and all the other great athletes and not embarrass myself was special. It was such an honor to kind of rub elbows with them and share their world with them a little bit. 

“I certainly enjoyed the heck out of it. I knew it was going to be good, I knew it was going to be fun, but it blew the top off; it was incredible.” 

After earning a John Mackey Award (presented to college football’s most outstanding tight end), a Pro Bowl selection, an All-Pro nod and a Super Bowl ring, among other things, Clark can now add an Ironman triathlon to his list of accomplishments. 

Tied for the 12th-most touchdowns (55) by a tight end in NFL history, Clark knows what it takes to be elite at one of the sport’s most versatile positions. However, the former NFL Alumni Tight End of the Year (2009) is still amazed at how the next generation of tight ends continues to evolve. 

Sunday was National Tight Ends Day and it saw some of the league’s best at the position, Travis Kelce and George Kittle, have big days catching the football like Clark used to for the Colts. In fact, Clark was invited to Tight End University (TEU) by Kittle this summer and couldn’t believe what he saw. 

“I went to TEU this summer with my boys, got invited over there with George (Kittle), and watching these guys get off the bus, you’d think I was a trainer on this bus,” Clark said. “These tight ends are freaks. I have a lot of admiration and respect for these dudes. 

“I think that position has undergone the biggest transformation in football. They have to do everything now and the great ones can.” 

If anybody is qualified to speak on the qualities of a great tight end, it’s Clark, and if there’s anybody who can turn a week of inactivity into nearly $1 million for children’s hospitals, it’s also the Colts legend. 

“I think we all can look back at that adult – whether it was a teacher, parent, family member, friend or whatever – that believed in us or saw something bigger for us,” Clark said. “To be that for someone else, that stuff is priceless.”

Dallas Clark raises $1M for Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital

 

by: Divine Triplett

Posted: Oct 11, 2022 / 09:37 PM EST / Updated: Oct 11, 2022 / 10:21 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark competed last week and had a goal of raising $1 million at the 2022 VinFast Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

Clark, 43, finished the two-day triathlon with a final time of 13 hours, 15 minutes, and 40 seconds.

During the race, Clark swam a total of 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran another 26.2 miles all to raise money for the Indianapolis-based Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and University of Iowa Stead Children’s Hospital.

Clark provided News 8 sports director Anthony Calhoun with video of kids greeting the Super Bowl champion player crossing the finish line.

Congrats to former #Colts DALLAS CLARK!

He competed in the @VinFastUS @IRONMANtri with a total goal of raising
$1️⃣ million for @PeytonChildrens and @UIchildrens.

THIS video of his kids greeting him at the finish line is priceless👌🏾@WISH_TV #IMWC2022 pic.twitter.com/iRal3LrVKG

— Anthony Calhoun 📺 (@ACwishtv) October 12, 2022

 

Dallas Clark competes on the bike during the Ironman World Championships on Oct. 8, 2022, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Ironman)

Ironman Kona World Championships return for first time in three years, live on Peacock

 

OlympicTalk

Mon, October 3, 2022 at 11:50 AM·2 min read

 

The Ironman Kona World Championships return after a three-year hiatus with a new format, live on Peacock on Thursday and Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.

The Ironman, held annually in Hawaii since 1978, and in Kailua-Kona since 1981, was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The world championships made a one-time-only stop in St. George, Utah, on May 7 to make up for the 2021 cancellation. The winners were Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt, the Tokyo Olympic triathlon champion, and Swiss Daniela Ryf, who bagged her fifth Ironman world title.

Both are entered in Kailua-Kona, where the races are now split between two days — Thursday for the women and Saturday for the men.

An Ironman includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and a marathon — totaling 140.6 miles of racing. It takes top triathletes eight hours to complete. Very arguably, it crowns the world’s fittest man and woman.

WATCH LIVE: Ironman Kona, Thursday, 12 p.m. ET — STREAM LINK

Ryf, 35 and a 2008 and 2012 Olympian, can tie retired countrywoman Natascha Badmann for second place on the women’s list at six Ironman world titles. Only Zimbabwean-turned-American Paula Newby-Fraser has more with eight.

The field also includes German Anne Haug, the 2019 Kona champ and only woman other than Ryf to win since 2015. Brit Lucy Charles-Barclay, the Kona runner-up in 2017, 2018 and 2019, returns after missing the St. George event due to a stress fracture in her hip.

Blummenfelt, 28 and in his Kona debut, will try to become the youngest male champion in Kona since German Normann Stadler in 2005. His top challengers include countryman Gustav Iden, the two-time reigning Half Ironman world champion, and German Patrick Lange, the 2017 and 2018 Ironman Kona winner.

Also racing Saturday is Dallas Clark, a retired All-Pro NFL tight end with the Indianapolis Colts, and Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 champion who completed the 2011 Kona Ironman in 12 hours, 52 minutes, 40 seconds.