Mater Dei Prep Football Standout Nominated For NY Giants Award

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A varsity football player at Mater Dei Prep in Middletown — who committed to Notre Dame next year — was nominated by his head coach to receive a 2019 "Heart of a Giant" award, presented by the New York Giants NFL team and the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

That player is Clarence Lewis, a 6-1, 185-pound senior defensive back at Mater Dei who lives in Middletown. Clarence has been offered and accepted a full scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame next fall, where he will play football.

Every summer, the New York Giants ask high school football coaches across the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) to nominate certain players. The student-athletes are chosen for unique reasons and usually because they overcame a person struggle: For example, this varsity football player at Keansburg High was nominated because he had his arm amputated due to childhood cancer, and yet he still plays football. This Hazlet player was nominated because he cannot read.

Clarence's story is just as compelling: His father has been in jail for the past ten years and now lives in a halfway house. His single mom struggles working two jobs to pay the bills.

“Even though football is always easy and positive, I was just glad I could play football to not think about the other things going on at home,” Clarence said.

Through everything, football has brought this young man to his happy place.

Mater Dei head Coach Dino Mangiero said: “Clarence is the leads by example; he is a terrific student and is the most respectful young man you will ever meet.”

You can vote for Clarence or whichever athlete of your choosing! Student-athletes that win can receive a $10,000 equipment grant for their program, meaning Mater Dei will receive all new equipment if Clarence gets the most votes. You can vote for a player here: https://usafootball.com/hoagvote/

Similar Patch reporting:
Keansburg Football Player Nominated For 'Heart Of A Giant'

Hazlet Football Player Nominated For NY Giants Award