Athlete of the Week: Shawn Poland
By ANDREW CANGIANO
Neptune senior Shawn Poland wants to win his final high football game, which will be on Thanksgiving against Asbury Park High School.
The running back for Neptune High School missed practice nearly all of last week because he was sick. However, by Friday Poland was back on the field working out with the team.
Poland said the Scarlet Fliers have never lost to Asbury Park in the Thanksgiving Day clash since Tom Walsh has been the teams head coach.
Ever since theyve been giving out the trophy, weve won the trophy every year, he said. Going to try to continue the tradition and get a win.
For Shawn football is a family affair, as his brother Damon, a junior, is Neptunes quarterback.
Damon has been a major factor for the team, running or passing for all but two of the Scarlet Fliers 14 touchdowns this season, according to NJ.com.
Shawn said he likes having his brother on the team, because the two can stick up for one another.
Its good. I like having my brother on the team with me, he said, because I watch his back, he watch mine. We help each other out, we both play offense.
Shawn has displayed versatility on the football field, as he made the switch from wide receiver to running back this year.
The transition from wide receiver to running back has been fairly smooth, he said about changing positions.
Poland, who shares the role of running back with Tony Mays, Lamar Johnson, and Rodney Tillery, also returns kicks for the Spartans.
Neptune senior running back Shawn Poland carries the ball against Red Bank Regional earlier this season.
He said he likes football because of the intensity and competitiveness of the sport.
However, Shawn is a multi-sport athlete as he plays football, basketball and runs track.
He showed off his hoops skills at Neptunes Cops vs. Kids charity basketball game on friday night. He helped the team of student athletes erase a double digit deficit against Neptunes finest and make it a close contest.
Poland has run a number of different events in outdoor track including the 100 , 200, and 400 meter races, as well as the 110 meter high hurdles and 400 meter hurdles.
I want to play sports in college, he said. I play basketball, football, and track.
Head Coach Tom Walsh said he is talking to schools about Shawn playing football at the collegiate level.
Poland, whose favorite subjects in school are science and english, said he is undecided right now about where he wants to go to college.
In his free time, he likes to go out to eat with his teammates and going to clubs and the movies.
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Published every Thursday.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
I am 13 in the eighth grade at Neptune middle School and I feel very lucky to have a brother like Shawn. I also run track play football and basketball.