41st Annual Kevin Williams Christmas Classic: Tip-Off Breakfast
The 41st Annual Kevin Williams Christmas Classic: Tip-Off Breakfast
If you ask the players who participate in the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic what they enjoy most about the event, many will point to the Tip-Off Breakfast, which over the years has become the unofficial kickoff to Christmas Classic week.
On Wednesday, December 17, more than 260 players, coaches, officials, and guests gathered at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Toms River to enjoy a breakfast that officially launched the 2025 tournament week.
Kevin Williams Christmas Classic director Steve Meyer addresses the players & coaches
New Tournament Director Steve Meyer of Shore Sports Insider, who now oversees the event, served as Master of Ceremonies and host of the morning. Mr. Meyer spent time thanking the nearly two dozen sponsors whose continued support makes the tournament possible. Leading that list is Community Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, the presenting sponsor of this year’s Classic and a longtime supporter of high school athletics.
Mr. Meyer also spoke about what the tournament means to him personally and to Shore Sports Insider, noting the honor of continuing the Classic following Kevin Williams’ decision last year to retire after 40 years at the helm. Meyer emphasized that Williams’ passion, dedication, and commitment to student-athletes were the driving forces behind SSI taking on the responsibility of managing the event and preserving its legacy under the new name, the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic. Williams, who attended the Tip-Off Breakfast this year as a guest for the first time in more than 40 years, also shared a lighthearted reflection on the moment. “This is the first time since I started the Tip-Off Breakfast that I’ve actually been able to sit down and enjoy the food,” Williams said, drawing laughter from the room. His presence underscored the special significance of the morning and the continuity between the tournament’s past and its future.
Steve Meyer presented
Kevin Williams with a honorary tournament
KWCC Game Ball
Community Medical Center has also been instrumental in supporting the tournament’s Academic Scholarship Program. During the breakfast, Meyer emphasized the importance of continuing this tradition, announcing that eight former tournament participants, now college freshmen, will each receive $500 academic scholarships. The awards will be formally presented on December 30, the final day of the tournament. With this year’s $4,000 in scholarships, the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic has now awarded more than $109,000 to student-athletes based on academic achievement.
Mr. Meyer noted that Stetsko herself with many other sponsors who participated in the Christmas Classic as a high school student-athlete, highlighting how special it is to see former players now serving in leadership roles within the corporate and professional world while continuing to give back to an event that helped shape their high school experience.
Steve Meyer presented Sarah Stetsko Director of Operations at Community Medical Center & Rob Cavanaugh Director of Marketing and Communications from Community Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility tournament a honorary KWCC Game Ball.
Dating back to the tournament’s beginnings in 1984, the Causeway Family of Dealerships in Manahawkin has remained a cornerstone of the Classic. Once again this year, Causeway is providing tournament t-shirts for all participating players and sponsoring the Most Valuable Player awards. Meyer offered special recognition to Joe Stroffolino and Dave Wintrode of Causeway, whose support has been unwavering since the tournament’s inception.
OIB Ortho returns as the Official Orthopedics and Team Doctors of the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic, while Dave Manzo of Atlantic Physical Therapy Center continues his long-standing involvement by providing certified athletic trainers throughout the event. Manzo also shared a personal connection to the Classic, having played in the tournament during his own high school career.
Mr. Meyer also recognized Kevin Hanfield, General Manager of the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, which has generously hosted the Tip-Off Breakfast for the past 25 years as an in-kind sponsorship.
All 48 games of the tournament will once again be played at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena at Toms River High School North. Also welcoming the teams was Ted Gillen, District Athletic Director for the Toms River Regional School District, which has graciously hosted the tournament since 2003.
The 32-team field remains largely consistent with recent years, with a few new additions including Howell joining the girls division and Jackson Township entering the boys bracket.
The Kevin Williams Christmas Classic also welcomed Joe Leone, owner of Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties and a sponsor of the event. Leone spoke to the audience about his F.A.M.I.L.Y. initiative—“Forget About Me, I Love You”—a message and program he is deeply passionate about.
Joe Leone talk about “F.A.M.I.L.Y. Forget About Me I Love You”
Mr. Meyer concluded by emphasizing that in today’s economic climate, an event of this magnitude would not be possible without strong and committed sponsor support. In addition to those already mentioned, he expressed appreciation to The Office Lounge (Toms River), Robin’s Nest, Mulberry Street, Buffalo Wild Wings, Silver Bay Bagels, Mr. Shrimp, Three Brothers Pizza, Palumbo’s Appliance, ShopRite, and Ted Maciejewski of RKE Athletics, who produced the tournament t-shirts, championship hoodies, and long-sleeve shirts sponsored by Jersey Shore Breaks.
Their collective commitment continues to ensure that the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic remains a first-class experience for student-athletes, coaches, and the Shore Conference community.
