2026 Shore Conference Flag Football Preview: North Division

Shore Sports Insider is excited to announce that we have added coverage of Shore Conference girls flag football to our site this spring. We will have scores, recaps, game stories and features throughout the season for the fastest-growing girls sport in the Shore.

Here is a look at the North Division, which on paper is the most competitive division in the Shore Conference. Three-time defending Shore Conference champion Rumson-Fair Haven is the headliner, but the division also features a loaded Middletown South team led by the reigning Shore Conference Player of the Year, a Middletown North squad with several All-Shore talents, a perennially tough Holmdel program, a Raritan team coming off a seven-win season and an up-and-coming Keansburg team that looks to make some noise.

Here is a look at the teams, in alphabetical order.

HENRY HUDSON 

Head coach: Robert Hensle, 1st season

Career record: 0-0

2025 record: 1-6

Top returners: Leah Curry (So., WR/LB); Lily Thorne (Sr., WR/CB); Finley Reese (Jr., WR). 

Key newcomers: Molly Hensle (Fr., QB); Lily Hensle (Fr., C); Lucia Fariello (So., RB); Maddie Smallze (Sr., WR/CB); Naima Cere-Jenkins (Fr., WR/LB); Tiana Cere-Jenkins (Jr., WR/LB); Sharlett Theodoreopolos (Sr., WR/CB). 

Season Outlook: The Admirals are still in their infancy as the first football program in Henry Hudson history. (The boys play for Keyport as part of a co-op program). They return experience at receiver and on defense with Curry, Thorne and Reese, so a big key will be getting freshman quarterback Molly Hensle acclimated. She will have her twin sister Lily as her center and her father, Robert Hensle, as the head coach. Molly Hensle already made an impact as the freshman goalie on the field hockey team in the fall and was an All-Division selection by the coaches during basketball season, so she is a versatile athlete.

HOLMDEL

Head coach: Melissa Menges, 6th season
Career record: 27-10
2025 record: 5-3

Top returners: Rachel Yasnowski (Sr., WR/CB); Claire Gillespie (So., QB); Brea Gallo (Sr., LB); Audrey Franco (Sr., RB/LB); Julia Applegate (Sr., WR/DB); Quinn Smigelsky (So., WR/S); Christianna Ishak (Jr., WR/DB).

Key newcomers: Lia Gordon (Jr., WR/CB); Amanda Harrington (Jr., WR/S); Julia Kern (So., QB/WR); Sophia Kern (So., WR/CB); Ella Roche (Fr., RB/Rusher); Shayla Shah (Fr., RB/DB); Caitlin Lavin (Fr., QB/Rusher).

Season Outlook: The Hornets were dealt a tough blow when sophomore quarterback Claire Gillespie, who was an All-Shore selection by the coaches as a freshman, suffered an injury that will keep her out early in the season. They are hoping to get her back before the end of the season, according to coach Melissa Menges. That means sophomore Julia Kern, a first-year flag player, will be stepping in at quarterback in her absence.

 

KEANSBURG 

Co-head coaches: Kelli Hudson and John Bird, 4th season

Career record: 7-7-1

2025 record: 4-3-1

Top returners: Gianna Bettinger (Jr., QB/S); Bella Fernandez (Jr., CB); Gabriella Flanzbaum (Sr., WR/CB); Princess Graves (Sr., WR/S); Avyanna Perrin (Sr., WR/LB) Nariyah Mathis (So., RB/LB).

Key newcomers: Lily Graham (So., WR); Kiersten Myers (So., LB). 

Season Outlook: Gabriella Flanzbaum is a returning All-Shore linebacker and Princess Graves and Gainna Bettinger were both All-Shore defensive backs a season ago, so the Titans return an outstanding defensive core. Bettinger also will pilot the offense as the returning quarterback, and Avyanna Perrin and Nariyah Mathis bring speed on both sides of the ball. The small Group I team has to deal with some players also playing other sports in the spring, so availability could be an issue at times, but Keansburg should be in the mix to make the Shore Conference Tournament under co-coaches Kelli Hudson and John Bird, the latter of whom coaches the boys in the fall. The Titans showed their defensive potential in the season opener when they held three-time defending Shore Conference champion Rumson-Fair Haven to one score in an 8-6 loss.

LONG BRANCH

No information provided.

 

MIDDLETOWN NORTH 

Head coach: Steve Bush, 6th season

Career record: 29-13

2025 record: 3-5

Top returners: Ayva Reid (Sr., WR/S); Kaelyn Gibson (Jr., TE/LB); Sienna Perkins (Jr., WR/CB); Lilly Anna Mastropaolo (Jr., LB/WR); Kylie Page (Jr., RB/LB). 

Key newcomers: Lorelai Davis (Sr., QB/LB); Paige Marrone (Jr., QB); Mikayla Sloane (Jr., C); Allyn Antonio (Jr., C); Mia Acerra (So., LB); Riley Ascolese (Sr., LB); Valencia Torres (Jr., S)

Season Outlook: The Lions bring back five starters on defense, which should be a strength to bolster a young offense featuring three returning starters and new quarterback Lorelai Davis. Ayva Reid returns after an All-Shore season in which she had six touchdown catches. She also had a pair of interceptions and a pick-six on defense under coach Steve Bush, who also coaches the boys team in the fall. Davis threw three touchdown passes and ran back a punt in a season-opening win over Long Branch.

MATAWAN 

No information provided.

 

MIDDLETOWN SOUTH

Head coach: Marc Tomo, 2nd season

Career record: 8-1-1

2025 record: 8-1-1

Top returners: Cameryn Czwakiel (Sr., QB/S); Kaleigh Kapler (Sr., RB/LB); Ava Loucopoulos (Sr., WR/S); Mel Savo (Sr., WR); Kiran Senn (Sr., WR); Julia Prettitore (Sr., Rusher); 

Key newcomers: Lili Iasparro (So., RB); Helana Thompson (So., WR/LB); Phoebe Zimmerman (So., CB); Brooke MacGregor (So., CB). 

Season Outlook: The Eagles return a trio of three-year starters in Cameryn Czwakiel, Kaleigh Kapler and Ava Loucopoulos from a team that reached the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals last season and suffered their only loss against Pinelands. Czwakiel was selected as the Shore Conference Player of the Year by the coaches last season after throwing for 11 touchdowns, running for nine, catching one and scoring on a pick-six on defense for 22 total scores. She also racked up 1,814 total yards between rushing and passing, and she returns Loucopoulos (20-274-4) as a top target. Overall, Middletown South brings back four starters on offense and four on defense. If the underclassmen can fill in around the star-studded senior class, the Eagles should again be right in the mix for a Shore Conference title. 

 

RARITAN 

Head coach: Anthony Petruzzi, 5th season

Career record: N/A

2025 record: 7-2

Top returners: Morgan Rafferty (WR/LB); Gianna Manfredi (WR/DB); Hannah Jefferson (Sr., WR/DB); Megan Cordiero (Sr., QB/WR/LB); Gianna Gull (Sr., C/LB); Jada Mayer (Sr., C/LB). 

Key newcomers: Sophia Conti (Fr., QB); Miranda Gallagher (So., WR/DB); Adryanna Iannello (So., WR/DB); Marlayna Struble (So., RB/LB); Makayla Vida (So., RB/DB); Emma Kenny (Sr., QB/LB); Clanagh Rafferty (Fr., RB/LB); Ava Facendo (So., WR/DB); Kaitlin Smith (Fr., WR/DB); Lexie Carver (So., WR/DB); Lillie Carver (Fr., WR/DB). 

Season Outlook: The Rockets were hit by graduation after a seven-win season, as they only return one starter on offense and two on defense. Morgan Rafferty should be a two-way standout, while a group of freshmen and sophomores will look to get up to speed quickly to keep Raritan afloat in a tough division filled with experienced returners. 

 

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN

Head coach: Randy Kalman, 4th season 

Career record: 27-2-1

2025 record: 9-0-1

Top returners: Victoria Santos (Sr., RB/LB); Izzy Capra (Sr., QB); Sydney Rettino (Sr., Rusher); Anna Olson (Sr., S); Savannah Porter (Sr., WR); Ella Curran (Sr., C); Chloe Sawyer (Sr., LB); Jordyn Wain (Jr., LB); Anna Murray (Sr., CB). 

Key newcomers: Devon Libro (So., WR/CB); Lucy Huber (So., TE); Ella Astorino (Jr.); Lily McLaughlin (So.). 

Season Outlook: The three-time defending Shore Conference champions are the first dynasty in the infancy of flag football in the area under Randy Kalman, the reigning Shore Conference Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs have not lost a regular-season game since 2023. They bring back four starters on offense, led by returning All-Shore running back Victoria Santos and quarterback Izzy Capra, along with six starters on defense. Santos has generated college interest after rushing for four scores and catching a pair of TDs last season. Senior Sydney Rettino, who was an All-Shore selection by the coaches last season, returns as Rumson’s top rusher off a 16-sack season. Anna Olson anchors the secondary after an All-Shore season at defensive back as a junior. The Bulldogs showed last year they can reload with a whole new lineup and still win it all, so with the talent they have back they have to be considered the Shore’s No. 1 team until someone takes the crown from them. 

ST. JOHN VIANNEY

Head coach: Chris Notte, 1st season
Career record: 0-0
2025 record: 0-9

Top returners: Mollie Allen, Isabella Gadek, Joelle Guiseffi, Mackenzie Hoadley, Antonia Jackson, Lillie Lazzari, Mary Pastoriza, Anne Rashkevych, Vanessa Recor, Gabriella Rodriguez, Kiera Stead.

Key newcomers: Mia Garner, Ava Lepore, Giavanna Regina-Wright, Naila Davis.

Season Outlook: This is the second season for the varsity program at St. John Vianney, which went winless in its inaugural campaign. With new coaches and a young and inexperienced roster, the Lancers are looking to build a foundation and culture for the future this spring.

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com