February 5, 2020 – By NJP

The Falcons of St. Joe’s Metuchen have earned a pre-season ranking of #2 for the 2020 high school season and Senior Thomas Young is filled with excitement about his teams chances to be the last team standing. St. Joe’s is loaded with talent and Thomas is an integral piece of the success puzzle.

SJM has a starting lineup that most NJ teams would be envious of. Seniors Monahan, McConnell (Commit to Arcadia University), and Thomas anchor a solid 2020 graduating class along with juniors Christian Trevino and Dom Petrocci to make a formidable first team. Watch out for junior Andrew Dekovics to compete for varsity time. No doubt the Falcons will miss the size and strength of Class of 2019 Grads John Kasztelan and Robert Galbraith who had anchored their front line.

Thomas was one of the first NJ commits to college from the Class of 2020 committing to play NCAA Division 3 volleyball at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia in Fall 2020. Thomas joins former CBA Colt Chris Manganiello (’18) on the Saints who finished 14-15 in the CVC last season. Marymount has thirteen underclassman on the 2020 roster, 7 which are freshman. Young will be a nice fit as this program and team mature in 2021 and 2022.

We have been interacting with Thomas over the past year. He is just a quality kid. Respectful, smart, and willing to help. Just want to say we appreciate his attitude and passion. It will get him far in life, even after all the volleyball fans have left the arena.

Here is our interview with Thomas…

Tell us a bit about yourself Thomas?

I am a senior at Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ. I live in Branchburg and I have one older brother. 

How long have you played volleyball and what inspired you to take up volleyball initially?

 I’ve played volleyball since my freshman year, and I was brought into the sport by my brother. 

What are your metrics/details? Height, vertical, position, club team, etc… What’s your favorite position to play?

 6’2, outside, 31’’ vertical

Which player last season was the toughest competitor that you faced and why?

 The toughest player I faced last year has to be Andrew Zaleck. He was the number one player in the state and an excellent hitter. Facing off against him at the net was a nerve-racking experience but one I’m grateful for because he taught me how to defend against powerful hitters. 

How will your high school team do in the upcoming season? Do you have a lot of returning players?

 I think my team and I will be able to win GMC’s easily if we keep focused. As well as having a good shot at bringing home the State Championship. A lot of our starters are returning players that have been on the varsity court for two years already. These players being Justin Monahan, Vaughn McConnell, and Christian Trevino.

What will be the key to success?

The key to success for our team is to not get ahead of ourselves, and to stay focused and determined at all times throughout the season. 

Who is your support group?

 My support group is my parents and my older brother. My parents always cheer me on from the bleachers and remind me to keep my head up when our team has a bad game. My brother, reminds me to play the mental game and watch how the other team reacts to different hits and plays. He has been my role model and has guided me to become a great student and an even better player. 

NJP considers you as one of the top players in the state. Do you plan on playing in College? (If so, which ones are you looking at?)

 I do plan to continue my volleyball career at Marymount University, Va. 

Have you won any awards such as All County or All State or others?

In my junior year, I won the Red Division and the All Conference awards. 

Who is your favorite college or pro volleyball player and why?

My favorite pro player is Earvin N’Gapeth. He’s my favorite because he plays so creatively and can always find his way through the block or fake out the defense. 

Which schools are your biggest rivals?

 Our biggest rivals this year are Fair Lawn and Bridgewater Raritan.

Is there a teacher or coach who really helped you along the way?

 A coach that really helped me along the way was my varsity coach, Mr. Cabrita. He gave me such a passion for the game and helped me every day on and off the court to get to the point where I am now.