Racobaldo a pleasant surprise for Williamstown

Anthony Racobaldo nearly went out for cross-country.

In the summer before his senior year at Williamstown, Racobaldo was trying to decide on a third sport. He has been a standout wrestler and baseball player. He wanted to play something else in the fall.

"We have a 'Triple-Threat Award,' " Racobaldo said of a Williamstown honor that is bestowed on a three-sport senior athlete. "I wanted to try for that. I was thinking about cross-country, because I already run a lot for wrestling."

Cross-country's loss has been football's gain.

And maybe, just maybe, the difference in this year's South Jersey Group 5 tournament.

"Maybe once in your career you will get a kid like this," Williamstown coach Frank Fucetola said of Racobaldo. "What he's done, it's been phenomenal. He's played out of the sky."

Racobaldo was hoping to become an impact player in his one and only season with the Williamstown varsity.

He has been that and more.

At 150 pounds (maybe), he has been one of the hardest hitters and leading tacklers for one of South Jersey's best defenses. A safety, he also has a team-high five interceptions.

He set a playoff win in motion with a blocked punt and a fumble recovery on a kickoff in last week's 42-0 triumph over Atlantic City.

And he carried the football as a running back for the first time all season in that same game - going 23 yards for a touchdown.

"It was a highlight run," Fucetola said. "This kid has been unbelievable."

Racobaldo has been a top wrestler for Williamstown since his freshman year. He has a career record of 107-14 and made the state championships in Atlantic City as a sophomore and junior.

He also has been a starter as an outfielder and offensive table-setter for the Braves' baseball team since his sophomore season.

But Racobaldo said he always loved football. He missed the sport, especially when he stood in the stands at Rowan University as a sophomore and watched Williamstown complete a 12-0 season and win the South Jersey Group 4 championship in December 2012.

"I was thinking, 'That could be me out there,' " Racobaldo said. "I'm going to have to get a ring of my own this year."

Racobaldo played youth football in Williamstown for most of his grade-school years. He even played for the Braves' freshman team in 2011.

"He was an outstanding freshman player," Fucetola said.

But Racobaldo decided not to play football as a sophomore and junior to prepare for wrestling. He has been one of South Jersey's top light middleweights, competing at 126, 132, and 138 pounds.

"I missed it," Racobaldo said of football. "If I could go back, I might do things differently. I'm just glad I got this chance as a senior."

Racobaldo said he called Fucetola in mid-July and asked about coming out for the team as a senior.

"He said they were lifting and doing some summer workouts and to come out and talk with the coaches," Racobaldo said. "I have to thank them for giving me the opportunity."

Said Fucetola: "I tried to get him to come out last year. I told him, 'I can't promise you anything.' "

The coach thought he might be getting an athletic, energetic role player. Instead, Racobaldo has been one of the Braves' best players.

"We can't get him off the field," Fucetola said. "He makes plays on defense, special teams, and the other night, we give him the ball on offense and he runs for a touchdown."

Williamstown (7-2) has won four in a row and six of seven, thanks largely to a rugged defense that has featured Racobaldo as well as fellow seniors safety Isaiah Perkins, linebacker Jarius Ransom, and linemen David Sanchez and Paul Flagg, among others.

The third-seeded Braves will visit second-seeded Rancocas Valley (7-2) Friday night with a trip to the South Jersey Group 5 title game on the line.

"It's worked out exactly as I planned," Racobaldo said. "The only thing better than playing in this game will be playing for the championship."