By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
Mar. 11: As far as Tom Hoglen is concerned, his relationship with Reidgee Dimanche has only just begun.
“It was my honor to coach Reidgee, and I am even more thankful for having built a strong, lifelong personal relationship with him,” the Hamilton West football coach said of his star linebacker/running back/receiver. “He is the epitome of what one thinks the perfect student-athlete should be. He has found the perfect balance of keeping his grades at high levels and becoming a great football player and even better person. There is not a teacher, administrator or student-athlete in this school that has ever voiced anything but positive comments about him.”
It is for that reason that Dimanche will be one of 23 area high school seniors honored at the 55th Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village on March 12. Other Hamilton Township players being lauded are Steinert’s Will James, Nottingham’s Glenn Dobron and Pennington’s Tony Morency.
Reidgee Dimanche leaps over a would be tackler to the amazement of his teammates on the sideline during Hamilton Townships Thanksgiving Day Classic against Steinert High School. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
Dimanche, who’s headed for Stony Brook, was a three-year starter at linebacker and a key offensive performer for the Hornets his senior year. For his career the linebacker had a school-record 325 tackles, 19 sacks and three interceptions. Lining up wherever they needed him on offense as a senior, Dimanche caught 33 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 442 yards and five TDs. He was a football captain as a senior and is also a member of the Hornets track & field team.
He earned All-State honorable mention honors and was a Maxwell Football Club Player of the Year nominee. Reidgee was first-team All-Area and second-team All-Group III while earning first-team All-Valley honors three straight years. He was named the Hornets Defensive MVP and Hardest Hitter and was Hamilton’s Bill McEvoy winner in last fall’s Thanksgiving game.
Athletic Director John Costantino and Dimanche were “freshmen” together when Costantino took over in 2013. Even though he was only in 9th grade, Dimanche made an immediate impact on the new AD.
“Not only because of his athletic ability but how he carried himself as a person,” Costantino said. “He is a leader by his actions on and off the field, in the classroom or just in public. He is a true class act.
“This is a young man who routinely picked up his teammates in the midst of a tough run, or was constantly giving others words of encouragement. As a true sportsman, Reidgee, on every occasion, win or lose, would sincerely congratulate his opponents and seek out individuals and coaches to shake their hands. In my over 20 years of coaching I have never seen an athlete show this combination of sheer athletic ability and the grace in which he carries himself.”
In the classroom, Dimanche has a weighted GPA of 3.36 and unweighted of 3.11 while taking such courses as Honors English and Honors Accounting. He is in the West GALRE class; has helped
Hamilton High Senior Reidgee Dimanche
the school treasurer handle all school related transactions while keeping track of over 20 different accounts; and assisted trainer Jen Bauer with paperwork and rehabilitation of injured athletes. In the community, Reidgee has done volunteer work for Congressman Chris Smith, the Hamilton Township Unified Basketball program and the Light of the World Family Worship Church.
“Reidgee has inspired the school community with his caring spirit,” Hoglen said. “I have had the pleasure to watch Reidgee closely as he participated in countless and varied activities at West and in the surrounding environment. He has found time to participate in various sports and school activities while keeping extraordinary grades.”
In essence, Dimanche has made his own name for himself, which is not easy coming from a family who produced an NFL player in his brother, Jason DiManche. But Dimanche quickly went from “Jason’s little brother” to “Reidgee” on his own merits.
“A coach does not replace a Reidgee Dimanche,” Hoglen said. “A coach can only hope that he is lucky enough to find a player who has just some of the characteristics that Reidgee encompasses.”
Costantino was even more succinct.
“He is truly one,” the AD said, “we are going to miss.”
