Franklin Mt Rushmore

[ChrisNalwasky]

Hey all! Hope all is well.

As some might know I used to write here at TKR, and I’m looking for your help if you know Franklin High School.

I cover HS sports for NJ.com and this summer I am tasked in putting together the Mt. Rushmore of Franklin HS athletics.

If you are unfamiliar, we compile a list of the top athletes (and coaches) in the school's history, and then residents/fans can vote on who they think should be the best four. From now until sometime in July/Aug. (don't have a date yet), I am looking for nominations for who should be included. If you kindly can, please respond to this post or email me at cnalwasky@njadvancemedia.com with the following...

Athlete name
Grad year
Sport(s) they played
Accomplishments at Franklin and beyond if any.

Feel free to add any other notes you feel is important as well.

Thank you!!

 

[Shelby65]

Hey all! Hope all is well.

As some might know I used to write here at TKR, and I’m looking for your help if you know Franklin High School.

I cover HS sports for NJ.com and this summer I am tasked in putting together the Mt. Rushmore of Franklin HS athletics.

If you are unfamiliar, we compile a list of the top athletes (and coaches) in the school's history, and then residents/fans can vote on who they think should be the best four. From now until sometime in July/Aug. (don't have a date yet), I am looking for nominations for who should be included. If you kindly can, please respond to this post or email me at cnalwasky@njadvancemedia.com with the following...

Athlete name
Grad year
Sport(s) they played
Accomplishments at Franklin and beyond if any.

Feel free to add any other notes you feel is important as well.

Thank you!!

Hinson

 

[nutfromSEC117]

When I first read title

Benjamin
FDR
Aretha
Reggie Franklin A-train from the boys
Ron Franklin CFB play by play

 

[RobertG]

When I first read title

Benjamin
FDR
Aretha
Reggie Franklin A-train from the boys
Ron Franklin CFB play by play

Franklin

 

[shields]

Darin Roberts.

 

[RshowoffU]

Robert Traphagen
Jack Marold
Jeff Smith

 

[phlop87]

Diamond Miller
Roy Hinson

 

[Scarlet Blind]

Charlie Weis coached one season at Franklin HS in 1989 and left mid year for an assistant position coach with the Giants. Set all kinds of offensive records that year and won a state title. He was my English teacher for half my freshmen year, was pretty cool experience knowing what he's done over the years.

 

[BishopPlace57]

John Hill, Outstanding Football Player and Track and Field star. All-American at Lehigh, OL for NY Giants... Also, I believe his father, Otto, was an associate athletic director at Rutgers. https://www.njsportsheroes.com/johnhillfb.html

 

[RU-AGK]

I thought this thread was going to be about James Franklin's rankings of his assistant's wives.

Leaving disappointed.😞

 

[hoquat63]

Joe Porter also RU grad played a few years in NFL

 

[RUnTeX]

Joe Porter also RU grad played a few years in NFL

His accomplishments on the track in HS and maybe even for Rutgers were quite noteworthy iirc

 

[Plum Street]

Franklin has always been an interesting town to me . I know it’s next to New Brunswick and also extends way to towards like manville and bound Brook . Is there a good sports culture there ? Seems kinda the definition of urban sprawl.

Val barnaby played well for us but no idea how is hs career was.

 

[Knight Shift]

Hey all! Hope all is well.

As some might know I used to write here at TKR, and I’m looking for your help if you know Franklin High School.

I cover HS sports for NJ.com and this summer I am tasked in putting together the Mt. Rushmore of Franklin HS athletics.

If you are unfamiliar, we compile a list of the top athletes (and coaches) in the school's history, and then residents/fans can vote on who they think should be the best four. From now until sometime in July/Aug. (don't have a date yet), I am looking for nominations for who should be included. If you kindly can, please respond to this post or email me at cnalwasky@njadvancemedia.com with the following...

Athlete name
Grad year
Sport(s) they played
Accomplishments at Franklin and beyond if any.

Feel free to add any other notes you feel is important as well.

Thank you!!

Carlton Agudosi- 2012- played for Rutgers and had a stint in NFL

Judy Melick (attended Franklin HS freshman and sophomore years)- swam the 100-meter breaststroke event as part of the U.S. team at the 1972 Summer Olympics

Diamond Miller- 5 star basketball recruit, played for University of Maryland and WNBA

Jeff Porter, Track and Field-track and field athlete who competed for the United States in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics

Charlie Weis-football coach for Franklin High School during its 1989 state championship season

Joe Porter- cornerback who played in the NFL

 

[BLewis1968]

Hey all! Hope all is well.

As some might know I used to write here at TKR, and I’m looking for your help if you know Franklin High School.

I cover HS sports for NJ.com and this summer I am tasked in putting together the Mt. Rushmore of Franklin HS athletics.

If you are unfamiliar, we compile a list of the top athletes (and coaches) in the school's history, and then residents/fans can vote on who they think should be the best four. From now until sometime in July/Aug. (don't have a date yet), I am looking for nominations for who should be included. If you kindly can, please respond to this post or email me at cnalwasky@njadvancemedia.com with the following...

Athlete name
Grad year
Sport(s) they played
Accomplishments at Franklin and beyond if any.

Feel free to add any other notes you feel is important as well.

Thank you!!

At the risk of being flip, I'd say seek out Harry Frezza, tell him Brian Lewis suggested you ask his opinion and listen carefully to whatever he tells you.

But in my non-expert opinion, if the Rushmore is JUST time spent at Franklin....

Roy Hinson. Self-explanatory.

Diamond Miller.

Mario Heslop. He left Franklin with a national title, three state records and eight Meet of Champions titles. He won the New Balance National Indoor title in the 200 at 20.90, a NJ record 20.90 and fourth all-time in US. He died at 23.

Louis Solomon, as the definition of a loyal servant. Somerset County player of the year in 1989 & all-state QB in 1989 and 1990. Four-year letterman at Clemson and captain as a senior. Came back to Franklin as head coach for 11 years, vice principal & other jobs.



But if it's including POST-FRANKLIN accomplishments, Hinson plus this trio...

Judy Melick. Only went to Franklin her first two years. But swam in the 1972 Olympics.

Jeff Porter. Ran high hurdles at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Got a PhD so he’s Dr. Jeff now.

Charlie Weis. Coached football to 10-1 record, Mid-State and Central Jersey Group 3 titles in only year. Won a Super Bowl ring as a Giants assistant the next year. Also worked for the Patriots, Jets and Chiefs, and was head coach at Notre Dame and Kansas.

 

[ChrisNalwasky]

Thank you for your nominees. Add them to my list now!

Forgot about Charlie Weis.

 

[ChrisNalwasky]

At the risk of being flip, I'd say seek out Harry Frezza, tell him Brian Lewis suggested you ask his opinion and listen carefully to whatever he tells you.

But in my non-expert opinion, if the Rushmore is JUST time spent at Franklin....

Roy Hinson. Self-explanatory.

Diamond Miller.

Mario Heslop. He left Franklin with a national title, three state records and eight Meet of Champions titles. He won the New Balance National Indoor title in the 200 at 20.90, a NJ record 20.90 and fourth all-time in US. He died at 23.

Louis Solomon, as the definition of a loyal servant. Somerset County player of the year in 1989 & all-state QB in 1989 and 1990. Four-year letterman at Clemson and captain as a senior. Came back to Franklin as head coach for 11 years, vice principal & other jobs.



But if it's including POST-FRANKLIN accomplishments, Hinson plus this trio...

Judy Melick. Only went to Franklin her first two years. But swam in the 1972 Olympics.

Jeff Porter. Ran high hurdles at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Got a PhD so he’s Dr. Jeff now.

Charlie Weis. Coached football to 10-1 record, Mid-State and Central Jersey Group 3 titles in only year. Won a Super Bowl ring as a Giants assistant the next year. Also worked for the Patriots, Jets and Chiefs, and was head coach at Notre Dame and Kansas.

Thanks for these nominations. I know Frezza, but can't reach out since he technically works still for a competitor haha.

I covered Heslop. It was sad when he passed.

 

[ChrisNalwasky]

Robert Traphagen
Jack Marold
Jeff Smith

Would you be able to elaborate @RshowoffU ?

 

[ChrisNalwasky]

Darin Roberts.

Would you be able to expand? Thanks! @shields

 

[SBP]

Would you be able to expand? Thanks! @shields

Darin was a real good multi sport athlete… but it depends how many are on “the mount” 😂 He wasn’t a college star or pro, and not top 5, but up there. I went to school with his Dad.