Mandile's surprise return among reasons for optimism as John Jay football opens camp

It became a little uncomfortable, the incessant itch that Dante Mandile felt. The uneasiness often was accompanied by moments of reflection and a bit of regret.

"I was sitting in those stands and watching the games, and the whole time I would be thinking, 'Man, I should be out there with them,'" Mandile said of feeling antsy as a spectator. "I'd be like, 'That should be me on the field.'"

Those thoughts lingered for almost three years after the John Jay-East Fishkill senior gave up football. It was an actual itch ― among other symptoms ― that led to his walking away from the sport as a ninth-grader.

Mandile suffered severe effects of a poison ivy allergy, the illness leaving him weakened and considerably limited for weeks. That, essentially, kiboshed his freshman season. The following year, COVID-19 cast uncertainty about scholastic sports and he opted not to rejoin the program. By then, he had immersed himself in baseball and his focus was on the diamond.

"But then he came to us in mid-July and said he wanted to play again," Patriots coach Jim Cancellari said. "He missed it a lot."

He missed competing with his friends on the team, missed the "intensity" of the game, and he didn't want to miss an opportunity to fulfill what many around him believe is immense potential.

Mandile was among the 126 players who ran drills and worked on fundamentals Saturday morning as John Jay-East Fishkill opened fall preseason camp. The Patriots were among a handful of local football teams that opted to use the additional day granted and squeeze in a weekend practice before all high school sports resume on Monday.

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This was an unofficial farewell to summer and bonjour to scholastic sports.

"There's always a level of excitement at the start of a season," said Arlington football coach Michael Morano, whose team also took the field early Saturday. "They've been working throughout the offseason, preparing themselves for the fall, and now it's almost here."

The Admirals enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history, reaching the Section 1 final for the first time since 2014 and earning an automatic bid for its first appearance in the Class AA regional round. That breakthrough, and overall growth in recent years, contributed to Arlington opening camp with 154 players.

"The facility our district provided has a lot to do with attracting kids, but it also means we've created a culture that a lot of people want to be a part of," Morano said. "That's something we're extremely proud of."

Rival John Jay had a down season, by its standards, enduring a rebuilding phase with a young roster. But, as it usually is in August, there is optimism abound and no reason exists yet to squelch it. Several members of the Patriots’ core of fledglings last season now are upperclassmen with experience and there is a realistic expectation of progress.

Martin Martini, who showed flashes as an explosive receiver last season, now is a senior leader and someone who can share knowledge of the offensive nuances. He will contribute as a tight end and wideout, flexing outside based on the formation. Brady Feliciotto has grown in physical stature and arm strength, as well as confidence, and could be poised for a breakout season at quarterback.

He'll also have an additional perimeter weapon that came as a surprise.

"It's huge," Martini said of what Mandile can bring to their offense at wide receiver. "He's very fast and has great hands. Being away from football for three years, to come back and do what he's doing so far, it's very impressive."

Mandile quickly reacclimated with the team and it took only a couple weeks, he said, to shake off the rust. He already has impressed the coaches with his "unbelievable athleticism," Cancellari said.

Martini, Nick Baez, Kyle Winters and Joe Torres are old friends, and once-again teammates, who are helping him get caught up on the finer points of the game, like releases and route combinations.

"I've been following my teammates, watching YouTube to study some of what the pros do, taking pointers from the coaches and everyone," Mandile said. "It's not that it comes easy, but once I get into a routine, I get comfortable and try to learn quickly."

His addition is a boon for this team, which is seeking to rebound from a 4-5 campaign. The Patriots last fall ended a streak of seasons in which they finished with a better than .500 record that dated back to 2005. Cancellari, the former defensive coordinator, took the helm after longtime head coach Tom O'Hare stepped down.

"Nothing has changed in terms of 'Canc' being the head coach," Martini said. "We've always had a lot of respect for him, so the relationship doesn't change. He's still 'Canc.'"

From Cancellari's perspective, "it does feel a little different," and there for some clerical and administrative responsibilities. But it helps, he said, that he's able to delegate and there is continuity with an experienced staff. Bob Schumacher and Brian Muhfield are longtime assistants, whom he worked alongside, and new offensive coordinator Brian Walsh is a former head coach at John Jay and one of the winningest coaches in state history.

"We have a lot of good things going on here and I think we can be a good team," Mandile said. "We're not the biggest group, but if we focus and do the right things, we can do really well."

Finn Van Der Stuyf stood out as a linebacker last season and will again be among their key players, also helping anchor their offensive line. Noah Croutch, similarly, showed glimpses of his ability as a linebacker and hard-running fullback. Cancellari said he expects this team to be competitive.

"Sky is the limit," Martini said. "But it has to be all of us playing our best. We can't afford to shoot ourselves in the foot. But if we play up to our potential, I know we can be really good."

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: John Jay-East Fishkill football: Mandile highlights preseason camp