WEforum Fit Crawl 2024 Honors Elite Hall of Fame Inductees and Coaching Culture Excellence Award

February 2024

Buy WEforum Fit Crawl 2024 Tickets Here!   

 The Fit Crawl is a dynamic one-day health and wellness extravaganza that promotes an active lifestyle and community engagement and supports free educational health and wellness programs. This year, the WEforum Fit Crawl goes beyond the physical, celebrating the dedication and commitment of youth coaches and mentors who play a pivotal role in enriching the lives of our youth both on and off the field. The event will recognize top coaches and mentors in youth athletics who embody high ideals, characteristics, and traits related to personal excellence, transformation, sportsmanship, and a healthy lifestyle during the Post-Crawl Happy Hour at Triumph Brewing, Co. in Red Bank, NJ.

Embarking on a transformative journey that seamlessly merges sports leadership with community engagement, the Fit Crawl is set to make a lasting impact under the joint guidance of four esteemed co-chairs, recognized as Elite Hall of Famers.

Monmouth Medical Center welcomes the following elite and distinguished youth athletic coaches to the WEforum Fit Crawl 2024 Elite Hall of Fame:

 

Dorothy Whitehouse

Chair Rumson Recreation Commission; Trustee and Head of Travel Basketball League/Mid-Monmouth; Former NCAA Division I Athlete; Residential and Commercial Real Estate Agent, Sourlis International Realty Corp.

Dorothy (Sourlis) Whitehouse is not only a successful author, residential and commercial real estate agent, but has been a pillar in the community since her high school days at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School. Over the years, she has given back to the community that raised her in countless ways, including her roles as Chair Rumson Recreation Commission, Rumson Fair Haven Board of Education Committee Member, Trustee and Head of Rumson Travel Basketball League/Mid-Monmouth and Asst Basketball Coach for Rumson Boys 13u team. She is also a personal trainer to over 275 young basketball players, sharing her love and knowledge of the game with young athletes, encouraging them to be their best, both on and off the court.

Dorothy holds multiple degrees from esteemed institutions, including a BA in Communications from University of Michigan (attending on a full basketball scholarship), a Master’s Degree in Marketing from Rutgers and JD from Fordham Law School. Formerly, Dorothy worked at ESPN/ABC Sports as VP of Sports and On-Air Management, where she was also recognized as one of Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40.” She can also add author to her list of titles, with the 2012 publication of her children’s book, Monique’s Boutique. Despite her decidedly notable career accomplishments and professional commitments over the years, Dorothy remained active in the community, especially in the realm of youth sports, taking on the role of Coach/Assistant Coach for multiple travel and recreational teams. Her unwavering drive, motivation and commitment to every endeavor she takes on is apparent in each of her accomplishments, as an athlete, coach, business executive and mother of two.

WEforum would like to invite Dorothy to the Elite Hall of Fame for her dedication and commitment to young athletes and for her devotion to furthering the sport in the community that first fueled her love of sports.

 

Randy Foye

President, Friends of Nova; Coach, Epic Elite AAU Basketball; Former NBA Player & NCAA Men’s Basketball Player

WEforum recognizes Randy Foye for his tireless and admirable work with multiple youth and student-athlete organizations, including the 2007 establishment of his charitable foundation, Randy Foye Foundation, his role as Coach with Epic Elite AAU Basketball and more recently as President of the newly formed Friends of Nova, an alumni driven collective which supports Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for the more than 600 Villanova student-athletes across 24 varsity sports.

Randy Foye graduated from Villanova University with a degree in geography while playing basketball for the Wildcats. In his senior year, he helped carry the Wildcats to their best record in a decade with their first Big East regular season title since ‘97 and earning a #1 NCAA seed, the first in program history. He was named Big East player of the year and a consensus All-American.

Although Randy was selected seventh overall in the 2006 NBA draft and enjoyed a tremendous 11-year career in the NBA, Randy has seen firsthand the difficulties for kids growing up in a tough, urban environment. Through strength, perseverance and the support of a community, he was able to overcome multiple hardships, including a severe biological birth disorder and being raised without parents. Foye understands the difference a positive role model and nurturing environment can make in a young person’s life, which prompted him to establish the Randy Foye Foundation in 2007, a charitable organization that developed programs and projects aimed directly at improving the lives of children in his hometown of Newark, NJ.

The Randy Foye Foundation was just the start of Foye’s involvement with community-driven organizations promoting and mentoring underserved youth and young athletes. He went on to mentor athletes in multiple capacities, including his work with RFH co-ed summer basketball camps, his role as CEO and Coach with the Epic Elite AAU team, along with his Friends of Nova basketball camp.

As a Villanova alumni and former student-athlete, working with Friends of Nova was a perfect fit for Foye. The group aims to connect fans, alumni, businesses, and charities with Villanova student-athletes while harnessing the strength of the Villanova community to promote the athletes in building their brand, while giving back to the community. In his role as president, Foye leads the organization in its mission to provide a unified platform for all members of the Villanova community to easily support student-athletes. He also acts as a mentor to these students, having experienced first-hand the challenges faced in playing at such a high-level with maximum exposure at a young age. As Foye expresses, “I am excited to be President of Friends of Nova. To have the opportunity to work with Villanova student-athletes as they grow their personal brand and create a positive impact in the community, is truly a dream come true.”

Randy is a devoted husband, loving father, sports enthusiast passionate about Villanova and helping student athletes become the best version of themselves.

WEforum would like to invite Randy to the Elite Hall of Fame for his dedication and commitment to young athletes of varying levels, both in and outside of the community. He shares his experience and knowledge with our youth in order to help them navigate the world of sports’ play at a high level, setting them up for future successes while advocating for themselves. Congratulations to Randy, as he is being honored this year as one of two Elite Hall of Fame coaches who will be recognized for his leadership and dedication to nurturing youth athletes at every level. 2024 is the first year WEforum will extend this special award to honor Elite Hall of Fame coaches who go above and “Beyond the Game.”

 

Robert Gill

CEO, Epic Financial Strategies; Head Coach, Epic Elite AAU Basketball; Former NCAA Division III Athlete

Robert Gill is a successful entrepreneur and financial expert with years of experience in the financial services industry. With a business degree in marketing, he is the founder and owner of multiple successful businesses, including Epic Financial Strategies, a financial planning and education company based in Red Bank. Yet his work with youth-athletes and development of an exceptional and inspired AAU basketball team is one of his greatest accomplishments. His drive, motivation and ability to innovate and improve have made him a leader not only in the financial world, but in the world of youth sports.

As a father of two high school athletes, Rob noticed an inadequacy to the way high school basketball teams were being run. In order to help resolve this, Rob did what he does best and created a new 16 & 17U AAU basketball team, Epic Elite. Transferring his skills from the business world, Rob strategically hand picked a team of basketball coaches and consultants to completely redefine the way AAU basketball teams are developed. In creating Epic Elite, Rob’s objective was to provide young athletes, who may have been previously overlooked, the opportunity to play basketball at a high level. His innovative marketing strategy to highlight the players via social media, NIL deal offers, as well as offer touring and scouting opportunities allow players to gain access to exposure they previously may not have had.

The Epic Elite mission is to provide an enriching and challenging basketball experience for players that prepares them to compete at the highest level. They uphold the belief that basketball can be a transformative experience for young athletes and are committed to helping each player reach their full potential both on and off the court. To achieve this mission, Epic prioritizes both individual development and team success. Rob, along with the whole coaching staff is dedicated to creating a positive and supportive environment that fosters growth and encourages players to push themselves to be the best they can be. It’s this infectious, innovative and motivating attitude that makes Rob an incredible role model and mentor to youth-athletes.

Rob gives back to the community in numerous capacities other than youth sports, by maintaining multiple educational scholarship programs for underprivileged youth within private institutions and earning the title of 2020 Man of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Rob also serves on the Board of Directors at Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation, as well as Hudson Catholic Regional High School.

WEforum would like to invite Ro to the Elite Hall of Fame for his dedication and commitment to young athletes and for his devotion to furthering the sport in the community that first fueled his love of sports.

 

Val Barnaby

Owner ESSA Sports Training, Certified Trainer, Former NCAA Division I Athlete

Valentine Barnaby is not your typical youth-athlete turned successful adult, coach and mentor. Val began playing youth sports at a young age and continued into his adult life recognizing that the challenges faced in everyday life can be as daunting as those faced on the court and athletic field. Through his work ethic, dedication, and drive, he created a successful athletic high school career, which carried him through college and beyond as a youth-athlete trainer, mentor and fitness professional.

As a three-sport athlete at Franklin High School, including soccer, football and track, he was determined to make the best of every bad situation and turn every good situation great. Following high school, Val earned a full scholarship to Rutgers University, where he helped propel the team to their first national ranking in decades. Yet his mantra was always, “Academics first, athletics second.” As he explains, “I made a promise to my mother that I will not leave college without my degree.” He fulfilled that promise and more, founding and launching ESSA (Explosive, Strength, Speed, Agility) Sports Training a decade later.

Today, he strives to instill that mantra, along with nurturing a sense of independence, strength and determination in today’s young athletes. He understands that there is more to the world than what we see every day in our own home towns and strives to share this life lesson with his young clients. “It is my mission to help today’s student athlete be tomorrow’s successful adult,” shares Val. Knowing that today’s youth-athletes must be groomed for adversity on and off the field in order to face obstacles and challenges in everyday life, Barnaby created ESSA Sports Training, a facility dedicated to helping youth-athletes break barriers and push beyond their potential.

Val, along with his staff, takes the time to educate each individual client on proper technique and create personalized group and individual performance programs that ensure the success of each client. He is committed to helping today’s youth reach not only their fitness and performance goals, but their life goals as well. “Our goal is to prepare everyone to face all aspects of life head on with strength and determination and come through victorious,” relays Val. He encourages our youth to, “Live in the moment and work for your future,” a notion which gave rise to the birth of ESSA Sports Training. He leads by example through both his current work with youth-athletes and his own athletic career when he encourages his mentees and those around him to, “Always bring your best!”

WEforum would like to invite Val to the Elite Hall of Fame for his dedication and commitment to young athletes and for his devotion to furthering the sport in the community that first fueled his love of sports. Congratulations to Val for also being one of two Elite Hall of Fame coaches who will honored for his leadership and dedication nurturing youth athletes at every level. 2024 is our first year announcing this special award amongst Elite Hall of Fame coaches who go above and “Beyond the Game”.
 

George Sourlis

Head Coach Red Bank Regional Boys’ Varsity Basketball; Broker of Record, Sourlis International Realty

George Sourlis is a distinguished coach, real estate broker and esteemed member of the Monmouth County community. His academic journey includes Iona College, earning a masters degree from St. John’s University and an MBA from Monmouth University. His unwavering commitment to excellence in sports, real estate, and community service, make him a highly respected figure in not only youth sports but the community as a whole.

George has participated in the Jackie Robinson Sports Foundation based in Queens, NY and his commitment to sports is evident in his coaching career with Rumson Fair-Haven (RFH) Regional High School, where he served as the Girls’ Varsity Head Basketball Coach from 1986 to 2016. Over the span of 30 seasons, George achieved remarkable success, boasting a career record of 654-198. During his tenure at RFH, the team secured 14 State Sectional Championships, and clinched five overall Group State Championships. Other achievements include five Tournament of Champions appearances, with three of them participating in the “Final Four” and an impressive 18 Divisional Championships. While at RFH, George also served as the Girls’ Head Coach for AAU Central Jersey from 1988 to 1990 and led the Garden State Games as Head Coach from 1987 to 1989.

George continues to foster young athletes in his new role as the Boys’ Varsity Head Basketball Coach at Red Bank Regional High School (RBR). Go Bucs! In his second season at RBR, the Bucs have a record of 17-3 to date and won the Shore Conference Division Championship for the first time since 2007.

In addition to coaching career, George has been Broker of Record at Sourlis International Realty, Corp., located in Red Bank, NJ, since 1985, sharing his expertise with the community in both commercial and residential real estate.

Throughout his career, George has been recognized with various honors and awards, including the Shore Conference All-Time Leader in Career Wins, Northeast Regional Coach of the Year, seven-time winner of the Star Ledger Girls’ Basketball Monmouth County Coach of the Year and Star Ledger Girls’ Basketball NJ State Coach of the Year. He has also been recognized by the Asbury Park Press as Shore Conference Coach of the Year six times and been inducted into RFH Hall of Fame and the NJSIAA Hall of Fame.

In 1979, as a high school sophomore, George won a national basketball shooting competition known as the NBA/Pepsi Hot Shot Contest. He was the NATIONAL CHAMPION competing against 3.1 million contestants. As a result, he is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.
George has also participated through the years in various associations and community service initiatives, such as the Shore Conference Coaches Association, the Board of Associates at Brookdale Community College, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Cancer Society, and Riverview Foundation. He also serves as a Board of Trustees Member for the Monmouth Health Care Foundation at Monmouth Medical Center.

WEforum and Monmouth Medical Center would like to extend our sincere thanks for all of the work that George and the other elite coaches do for our youth-athletes, our community and beyond. It is an honor to have you as a part of an exceptional class of youth athletic coaches and mentors whose impact extends far “Beyond the Game.” Your leadership is exemplary and we are honored to recognize you and the other coaches for your contribution and dedication to promoting and cultivating our youth to become exemplary athletes and citizens.

 

Ronanne DeRosa

Owner, Barnstormers Gymnastics Club; Former Red Bank Catholic Varsity Head Coach; Former NCAA Division I Gymnast

Ronanne began her gymnastic career at Barnstormers Gymnastics Club in Rumson at a young age, in the same community she currently serves, sharing her knowledge, skill and love of the sport with the next generation. Following high school, she attended the University of Maryland on a full gymnastic scholarship and became the first individual qualifier to the NCAA Nationals from the University of Maryland. She remains the only Regional Event Champion from the school for Vault.

After a successful college career, she became a member of Anti-Gravity, a professional gymnastic company based in New York City and eventually took a position as the Head Varsity Gymnastics Coach at Red Bank Catholic High School, where she served from 2011-2019. In 2014, Ronanne was named New Jersey State Coach of the Year and in 2015 she was awarded the Jersey Sporting News Female Coach Of The Year. As a result of her passion to create strong, independent and confident young athletes, Ronanne developed the RBC Gymnastics team into a powerhouse, bringing home three State Championships, five Shore Conference Championships and five State Sectional Championships during her seven year tenure.

Fueled by her love of the sport and desire to create a space for young gymnasts to flourish, DeRosa also became the owner of her former gym, Barnstormers Gymnastics Club, home to both the Rumson Fair Haven Gymnastics Team and Barnstormers Gymnastics Team. At Barnstormers, Ronanne strives to create a home for every gymnast who walks through the door, a comfortable and safe space for students to focus on expanding their skills and achieving their goals with absolute, experienced support. Many clients who come to Barnstormers with their children were, like Ronanne, former gymnasts themselves at Barnstormers. Ronanne has made it her mission to keep the community tradition going strong, sharing her passion for the sport with a new generation, creating strong, independent and confident young athletes.

WEforum would like to invite Ronanne to the Elite Hall of Fame for her dedication and commitment to young gymnasts and for her devotion to furthering the sport in the community that first fueled her love of gymnastics.

 

Steve Carcaterra

Head Coach, Building Blocks Lacrosse; Founder, United Lacrosse

Steve Carcaterra’s love of lacrosse has fueled both his own journey of success in the sport, but has left an indelible mark on youth athletes in our community and beyond. Hailing from Yorktown Heights, NY, Steve ventured into Division I lacrosse at Towson University, setting the stage for a remarkable career.

In 1995, Steve moved to Monmouth County, where he transitioned from a passionate player to a dedicated coach. Prior to establishing the youth travel team, United Lacrosse, in 2009, Steve served as a volunteer coach, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing lacrosse talent at the grassroots level. Under Steve’s guidance, and with much hard work, dedication and nurturing of young athletes, Monmouth County quickly became one of the premier lacrosse regions in the state of New Jersey. In 2021, United Lacrosse joined forces with travel lacrosse club powerhouse, Building Blocks Lacrosse, further showcasing Steve’s impact on the lacrosse community.
Steve has also played a pivotal role in shaping the futures of over 300 local lacrosse players, through academy training, private sessions, organized travel teams, and participation in tournaments and showcases. Steve has shown dedication and commitment in propelling both aspiring and seasoned athletes toward successful collegiate and professional lacrosse careers.

As part of the esteemed group of Elite Hall of Fame coaches, Steve Carcaterra’s legacy is defined not only by his achievements on the field but by the countless lives he has touched and the enduring influence he continues to exert on the sport. 

 

Tim McCloone

When Tim McLoone first stepped on to the track as a freshman at Seton Hall Prep in South Orange, NJ he, of course, had no idea that that was just the beginning of a journey that would lead him to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2018. From there he would go on to lead a varied life that would have many referring to him as a “Renaissance Man”.

Tim continued his running career at Harvard University where he was named to the All-American and All-Ivy teams. From there he continued running and racing (which he still does today) while also involving himself in the event management side of the sport culminating in his being named Executive Director of the US Men’s Olympic Trials in 1988. He also became best known for his TV appearances interviewing competitors “on the run” in major races such as the NYC and Los Angeles Marathons, the latter for which he won an Emmy Award. He continues his love of the sport today as the Head Coach of cross country and track at Rumson-Fair Haven High School, also in NJ.

Tim’s love of sports then led him to a position with the then New Jersey Nets of the NBA serving as their first Director of Game Operations and their announcing “Voice” at the Meadowlands Arena. He later transitioned over to college hoops in the same capacity for Seton Hall University Basketball, a position he holds to this day.

Tim’s other passion, however, was music and he has performed for many years with his group, “Tim McLoone and The Shirleys”, performing with many entertainment luminaries such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Darlene Love, and Ben E. King. Incredibly, at the same time he also ventured into the restaurant business opening “McLoone’s Rum Runner” in Sea Bright, NJ in 1987. In the ensuring years that company has grown to 10 locations, including “The Robinson Ale House” brand, with more on the way.

If you ask Tim, he will tell you that his greatest accomplishment though was his most selfless one – the creation in 1993 of “Holiday Express”, the charitable organization that entertains and brings “the gift of human kindness” to thousands of the most disadvantaged among us each year. Over the course of November and December, over 100 professional musicians and 1500 adult volunteers create magical holiday parties for places such as long-term residential psychiatric facilities, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, AIDS hospices, and the like which, if Holiday Express were not there, would receive little or no attention during the holiday season. Although most of these events take place in the Tri-state area, Holiday Express has also traveled to Columbine High School in Colorado after those tragic shootings and to the Gulf area after Hurricane Katrina providing a little joy in those overwhelmingly difficult times.

Tim credits his wife, Beth, and their four children, Molly, Jack, Connor, and Hannah, with providing him with the love and support to do all of these things. A “Renaissance Man”, indeed. They currently reside in Little Silver, NJ.

 


 

Together, Dorothy Whitehouse, Randy Foye, Val Barnaby, Rob Gill, Steve Carcaterra, George Sourlis, Ronanne DeRosa, and Tim McCloone form an empowered team of elite youth athletic coaches, ensuring that the Fit Crawl promises an unparalleled combination of sportsmanship and community involvement, with each individual contributing their expertise and leadership to the forefront of this collaborative endeavor.

Our distinguished coaches would like to welcome the following elite youth athletic coaches whose extraordinary performance as coaches, mentors, and exemplary leadership impact youth athletics throughout Monmouth County. Together, we invite these distinguished individuals to lead by example, support the work of all youth athletic coaches no matter the time or level, and always advocate for a healthy lifestyle on and off the field:

Game Changers

Adam Cavise, Bruno D’uva, Doug Shaw, Melina Sophinos, and Nick Sophinos.

Community of Champions

Mike Boyle, Amy Brown, James Dorment, Jill Florio, Wayne Greenleaf, Irene Hall, Amber Herr, Abby Kelly, Debbie Memmott, Lori Missig, Amy Neff, Ryan Neff, Jess O’Hagan, Melanie Palloway, Michael Palloway, Samm Popham, Michelle Sandone, George Spiropolous, Kelly
Walz, and Alana Zerillo.

 

A huge congratulations to the recipient of the Coaching Culture Excellence Award:

Chris “Coach Schempy” Champeau

RFH Boys Varsity Basketball Coach; Founding Partner, The Fort Athletic Club

Coach Shempy is truly a passionate and dedicated individual whose journey from Cleveland to Wall Street ultimately led him to pursue his true calling as a basketball coach and mentor. Growing up one of seven kids in Cleveland, Coach Shempy developed a lifelong love for the Browns and a deep-seated appreciation for community values.

After spending two decades on Wall Street, Coach Shempy made the decision to follow his passion for coaching basketball and mentoring young athletes. Throughout his career, he prioritized attending all of his two daughters’ athletic and other events, embodying the commitment to family and community that defines his character.

Coach Shempy’s coaching journey began as an Assistant Coach at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, where he played a pivotal role in building a brand-new basketball program from the ground up, under the mentorship of legendary Villanova National Champ Coach Rollie Massimino. He helped lead the Seahawks to the NAIA March Madness tournament in their inaugural season.

In 2010, Coach Shempy took on the role of Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Rumson Fair Haven High School, where he has established a culture based on the tenets of “Attitude,” “We play for those that went before us,” and “Tradition never graduates.” Coach Shempy’s grassroots approach, building from the “Town Up,” fosters camaraderie, inclusion, and team spirit within the community. Shempy prides himself on considering his players “Dawgs 4 Life,” a true family with relationships that extend beyond the court and the four years of high school. Numerous alumni return to their basketball family for reunion events and to help advise and mentor current RFH basketball players.

Since taking over the program, Coach Shempy has led the Rumson Fair Haven High School Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team to numerous championships and division titles. In 2015, the Dawgs won the first Shore Conference Championship in school history. Throughout his tenure at RFH he brought the team to four State Championships, bringing home the title in 2017, 2018 and 2022 and five division titles. Coach Shempy has also been recognized and honored with numerous coaching awards.

Shempy is also a founding partner of The Fort Athletic Club, a community-based health club that goes beyond fitness, actively partnering with local charities such as Lunch Break and Family Promises to make a positive impact in Monmouth County. Additionally, alongside Randy Foye, he co-founded and served as the president of The Randy Foye Foundation, channeling their efforts into a program focused on improving the lives of middle school students in Newark, NJ.

Through both his coaching and charitable work, Coach Shempy continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of those he coaches and the broader community. From old-school outdoor summer leagues to charitable initiatives, he instills values of service and sacrifice in his players, emphasizing that basketball is a platform for success in life, not just playing time. 

 

Please join WEforum in honoring exceptional youth athletic coaches and mentors whose impact extends far “Beyond the Game.” For event updates and ticket information, visit WEforum Fit Crawl 2024.