Christopher Valente has come into his final year of football for Point Pleasant Beach ready to get the program back on track.

 

The Garnet Gulls were a powerhouse in the Shore Conference up until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. In 2019, the team went 7-3: since then, the Gulls have gone 3-14 in two seasons.

 

But that is the past: Valente, the 6-6, 330-pound offensive and defensive tackle, is ready to make sure his final campaign is a winning one.

 

The large lineman is set to make a big difference on both sides of the ball. Valente will be a pivotal part of the running and passing game, as Point Beach tries to get the offense rolling. Last year, in a 3-7 season, the Garnet Gulls were held to a touchdown or less six times (1-5). As the main player on the defensive front, Valente will look to plug holes and get into the backfield, as Beach tries to limit the opposition to two scores or less, something they did four times in 2021.

 

Off the field, Valente has been a leader in the classroom and the weight room: he has a 3.8 GPA, and that is expected to rise once his junior year grades settle. Valente is also working hard to get his bench and squat numbers up.

 

Here is what one opposition Shore Conference coach said about the lineman:

 

“You can’t miss him when the Gulls run out on the field. He is a massive player. I think he is going to be able to be big on offense obviously, but he might have a bigger impact on the defensive line. There, he can be a one-man wrecking crew. If he can be disruptive, and force some turnovers, maybe allow his teammates to get more involved because he is taking up two blockers, then I think this could be a big season for Beach.

 

“You have to remember, this was a team that always had a winning record before the pandemic started. That hit smaller schools way more than some of the bigger ones. I think this is the year that Point Beach starts to get back to normal, and Valente could be the key.”

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