When you talk about the success of St. Thomas Aquinas football through the many decades, there are dozens of names that you can point to as being a reason why the Raiders have been so successful.
For all the high school All-Americans, collegiate and professional stars this program has produced with all the state and national titles they have won, the student/athletes that have competed at every position, there is one group that may not get the recognition they truly deserve.
From coaches Marty Poplar to Dave Sheppard, Tim Conrad, Matt Helmerich and Mike Crissy, special teams have been coached and taught as well as any high school program in the country.
No matter what year, this program – under the legendary head coaches George Smith, Mike Spencer, Rocco Casullo and Roger Harriott – have always had a quality long snapper, kicker and punter.
In all the winning that this team has done, the focus has been on the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and linemen on offense – and linemen, linebackers and in the secondary on defense, for good reason, but those special teams performers could easily be listed among the reason why the Raiders have been regarded nationally for decades.
THE 2026 VERSION OF STA CARRY ON THE TRADITION
As the Raiders head into Saturday’s national matchup with DeSoto, Texas as the No. 2 team in the nation, there is a new group of special teams standouts to keep an on under the direction of Coach Crissy, who graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas in 1991, briefly went to Ohio State before finishing his career at the University of Miami as a punter.
2027 - Kyle Infante. Starting kicker – field goals, point after attempts, kickoffs. Lefty with tremendous leg whip and accuracy. On the year (including week zero) 10 kickoffs with 8 Touchbacks, 2/2 field goals (42, 29), 8/8 point after attempts.
2027 - Chris Kern. Starting punter but has also kicked PAT’s and kickoffs. Ideal punting frame with tremendous extension. 5 kickoffs with 4 Touchbacks, 1/1 point after attempts, 2 punts 48.5 Net Average.
2027 - Tommy Panza. Starting long snapper, great speed, and accuracy. Transferred from Pompano Beach High School for his senior year.
2028 - Massimo Riggio. Another lefty kicker/punter who will see a lot of action this year as we like to get reps for next year’s projected starter. He got his first varsity point after attempt against Western in the season opener.
2028 - Luis Riquezez. A first-year kicker (soccer background) but has quickly grasped the position and also got his first rep and executed during the Western game (1/1).
2029 - Billy Burpee. Long snapper, dual sport baseball/football. Billy has a bright future and has seen action in the first two games as a sophomore.
STARS HAVE BEEN REMEMBERED
Over the years, there have been some memorable special teams performers at the school.
ALL TIME BEST STA KICKERS
#1 - Michael Palardy All American- Tennessee 4 year starter at BOTH kicker / punter; played NFL 7 years
#2 - Brett Swenson - Michigan State - 4 yr starter, became all time leading scorer
#3 - Richie Andrews (STA 1987) - FSU - 4-year starter (dual guy)
#4 - Wes Byrum All-American - Auburn - became all time leading scorer; 4 year starter; kicked NC winning fg
#5 - Greg Cox (STA 1984) - Miami - 4-year starter; won 2 national championships
#6 - James McCourt - Illinois - 3-year starter, record holder for most 50+ field goals
#7 - Joe Surgan - Duke - 4-year starter
#8 - Pat Moons - (STA 1983) - UMichigan - 1st STA kicker to sign a 4 year scholarship
#9 - Nolan Bieck (STA 2010) - Princeton - 4-year starter there
#10 - Danny Nolan (STA 1983) - Starter at Wake Forest
ALL TIME BEST PUNTERS
#1 - Michael Palardy - 4-year starter at punter and kicker at Tennessee; 7 years in NFL
#2 - Mickey Groody - All American - 4-year starter at FAU
#3 - Ritchie Andrews - 4-year starter at FSU
#4 - Ben Turk (STA 2008) - 4-year starter at Notre Dame
#5 - Justin DuVernois - (STA 2010) - 4-year starter at Illinois
#6 - Michael Kern (STA 2023) - Signed with Texas, starting for New Mexico now)
#7 – Mike Crissy (1991), who we mentioned and is the current special teams coach.
ALL TIME BEST SNAPPERS
#1 - Jordan Cowart (2008) all american - four-year starter at Notre Dame
#2 - Danny Adams (2010) #1 snapper in the US - Started for Eastern Kentucky and FSU
#3 - Matt Wilkinson (2011) - snapped at Alabama
Coach Conrad, a huge part of the program made a major contribution along with Coach Crissy to this article with his list of elite special teams performers. For 18 years, he had numerous prospects recruited – an impressive eight kickers signed D1 at a time when it was tough to get scholarships:
1990 John Benestad - Rutgers
2000 Chris Balseiro - Arkansas
2003 Scott Svarney - Tulane
2004 Joe Surgan - Duke
2005 Brett Swenson - Michigan State
2006 Wes Byrum - Auburn
2007-2009 Michael Palardy Tennessee (dual kicker / punter)
2014 - Chris Kirtley - Old Dominion
2015 James McCourt - Illinois (dual kicker / punter)
2019 Logan Lupo – FAU
2024 – Nick Romero – New Mexico
Also…….
2021 - Max Larson – Louisiana Lafayette
2023 - Francesco Pileggi – Union
2025 – Johnny DiSalvatore - Wagner
They had 4 punters sign DI Scholarships:
2001-2002 Jay Ottovegio - Stanford (dual punter / kicker)
2006-2007 Mickey Groody - FAU
2008 - Ben Turk Notre Dame
2010 - Justin Duvernois - Illinois
Also….
1991 – Mike Crissy, Miami
1993 - Rob Deigman – Purdue
1996 – Barry Cantrell – Fordham
2025 – Conrad Telerico – FIU
They had 2 snappers sign a full DI scholarship:
2007 -2008 Jordan Cowart - Notre Dame
2010 - Danny Adams - Eastern Kentucky
Also…..
1999 - Jeremy Cain – U Mass 10-Year NFL career
2020 - Cade Wehby – Alabama
2022 - Dom Diaz – Air Force
2023 - Chase Ortiz – Marshall
2025 - Holden Harkins – FIU
In a 15 year period, the Raiders, under Conrad, had 14 Special Teams guys signed D-1 college scholarships coming out of one school!
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For the past 56 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..