Schools

Branford Son Takes Early Acceptance to Penn State

Despite their ongoing controversy, one Branford athlete looks forward to growing with the lacrosse team and becoming a Nittany Lion.

Saturday was a great day for the Carfora family who watched their youngest child, AJ Carfora, officially sign early acceptance to Penn State University to play lacrosse. As a former student who transferred to Salisbury School his sophomore year, Carfora is gearing up to play division 1 for the university when he enrolls in 2012.

Carfora’s father, Al Carfora, a Branford resident, is head of  clinic held in Branford and nearby every summer and he’s also father to several athletes. In addition to AJ, Al is proud to note his daughter Brittney, a 2004 BHS graduate played division 1 basketball at Columbia University where she graduated in 2008 and his daughter Angelena who played sports at BHS attended UCONN.

Of his son, Al said he and his wife Jeanine Carfora couldn’t be prouder. Despite the lingering and ongoing controversy with the university regarding former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, Al said he’s happy to see AJ attend the university.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We’re very excited that he’s going to Penn Sate and unfortunately they are going through those issues,” he said.

“To be going to Penn state, it’s a re-building program with a new coach, we’re excited about the prospects not only academically but athletically at Penn State. We’re so excited he got himself into a good academic school… the lacrosse is the icing on the cake – being able go to a division 1 school,” said a proud father.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We talked to the current Salisbury senior who is a defenseman on the lacrosse team and a cornerback/wide receiver on the football squad about his goals and ambitions for his term at Penn State. 

Branford Patch: Right off the bat, I want to know how you feel about the recent Penn State controversy? I know you verbally committed last year but when you officially signed this past Saturday, did you have any hesitations given the circumstances?
AJ Carfora: I cannot comment on that without all of the facts.  However, my thoughts and prayers are with the victim and their families.  

Branford Patch: Does the controversy change your perception of the university and has it overshadowed this awesome moment for you?
AJ Carfora: This moment is something that I have been waiting for my whole life, nothing could possibly tarnish it.

Branford Patch: Having made official visits to Duke, Georgetown, Syracuse why did you decide on Penn State?
AJ Carfora: I chose Penn State for many reasons.  When Coach Jeff Tambroni left Cornell to coach at Penn State it immediately changed my perception of the school.  Coach Tambroni obviously saw something in the school that others did not and he knew that it had potential, and that idea sparked something in me.  Coach Tambroni is an amazing coach with the accolades to prove it and I could not see myself playing for anyone else.  I wanted to attend a big school that I knew would be a great fit for me not only athletically and socially but also academically and I also felt a great surrounding in regards to the Penn State family.  Of the schools I visited, Penn State stuck out in the sense that I would be able to be a part of something new, a fresh start for Penn State Lacrosse and I’d rather be known as someone who helped form something great than someone who joined in something already formed.  That is why I chose Penn Sate over everywhere else I visited.  

Branford Patch: Penn State’s lacrosse team is in somewhat of re-building process. Did that attract you to the program?
AJ Carfora: Many people have asked me about the “re-building” of Penn State Lacrosse, I do not think that is the correct terminology to be used in the sports world.  I do feel that Penn State lacrosse is in a transitional period but one that has clearly been a great one and is taking the program in a great direction.  This did attract me because I knew that I would be playing for a great coaching staff and I felt a great sense of a family atmosphere on the team. I knew I would be at a top notch university with an athletic department that fully supports its interscholastic teams.  I wanted to be a part of the new brand of Penn State Lacrosse.  

Branford Patch: What is your biggest athletic aspiration while at Penn State?
AJ Carfora: My biggest athletic aspiration while at Penn State would be to win a National Championship.  

Branford Patch: Can you tell readers briefly what the recruiting process is like for a division 1 school?
AJ Carfora: If there is anything I can tell readers, particularly parents of athletes as well as athletes, it would be two things: The first is the term “student-athlete;” this is important because yes, you want to be the best possible athlete you can, but to get to your pinnacle, it starts in the classroom.  The word student does come first in student-athlete.  In order to play at a division one school you must have the grades.  That means doing your homework and studying regularl; you wouldn’t go into a game without practicing so why go into an exam without studying?  At the rate colleges are accepting students at, it is only going to get more competitive, you need to show them that you are capable of doing the work. The other thing I can tell readers is, patience.  Be patient in the recruiting process, talk to all the schools you can and visit all of the schools you can.  Listen to what the coaches have to say and what their school has to offer.  Many of my friends, my self included are going to play at schools that were next to last on their lists’ at first.  Do not close any doors before you open all of them, go in with an open mind to every school.  Make sure you keep in contact and be respectful to all of those who are recruiting you.  Do not burn your bridges. 

Branford Patch: I understand that playing lacrosse came late to you. You made the switch from baseball to the sport before entering your freshman year at BHS. Can you tell the readers why the change of heart?
AJ Carfora: Baseball is a great game and one that I still watch with my father as often as I can.  The change of heart came when I was in eighth grade and could not hit a curveball if my life depended on it (laughs). I was playing big diamond baseball and I was just bored. I couldn’t take standing in one spot for hours at a time and potentially only being able to get up to bat a couple of times a game.  I did not like the idea of not being able to change the course of the game on every single play because you may not always be involved.  I needed a sport that would give me this opportunity; I then decided to play lacrosse.  

Branford Patch: Earning a spot on varsity your freshman and sophomore years at BHS must have felt like quite the accomplishment. Did you expect that? Did you have to work harder than other players?
AJ Carfora: To me it was an accomplishment to make varsity lacrosse at BHS because I knew of the although somewhat short but very rich tradition the lacrosse team has and the success they have had.  In all honesty, yes I did expect to make it; I am not the type of person who goes into something aiming low. I shot for the top because that is how I was raised.  I think that I did have to work harder than other players because I was having to play catch up due to the fact that most of the players had been playing for years.

Branford Patch: At BHS who were you biggest influences?
AJ Carfora: I had many influences while at BHS. From Mr. Wygonik the former Vice Principal to all of the coaching staff on the lacrosse team.  Coach May, Adkins, Barron, Alessi, Mortali all played a major role in forming the player I am today.  Also coach John Limone from the football team and Jake Palluzzi as well as a great family friend and former coach of mine George Dummar.  

Branford Patch: After making the switch to Salisbury, you again started lacrosse both years. Was it different playing on that team compared to Branford?
AJ Carfora: Playing at Salisbury was drastically different than playing at Branford.  When you’re in class, eating, studying, lifting weights, and living with the same guys you’re battling for a spot  on the team with, the game changes.  It brings on a whole new sense of competition and one that alters tremendously.  The lacrosse here at Salisbury is on a national level, where every game is against a national powerhouse.  You’re practicing with some of the best players in the country everyday and it brings on a whole new kind of battle.  

Branford Patch: Who were your biggest influences at Salisbury? 
AJ Carfora: Salisbury is a very tightly knit community. Roughly 90 percent of the faculty live on campus as well as 310 of the 327 students that attend the school. You can imagine how many people have an impact on you while being here.  I would have to say that of all the people, my lacrosse coach Bobby Wynne has had the biggest impact on me.  Coach Wynne’s wisdom and knowledge of the game is unparalleled and one that you cannot get just anywhere.  He is a student of the game and is always showing me new ways to play and become better. Coach Wynne is also my student and college advisor at Salisbury and he helped me through my college process as well as the transition to boarding school. Coach Wynne helped me become the man that I am today.  

Branford Patch: We also understand that you played football at Salisbury and recently receive the Coach’s Award? Can you tell readers why it was given to you and what it means?
AJ Carfora: I did also play football and yes I did receive the coaches award.  This award is given by the coaches to the player that they feel makes a significant contribution to the team.  I feel that it was given to me because I gave it my all every day and always left everything I had on the field.  I made a promise to myself that even though football was not my main sport that I was going to make sure I gave it everything I had day in and day out because I owed it to my Sarum Brothers (Salisbury School term), the coaches and to myself.  I just did not want to look back and say what if? I wanted to make sure that I knew that I could say I gave it my all, all of the time.   

Branford Patch: Your dad said you are looked up to by your peers at Salisbury. What’s your advice to them and other younger players as you depart?
AJ Carfora: My advice to my peers and other young players is character.  Always give it your all, whether it be practice, homework, tests or championship games.  Also, always do things as if you’re being watched because a person of character is doing what is right even when no one is watching them.  

Branford Patch: Your dad tells me that you made quite an academic turn when you got to Salisbury. How you plan on balancing the challenges of division 1 athletics with the college course load?
AJ Carfora: I did make a tremendous turn around academically while at Salisbury. I have made dean’s list my entire time being here.  One of the good things about boarding school is how much it prepares you for the riggers of life as well as teaches you great time management skills.  This will help me balance school work, practice and anything else that my schedule may have on it while in college.  

Branford Patch: What do you plan on studying in school? What are your career goals?
AJ Carfora: I plan on studying business in college, as to what part I am not sure yet – I am between management, finance and sales.  I have considered going to law school after college.  As for my career aspirations my goal is to start my own fortune 500 company and to retire early which will enable me to become a part time college professor and allow me to coach so that I can pay back all that has been given to me.  

Branford Patch: Who would you like to thank who has helped get you to where you are today?
AJ Carfora: There is an infinite list of people I have to thank, from all of those who helped me at BHS to all those at the Salisbury School.  I want to thank coach Wynne of Salisbury.  I want to thank George Dummar, Joe Carbone, Alex Palluzzi, Corey Reddington, Keith and Karen Kustra among many others.  I also would like to thank those in my family, my two sisters, Brittney and Angelena for being so supportive and always being there for me.  However, the biggest thanks would have to go to my parents for without them none of this would even be feasible. Jeanine and Al Carfora are two of the greatest parents that any kid could ever ask for.  Whether it was them driving me to and from games from when I was a kid, to my dad coaching me and my mom making sure I always had everything I needed whether I was away at school or at home.  To my father teaching me to always give it my all in both school and sport.  To my mother who was always there to support me regardless of the weather and always offered me words of wisdom when they were most needed.  Thank you for everything that you two have both sacrificed to get me where I am today and to make me who I am.  I am forever indebted to you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here