Tyler Vitiello continues to make progress

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

Above: New Milford’s Dante Tobler wore No. 34 in Thursday’s game in honor of injured Saddle Brook RB Tyler Vitiello.

Vitiello, a senior running back, left Hackensack University Medical Center on Wednesday to continue his recovery at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange. Vitiello has been able to stand up with assistance since suffering the injury in Saturday’s win over Glen Rock and he is expected to walk again, according to school officials.

“All the reports we’ve been getting are good,” said Saddle Brook athletic director Chris Ianneillo. “It’s all been positive.”

Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand said early Thursday that he’s been following Vitiello’s progress, and that he planned to visit Vitiello later in the day.

LeGrand was treated at Kessler following his spinal cord injury in October 2010, and continues outpatient rehab there five times per week.

Like LeGrand, Vitiello was injured during a kickoff.

Vitiello was hurt blocking on a Saddle Brook return early in the first quarter of Saturday’s game. He was taken from the field by ambulance, without feeling or movement in his legs and underwent more than eight hours of emergency surgery late Saturday night into early Sunday morning at HUMC.

Vitiello’s surgery was a success, and he’s made encouraging progress since. But the immediate aftermath of his injury was tough for everyone to take.

“For me to see him lying there on the field the way he was, it put me into shock,” Saddle Brook coach Leo Ciappina said. “I didn’t know what to say or do. … [Saturday] was an emotional experience.”

The Falcons left the field in tears late Saturday afternoon; football was far from this devastated team’s mind. But players and friends have been visiting Vitiello throughout the week. They’ve been inspired by his attitude.

“To tell you the truth, the kids are feeding off Tyler,” Ianneillo said. “The positive-ness that is coming from this kid is unbelievable and amazing. … This happened to a top-notch person.”

With Vitiello improving, the Falcons delved into preparations for their next game. Saddle Brook faces Mountain Lakes in the opening round of the North 1, Group 1 state playoffs Saturday (1 p.m.).

“I told [the team] to always keep him in their thoughts,” Ciappina said. “But Tyler obviously wants us to go out there and beat Mountain Lakes, so let’s keep that in mind as well.”

It won’t be easy to replace Vitiello, a talented running back, on the field. But he’ll never be far from the team’s mind.

The Falcons will honor Vitiello by wearing stickers with his No. 34 on their helmets for the rest of the season. Other helmeted Saddle Brook sports teams, including the baseball, softball and lacrosse teams, will also honor Vitiello with the stickers for the rest of the school year.

The Saddle Brook cheerleaders will be selling T-shirts and bracelets honoring Vitiello to raise money for the family.

And Sunday night, Saddle Brook will host a walkathon and candlelight prayer vigil for Vitiello at the high school. The plan is for Vitiello to watch the event live from his room through the Internet on Skype.

The walkathon, scheduled to run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. is open to the public; donations of $10 will be collected and football teams from several other towns are expected to attend. Vitiello has received overwhelming support from Saddle Brook and beyond. A vivid example: New Milford running back Dante Tobler honored Vitiello by wearing No. 34 in the Knights’ 48-19 win over Wallington on Thursday night. Tobler ran for 266 yards and a New Milford record 7 touchdowns. Tobler plans to present his game ball to Vitiello’s family Sunday.

Staff writer Tara Sullivan contributed to this report