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HAMMONTON—Herb Storey helped lead Hammonton High School’s football team to the South Jersey playoffs as the team’s starting quarterback in 2007 and 2008. The Blue Devils won 17 games during those two seasons, and Storey wrapped up his career as one of the leading passers in the history of the program.
The Gazette caught up with Storey recently and he spoke about his career and what he’s been doing since graduating in 2008.
In a paragraph or two, talk about what you’ve done since leaving high school.
After graduating high school, I went to Mount Ida College located in Newton, Massachusetts. Do not try and Google the school because it was recently bought out by the University of Massachusetts in 2018, but I can assure you that it was a real school. I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development and was the first student (and probably the last) in school history to land an internship at the only pediatric post-acute provider in New England, Franciscan Children’s Hospital. After graduation I retuned back to Hammonton and landed a job at NJM Insurance Group where I am coming up on my seventh year with the company. I currently live in Hammonton married to my high school sweetheart Macie, and have two children Angelina, and Anthony.
What has been your favorite professional experience?
I personally do not have a favorite professional experience, but I do enjoy helping people. I speak with many people every day dealing with accident related losses, so to be able to help people through a stressful time is rewarding to me.
Do you stay in touch with any of your former high school teammates or coaches?
I do. I still talk to David Jacobs, Anthony Barone and Charlie Carr. All three of those guys were in my wedding party and was reciprocated on their wedding day. As for coaches, I still talk to one of my all-time favorites, Frank LaSasso. In fact, he is the reason I was moved to quarterback in middle school, so if it wasn’t for him, I probably would not have been asked to answer these questions. I also talk to Tony DeRosa, a current coach on the Hammonton staff, but when I played, he was the head coach at EHT (who we beat all four years).
What’s the one thing you miss most about playing in high school?
I miss the comradery within the locker-room, and the build up right before the game. You practice all week and prepare for an opponent, and when it’s finally time to run on to the field it’s a pretty awesome feeling.
What do you miss most about high school academically or socially?
What I miss most must be making those few minutes in between classes count. I know it wasn’t that long ago, but texting wasn’t really a thing so if you wanted to see some friends you needed to hustle.
What is your favorite memory of playing in high school, either in a game, practice, traveling or socially?
It goes back to my freshman year. So, the first freshmen game was played on a Friday, the same day as the varsity game. I was invited to dress for varsity being played at EHT, and the freshmen game was at home. After the freshmen game I had to change into the varsity uniform and be driven to EHT for the game. Well, the pants were way too big. I ended up getting into that varsity game, so that was a pretty special moment. I also may have been the only person in 2004 with tape around the thigh pads to hold them up.
Is there something any of your high school coaches said to your while you were playing that sticks with you today?
For those of you who played for Coach Pete [Lancetta] you know he gives some fantastic pregame speeches, but what sticks with me is before the first offensive series of every game he would put his arm around me and just a simple, “you ready? Let’s have some fun,” and would send the play in.
What advice would you give to a high school athlete playing today?
Do your job, because at the end of the day if you didn’t do your job, you have no one to blame but yourself. Lastly, Enjoy the moment because once it is done, it is done.
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