All images courtesy of Scott Sulkazi 

By Rob Gullo
NEFJ Correspondent

WEST HARTFORD — Around a year ago, Mike Sloninia, CEO/owner of A Shot For Life (a non-profit organization that funds cancer research initiatives) introduced the ASFL initiative to high school football in Connecticut.

Slonina, a Massachusetts native, started the A Shot For Life organization 15 years ago when he found out his mother was diagnosed with cancer. This led him to raise awareness for cancer research by putting on a 24-hour shoot-a-thon, which ESPN picked up and gained national attention.

Fast forward 15 years later, Slonina has expanded his event to many sports and across multiple states in New England.

“This is year two for us for ASFL football in Connecticut,” said Slonina. “We have eight sports throughout six states. We’re excited to see the growth, we are relatively new to Connecticut, and we’re so grateful for all the players that stepped up to help bring this to their communities.”

Over 50 football players participated in the second A Shot For Life football event and were split into four teams. The teams each raised money together before meeting this past Sunday for a 7-on-7 flag football tournament. This year’s Connecticut football players raised $40,000 for cancer research, which they raised over the last few months.

“We’re a cancer research organization,” said Slonina. “One of the things we often say is that we are a cancer research organization that uses sports, not the other way around—that is the main focus. When you look at this event, you see many talented players, but this is the end of their experience. They do a Zoom interview with our staff members, an in-person orientation meeting, fundraise for months, and today is the celebration.”

For the players involved, getting involved and helping make an impact with cancer research was a main reason they wanted to be part of A Shot For Life.

Take the Olson twins, Nate and Shane, who just won the NEPSAC title with Avon-Old Farms this past fall and are headed to Bucknell College. The twins couldn’t play in Sunday’s tournament due to separate injuries, but wanted to remain part of the initiative by raising money and helping serve as coaches for the event.

“It’s a great cause, our dad also works at Mass General, and he is a cancer survivor,” said Shane Olson. “It’s definitely a cause that I want to help and raise awareness for, so, we’re very fortunate to be a part of it despite our injuries.”

“It’s bigger than football, it’s cancer,” said Nate Olson. “Everyone probably knows someone affected by it. It’s a great event with great people. It’s just something fun to be a part of and something we want to be part of.”

Some notable players from Sunday’s event include WR Johnny Gingeruha (UConn commit), QB Romy Jain (Stonehill commit), LB Evan Sood (Williams College commit), RB Bean Beaulieu, RB Lucca Boyce, RB Cristian Luciano (Saint Anselm commit), WR/DB Jake Rios, LB Finn Kilmartin, and QB Alex Weaver.

Team 3, which consisted of Jain, Ryan Love, Timmy O’Neill, Aiden Deluz, Emet Evjen, Jackson Danylko, Luciano, Boyce, Joey Pieksza, Carlo Noecker, Timmy McCooey, and Anthony Bowe won yesterday’s event.

Prior to the 7-on-7 tournament, kicker Seamus McIntyre (UMass) won the kicker’s challenge.

The next A Shot For Life Event will be the Massachusetts hockey event which takes place on May 3 at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston.