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Who Are We?
Justin Cronk
Director
- Director of Headfirst College Advisory Team
- Headfirst Director of Instruction, Curriculum, and Operations from 2004-present
- Head Coach of Headfirst Gamers 18U Select Team from 2004-present
- Recruiting coordinator and Assistant Baseball Coach at Amherst College (1998), Boston College (1999), and UNC-Asheville (2000)
- Head Baseball Coach at Shenandoah University in Virginia from 2001-2003
- Masters of Science in Sports Management from University of Massachusetts
- Two sport collegiate athlete (baseball and football) at Amherst College
- Worked as an arbitration consultant for the Boston Red Sox in 1998
John Bramlette
Associate Director
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Associate Academic Director
- Associate Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
- 2000 cum laude graduate of Haverford College with four varsity letters in baseball
- Two-year starting outfielder and recipient of Most Improved Player award in 2000
- Haverford College Office of Admissions Host and Senior Interviewer
- 2005 Graduate of George Washington University School of Law with honors
- Over two years experience at litigation associate at Nixon Peabody LLP
- Adjunct Professor of Law at GWU School of Law, 2008-2009
- 2004 & 2006 Finalist, Positive Coach Alliance National Double-Goal Coach of the Year Award
- Gamers Select Coach, 2003-Present
Brendan Sullivan
Executive Director
- Co-Executive Director of Headfirst College Advisory Team
- Headfirst Co-Director - coordinates Headfirst Gamers developmental and select program, as well as many Headfirst national clinics and camps
- 5-year professional career with the San Diego Padres. Played 2 seasons with the AAA Las Vegas Stars
- In 2004, named a National Double-Goal Coach of the Year by the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA)
- 1996 graduate of Stanford University. Led the Cardinal in saves and appearances during his sophomore season, and participated in the 1995 College World Series
- 1995 Reliever of the Year in the Cape Cod Summer League
- Four-year varsity baseball player at St. Albans. 1993 Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year for the Washington, D.C. area
Bruce Vinik
Academic Consultant
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Academic Director
- Founded Vinik Educational Placement Services, Inc. in 2001
- Former Director of College Counseling and Director of Admissions at Georgetown Day School
- Over 20 years experience as a teacher and administrator at independent Washington DC schools
- Former high school and middle school principal of DC private schools
- Earned bachelor's and master's degree from Duke University
- Featured speaker on education and adolescence at many DC schools and organizations
- Served on the Board of Directors of Westmoreland Children's Center in Bethesda, MD
- Certified Educational Planner and member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling
- Alumni interviewer for Duke University
Bob Fleshner
C.O.O.
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Chief Operating Officer
- Responsible for oversight of all operational aspects including program design, website, systems, etc.
- Over twenty-five years of varied corporate experience including CEO for United Healthcare of the Mid-Atlantic and Vice President for Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey
- 2-sport high school athlete
Kyle Armstrong
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Former Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Flint Hill School:
- 2006 Conference Co-Champions and DI State Semi-Finalists
- 2005 Conference Champions, DI State Quarterfinalist and school record 19 wins
- Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach at Flint Hills School from 2001-2004
- 1998 Graduate of Trinity College in Connecticut; B.A. in History
- Four-year letter winner and captain of 1998 Trinity College Baseball team that made school's first appearance in DIII NCAA Regional
Matt Breslin
Lacrosse Director
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Lacrosse Director
- Assistant Director of Headfirst Lacrosse Operations
- Duke University starting goalie 3+ years - 1998-2001
- Duke University Lacrosse Captain & All-American Goalie
- ACC Academic Honor Roll Recipient
- New Jersey Pride Goalie - Major League Lacrosse - 2002
- Assistant Lacrosse Coach at Gonzaga High School, Washington D.C.- present
- Coached at Ryutsukagaku University in Osaka, Japan - 2001
- High School All-American & New Jersey Player/Goalie of the Year for Mountain Lakes HS in NJ - 1997
Graham Callaghan
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Fall 2003 - present: Avon Old Farms School, an all-boys boarding and day school in Avon, CT
- English Department Chairman, Head of Brown House Dormitory (28 residents, grades 9- Post-Graduate)
- Varsity Baseball Pitching Coach
- Colonial League Champions, 18-6
- Eight Colonial League titles since 1996
- Team Connecticut Baseball summer camp instructor - July 2007, July 2008
- BA, Amherst College (1999)- starting pitcher 1996-1999
- Three post season appearances in NCAA regional tournament - 1996, 1997, 1999
Steve Devine
Baseball Advisor
- Assistant Director of Headfirst College Advisory Team
- Manager of Headfirst Sports Programs
- Head Baseball Coach at Indiana Tech from 2003-2005
- Assistant Baseball Coach at Indiana Tech from 1997-1999, 2002
- Head Coach for Dornbirn Indians in Austrian Baseball League in 2001
- 1997 Graduate and two-year captain of Indiana Tech
- All-District outfielder in 1994 and All-Sectional outfielder in 1996
Joe Espinosa
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Former Associate Scout, Milwaukee Brewers
- Owner and Head Instructor, Baseball Plus, Ridgefield, CT
- Founder, Joe Espinosa Sports Club, New York City
- All-City player, Miami Fla.
- Florida State University graduate
- Played international baseball with the Miami Cubans semi-professional team
Dan Gati
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Former investment banker and lawyer; now works in television production
- Columbia University - B.A. in Political Science (minor in Creative Writing) (1995-1999)
- 4-year varsity pitcher at Columbia University (1995-1999); Captain 1999
- Ivy League Pitcher of the Week on two occasions; 2nd in league in strikeouts in 1999
- Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School (New York) (2002-2004). NYS licensed attorney.
Joe Graziano
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- 2007 Rhodes Scholar Finalist
- Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgetown University
- Graduated Phi Beta Kappa
- Current student at Georgetown Law after being selected a Public Interest Law Scholar
- 4 years player on Georgetown Baseball Team & 4 time Big East All-Academic Team
- 2004 Most Valuable Teammate Award
- FDNY Scholarship Award
- Played in the Headfirst Gamers and was an Honor Roll Camp participant
- Ran a non-profit for 7 months in the small barrio of Consuelo in the Dominican Republic called Beisbol y Libros which used baseball to incentivize literacy, mathematics and basic cognitive skills for the children of the barrio.
- Assistant Coach of the Headfirst Gamers 16U team
Craig Irrgang
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- 2000 Haverford College Graduate, 4-year starting outfielder
- Formerly employed by PWC as a financial analyst
- Current math teacher and Head Coach, Mastery Charter School (Philadelphia, PA)
Ed Jalinske
Tennis Director
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Tennis Director
- USPTA Certified Tennis Professional
- Founder of Ed Jalinske's Serve First Tennis, LLC
- Director of Tennis for Highlands Swim and Tennis Club in McLean, VA in 2009
- Seasonal tennis instructor and clinic coordinator for Jack Schore Tennis at Regency Sport and Health Club in McLean, VA 2008-present
- Director of Tennis Programs at Flint Hill School in Oakton, VA in 2008
- Head Varsity Tennis Coach at Flint Hill School from 2008-2009
- Varsity Boy's Team won the Virginia State Title with an undefeated season in Spring '08
- Varsity Girl's Team won the Virginia State Title in the Fall of 2008
- Selected the 2008 Virginia State Coach of the Year by the Washington Post
- 2006 Graduate of The George Washington University Law School
- 2000 Graduate of Colgate University
- Graduated Cum Laude with Departmental Honors
- Member of Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honor Society
- Recruited by Colgate University, a member of the Division I Patriot League
- Selected as a member of the Patriot League All-Academic Team and played number 1 and number 2 singles during his junior and senior year
- Nominated as a Regional Academic All-American for his athletic and academic accomplishments
David Ostroff
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Head Baseball Coach - Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, TX (2006-2008)
- More than fifteen years experience as a teacher in independent schools: TX, GA, VA, and NH
- Head of Upper School / Director of College Counseling - Canterbury Episcopal School in DeSoto, TX (2004-2006)
- 18u Program Director - DBAT-Mustangs Baseball Club in Dallas, TX (2008-pres.)
- Head Coach - McKinney Marshals Baseball Club in McKinney, TX (2003-2008):
- 17u WWBA Underclass World Champions (Ft. Myers, FL)
- Premier Sophomore National Champions (College Station, TX)
- 1994 Dartmouth College graduate; recruited baseball player
- Four-year varsity baseball player at Norfolk Academy (VA) - Tidewater Conference MVP (1990)
Bonnie Pettus
Softball Director
- Director of Headfirst College Advisory Team - Softball Director
- Pitching Coach, Great Britain Women's National Softball Team - 2006 World Championships - Beijing, China
- Head Softball Coach, Furman University, 1995-2003
- Southern Conference Coach of the Year - 2002, 2000
- Head Softball Coach, University of Southern Colorado, 1993-1995
- Assistant Softball Coach, University of Connecticut, 1991-1993
- 1993 UConn team - Women's College World Series - 5th place National Ranking
- Master's degree in Education-Sport Management - University of Connecticut
- Two sport collegiate athlete (softball and basketball) at Yale University
- Yale Softball - All Ivy League Selection, Team MVP and Team Leadership Award
- Alumni Interviewer for Yale University
Keith Poopor
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Amherst College Graduate with a B.A. in Mathematics- Class of 1996
- Captain of Amherst College Basketball and Baseball Teams
- Named to the Divison III All-New England Team that played at Fenway Park
- Former Assistant JV Coach at Medford High School
Tyler Prout
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Graduated Bucknell University, B.A. Economics and Political Science
- Bucknell University
- Co-Captain 2000;
- Louisville Slugger, Freshman All-American 1997;
- Three-time All Patriot League selection 1997, 1999, and 2000;
- Patriot League record-holder for total bases and RBIs
- Worked three years in Senate and U.S. House of Representatives
- Graduated Willamette University College of Law, May 2006
- Currently practicing trial attorney for Hartel, Kane, DeSantis, MacDonald, & Howie, LLP, located in Beltsville, MD and Arlington, VA
Stephan Rapaglia
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Head Coach, Great Britain Senior National Team (2004-present)
- Silver medal at 2007 European Championships
- Player/Head Coach, Tuebingen Hawks, German Bundesliga (2001); Best W/L record in club history at Bundesliga level
- Former Division I Pitching Coach, Iona College (1997-2000)
- Manager, Johnstown Johnnies, Frontier League (1998)
- Managed and Operated B's Baseball Academy, Stamford CT (1996-1997)
- Player, Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, Northeast League (1995-1997); 1996 league championship
- Teacher/Head Baseball Coach, Rye Country Day School (1994-1996)
- Player, Neptunus Baseball Club, Dutch Hoofdklasse (1993); National championship
- Player, Gulf Coast Astros/Auburn Astros (1992)
- Player, Amherst College (1989-1992);Two-time ECAC champions (1990,1991); Co-captain '92
- Signed as non-drafted free agent by Houston Astros in 1992
- Real Estate Attorney (2001-present)
Ted Sullivan
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Co-founder of Headfirst
- 15 years of baseball coaching experience at the youth and high school level
- Currently coach in NYC's Downtown Little League (Tribeca / Battery Park)
- Drafted by the Cleveland Indians (1999)
- Pitched at three different levels over two seasons, finishing in Carolina League (A)
- Harvard Business School MBA (2006)
- Elected President of 90-student first year section
- Duke University, BA in Economics (1999)
- Cum Laude graduate
- Voted baseball team's relief Pitcher of the Year in senior season
- 4-time ACC All-Academic Team
- Winner of ACC Community Service Award
- St. Albans School in Washington DC (1995)
- All-conference selection in Baseball and Football
- President of Senior Class
Chris Torino
Baseball Advisor
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Head Baseball Coach - The Taft School in Watertown, CT (2008-present; assistant from '02-'07)
- Dean of Faculty-- The Taft School in Watertown, CT
- Twelve years experience as teacher, administrator, and coach in independent secondary schools: ME, CA, and CT
- Head Baseball Coach-- Sage Hill School (CA, 2000-02) and Gould Academy (1996-98)
- MA English, University of Louisville (2000)
- BA English, Amherst College (1995); Baseball Captain 1995
Matt Whiteside
National Pitching Consultant
- Headfirst College Advisory Team - National Pitching Consultant
- Former Pitcher for 7 MLB organizations: Texas, Philadelphia, San Diego, Atlanta, Colorado, Toronto, and Pittsburgh
- 1992 Graduate of Arkansas St. with degree in P.E. and American South Conference Player of the Year
- 25th round pick of Texas Rangers in 1992, AA All-Star in 1992, AAA All-Star and single season record holder for saves (38) in 2005, member of NL East Division Champion Atlanta Braves in 2001
- Co-Owner, Pitching Instructor and Gamers Coordinator at All-Star Performance in St. Louis
The Headfirst College Advisory Team is comprised of professionals with dozens of years of combined experience in areas of athletics and academics.
Please take the time to read through the bios of our team members to see why Headfirst College Advisory Team is the foremost academic and athletic advisory team in the country:
MAIN STAFF/DIRECTORS
Justin CronkDirector
John BramletteAssociate Director
Brendan SullivanExecutive Director
Bruce VinikAcademic Consultant
Bob FleshnerC.O.O.
