5 Super Athletes With Ties To Tri-Boro

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Tri-Boro area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Andrew Turzilli (Football)

Andrew Turzilli, a Butler High School alumnus, carved a path from local sports star to the NFL. While at Butler, Turzilli excelled as a wide receiver and defensive back, earning All-State First Team honors during his senior season with 54 receptions for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns. His collegiate career began at the University of Kansas, where he redshirted his freshman year, and he later transferred to Rutgers University. After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Turzilli signed with the Tennessee Titans and went on to play for several teams, including the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants.

2. Olivia Aliotta (Basketball)

Olivia Aliotta, a graduate of Kinnelon High School, has reached impressive heights in basketball. A career 1,000-point scorer, Aliotta led her team to victory as MVP of the Butler Holiday Tournament and earned All-Morris County Team honors during her senior year. Now a sophomore at Drew University, she continues to shine as a guard, averaging 5.4 points per game during the 2023-24 season, including a season-high 21-point performance.

3. Larry Hand (Football)

Larry Hand’s football journey began in Butler, after which he became an Appalachian State University standout and a two-way NAIA All-American. Drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1964, he became a cornerstone of their defense, earning a reputation as a reliable and versatile player. Hand’s career highlights include intercepting passes for touchdowns in back-to-back games and helping the Lions secure their first playoff berth in over a decade. After 14 seasons in the NFL, Hand retired as a respected figure in football and later pursued a successful career in banking in North Carolina.

4. Brittany Lau (Tennis)

Kinnelon native Brittany Lau has made waves in collegiate tennis, transitioning from success at Brown University to Northwestern. A two-time First Team All-Ivy honoree in doubles and a CSC Academic All-District selection, Lau has demonstrated excellence both on the court and in the classroom. At Northwestern, she continued to impress, reaching the doubles semifinals at the ITA Midwest Regional and boasting a 19-1 doubles record during the 2023-24 season.

5. Scott Allen (Figure Skating)

Kinnelon’s Scott Allen is a figure skating legend, forever etched in history as the youngest Olympic medalist in men’s figure skating. At just 14 years old, he won bronze at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, showcasing his remarkable talent and poise. Competing under the guidance of coach Fritz Dietl, Allen went on to win national and international medals, including silver at the 1965 World Championships and gold at the 1966 U.S. Nationals. A Harvard graduate with an MBA from Columbia, Allen balanced his academic and athletic pursuits with grace, later becoming a torchbearer for the 1996 Olympics.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.