By Rich Chrampanis
RUMSON – Two years ago, The Two River Times profiled Matt “Matty Cools” Newman, an autistic student-manager who quickly made an impression on the Rumson-Fair Haven basketball team. Newman brought endless energy and enthusiasm and the players and coaches on the team quickly made Matty an integral part of the squad.
It was fitting then that Matty Cools was front and center during the Bulldogs Senior Day ceremonies. But there was much more on the line than a round of applause and a picture. Coach Chris Champeau put his senior manager in the starting lineup against Holmdel hoping Matty Cools could get in the scorebook as an official varsity player. Every day during practice RFH worked on a play designed specifically for Newman, giving him the option to shoot a 3-pointer up top or to run a backdoor cut and make a layup.
“I’m so ready for this,” Newman said 90 minutes before tipoff after joining a run-through with his teammates. “And I think I’m going to nail this.”
Making baskets in warm-ups is one thing, but could Matty Cools deliver in a real game? It didn’t take too long to get the answer. Holmdel showed tremendous sportsmanship allowing the special moment to happen. After missing a 3-pointer, Newman was able to steal the ball at midcourt and race to the basket all alone. His layup attempt was high off the glass and off the mark but when Charlie Jones retrieved the rebound, Newman was able to sink a left-handed shot from a couple of feet away and send the entire RFH bench onto the court to mob their unsung hero. Like a script in a Hollywood movie, the team hoisted Newman, who was showered with thunderous cheers from the entire crowd, into the air.
“I think that shot was really perfect,” Newman said. “All the boys went crazy for me. They picked me up like I scored 85 points in a row.”
To see Newman answer interviews on camera like a seasoned pro is a testament to his growth over the past four years and his close ties with the basketball team.
“Socially, he’s a celebrity in high school,” said Ed Newman, Matt’s father. “It wouldn’t be without Shemp (Champeau) making him the manager as a freshman. Matt’s always going to be a part of the program, that’s not going away.”
What makes this story so unique and special is the fact that this wasn’t a kind gesture for just one day. The culture that’s been created by Champeau is truly special. With a staggering 28 players on the varsity roster, playing time and even practice time could be a major issue. Instead, everyone simply loves being part of Bulldog basketball. It will be tough to see Newman leave the RFH program but, like many of his teammates, he’s ready to spread his wings and continue to grow.
“I don’t ever want him to leave the program,” Champeau said. “But he’s going to Brookdale, he’s moving on, he’s a smart young man. He’s everything that we’re supposed to be about.”
Acceptance is vital for the autistic community. In Rumson this was more than just a moment, it was the culmination of four years that has left an indelible impression on an entire school.
“He has just flourished,” Mary Newman, Matt’s mother, said. “It’s everything we could have wanted for him these last four years. I’m just so grateful to everyone.”
The article originally appeared in the February 10 – 16, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
