Jon Crucitti, a member of West Rowan’s Class of 2010, hit a home run AND scored a touchdown at the Division I level, which sets him apart from 99.999 percent of humanity.
Crucitti accomplished that rare double while he was a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy.
His military career following his 2014 graduation from West Point has been distinguished. He’s led 82nd Airborne platoons; he’s led Rangers, and he’s been a company commander, while stationed everywhere from North Carolina to Alaska.
He’s also been deployed three times overseas to Afghanistan and the Middle East in the global war against terrorists.
Crucitti is now back in school and is transitioning from the field to a high-level administrative post in the defense department.
A transfer from Mooresville, Crucitti came to West Rowan prior to the 2008 football season. He was 31-1 on the football field as a Falcon and was a key player on two 3A state championship teams.
A former quarterback who transitioned to receiver at West, Crucitti threw a surprise touchdown pass (to future U.S. Naval Academy graduate Brantley Horton) that helped beat Carver in the 2008 playoffs. That was a comeback win at home — coach Scott Young’s troops finally got over the third-round hump — that propelled the Falcons to a state title.
In 2009, Crucitti had one of the finest football seasons a Rowan receiver ever has had with 79 catches for 1,262 yards. The 79 catches ranks second for most in a season in county history, while the yardage total ranks fourth.
There was a night when Crucitti accomplished the rare feat of producing passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns in the same game.
In baseball, Crucitti was dynamic offensively and as a defensive outfielder. He led West in runs scored in 2009.
He is best remembered on the diamond for his Rowan County American Legion summers. He was the center fielder for the Rowan team that won state and regional championships to advance to the 2009 World Series in Fargo, N.D.
Shoulder injuries affected his college career, as he missed his sophomore baseball season and his senior football season, but he was able to play both sports for three seasons.
He was a terrific lead-off man for Army baseball in the 2013 and 2014 seasons with on-base percentages of .431 and .421. He had 94 hits in those two seasons and scored 79 runs. He was among the Patriot League leaders both seasons in walks, steals, runs and OBP.
Crucitti didn’t stand out as much in football, but he contributed often on special teams, returning kickoffs and punts. As a backup running back, he rushed 62 times for 252 yards during his career and he scored a touchdown in the snow against Fordman.
Crucitti will be considered for the Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame in 2027 for the first time, as he’ll make his initial appearance on the list of nominees.
