- Toms River High School North is a four-year public high school, and was the second high school established in Toms River, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Toms River Regional Schools. The school opened in 1969 when the original high school (now called Toms River High School South) was found to be too small to accommodate the fast-growing community. However, the first class to graduate wasn't until 1971, since all of the seniors were kept at the TRHSS for the class of 1970. Toms River High School North is the largest of all schools in the Toms River Regional School district, with a student body nearing 2,500 students. The TRHSN mascot is the Mariner, and the school colors are blue and gold. The other high schools in the district are Toms River High School East and Toms River High School South. The school day lasts six hours and 20 minutes. Toms River high schools are some of the earliest daily closing high schools in New Jersey, closing at 1:38 PM everyday.
- As of the 2006-07 school year, there was a student population of 2,268 students with 152 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis). This equates to a 14.9 student-teacher ratio.
- The school was the 212th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2008 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools. The school was ranked 178th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
- Demographics
- 71% Caucasian
- 9% African American
- 13% Hispanic
- 7% Asian
- Athletics
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The Toms River High School North Mariners compete in the Shore Conference, an athletic conference made up of private and public high schools centered at the Northern Jersey Shore. All schools in this conference are located within Monmouth County and Ocean County. The league operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).
- Each year, students, parents, teachers, alumni, and administrators gather for the annual Toms River High School North vs. Toms River High School South football game, also known as the "Civil War". The game is considered to be the biggest event of the year for students. The annual event began thirty-three years ago. Of those 34 games played, Toms River High School North won 11 and Toms River High School South won 23. The football team were also state champions in 1979, 1991, 1994, 1997, and 2007.
- From 2004-2006 the men's ice hockey team was considered a top public power. The Mariners finished the 2004-2005 season with a 17-4-1 record and were Shore Conference Champions but were ineligible for state playoffs due to receiving three disqualifications (game ejections) in regular season play. In the 2005-2006 season, Kevin Raylman took over as head coach of the program, while the team was in a very competitive, predominantly private school division, they were able to compile a 19-8-2 record. In the state tournament, the Mariners received the #3 rank in public schools and were able to make it to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual state champions Randolph, 3-1.
- The basketball team won the 2000 South, Group IV state sectional championship with a 63-42 win, Led by PG Ryan Stokes. . The team took the title again in 2004 with a one point victory against Absegami High School in the tournament final.
- In 2004, the field hockey team took the Central, Group IV, edging Shawnee High School 1-0 in the tournament final.
- The boys soccer team earned the South, Group IV sectional title in 2004 with a 2-1 victory against Shawnee High School.
- The Competition Cheerleading squad led by Srgt. Clendenin also took many titles including 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 Ocean County Champions, 1999 NJCCA State Champion Stunt Group & 1999 NCA Myrtle Beach Spring Classic Champions.
- Toms River North has also had notable teams in other areas, including perennial powers in the Girls Swimming, Boys Cross Country, Tennis and Outdoor Track teams, as well as the Boys Soccer Team, which has reached the state semifinals two out of the last four years. The boys cross country team, under the tutelage of Matt Jelley, have won six county titles, three South Jersey Group 4 state titles, Group 4 State Championship, and ranked in the top twenty-five of the country four times reaching a high of 17th in 2004.Another notable thing about North is their baseball team. Headed by Coach Ted Schelmay, they have one the state championship two atraight years in a row (08,09). They are considered one of the top teams in New Jersey. It is noteworthy that North's athletic success comes at cutbacks in funding for the arts.
- Poland Spring Arena at the Ritacco Center
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The Poland Spring Arena at the Ritacco Center is a public arena connected to the school. It is the centerpiece of the Toms River Regional School District. It opened June 19, 2003, and is situated on the grounds of Toms River High School North. The facility is used by the high school and the school district for many functions, and is also used for performances by world-renowned artists, like Bill Cosby. The performances and events inside the arena are ticketed and tickets are sold and marketed to the general public. The venue is used for major concert events throughout the year to raise money for the school district.
- The Class of 2003 was the first group of seniors to graduate in the newly built Ritacco Center.
- Its biggest performances over the past three years, some as part of Toms River Fest, include Kelly Clarkson, Vanessa Carlton, The Beach Boys, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and Kenny Rogers. It was also the host of a WWE live event for the new ECW originally scheduled for July 1, 2006 but postponed due to the rowdy un-family friendly crowd at the Hammerstein Ballroom's pay-per-view event One Night Stand 2006 on June 11, it was instead held on September 9 after WWE proved the new ECW was more friendly on the Sci-Fi channel than at the pay per view.
- The building was originally named The Ritacco Center, after Michael Ritacco, the superintendent of Toms River Regional Schools. The name was changed to The Poland Spring Arena at the Ritacco Center after Poland Spring became a major sponsor.
- During the building of the Ritacco Center, additional wings, a cafeteria, and a library were added onto the school. These additions helped limit overpopulation of the school. They also allowed freshmen to have their own wing so they could easily adjust to the high school.
- Administration
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Core members of the school's administration are:
- James J. Hauenstein, Principal
- Charles Frazier, Assistant Principal- senior class
- Christopher Madigan, Assistant Principal- junior class
- Kevin M. Raylman, Assistant Principal- sophomore class
- David Ytreboe, Assistant Principal- freshman class
- Notable alumni
- Darian Barnes (born 1980), pro football player with the Buffalo Bills.
- Jerry Dipoto (born 1968), former Major League Baseball player.
- Demetri Martin (born 1973), Emmy Award-nominated comedian, host of comedy central program Important Things,actor, and writer.
- Piper Perabo (born 1976), actress. Film credits include Coyote Ugly, Cheaper by the Dozen.
- Billy Graftin (born unknown), author of best selling romance novel; "Nelly the Dog I Loved".
- Garrett Reynolds (born 1990), Professional Freestyle BMX rider, 2 time X-Game Gold Medalist.
- External links
- Toms River High School North website
- Data for the Toms River Regional Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- The Poland Spring Arena at the Ritacco Center
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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