Central Regional High School
Central Regional High School is a four-year regional comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Central Regional School District. The high school serves students from the municipalities of Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park.[4]
Central Regional High School | |
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Address | |
Forest Hills Parkway , , 08721 United States | |
Coordinates | 39.892912°N 74.204367°W |
Information | |
Type | Public high school |
School district | Central Regional School District |
NCES School ID | 3402910[1] |
Principal | Dr. Douglas Corbett |
Faculty | 105.7 FTEs[1] |
Grades | 9 - 12 |
Enrollment | 1,483 (as of 2018–19)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 14.0:1[1] |
Color(s) | Garnet and Gold[2] |
Athletics conference | Shore Conference[2][3] |
Team name | Golden Eagles[2] |
Website | www |
As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,483 students and 105.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.0:1. There were 323 students (21.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 83 (5.6% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
History
Students from Lacey Township had attended Central Regional as part of a sending/receiving relationship, which ended when Lacey Township High School opened in September 1981.[5]
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 239th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[6] The school had been ranked 264th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 257th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[7] The magazine ranked the school 273rd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[8] The school was the 272nd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2006 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools.[9] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 240th out of 376 public high schools statewide in its 2010 rankings (an increase of 6 positions from the 2009 rank) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy and mathematics components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[10]
Athletics
The Central Regional High School Golden Eagles[2] compete in Division A South of the Shore Conference, an athletic conference comprised of private and public high schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties along the Jersey Shore.[3][11] The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[12] With 1,060 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.[13] For football, the school was classified by the NJSIAA as South Jersey Group IV for 2018-20.[14]
Baseball
The baseball team won the Group III state championship in 1984, defeating Indian Hills High School in the tournament final.[15]
Field hockey
The field hockey team won the South Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1986 before falling to Northern Highlands Regional High School in the Group III finals.[16]
Softball
The softball team defeated Paramus High School in the final of the playoffs to win the 1996 Group III state championship.[17]
Football
Central Regional High School is coached by Jarrett Pidgeon, who replaced Justin Fumondo to become the school's football coach for the 2020 season. He is the 7th head coach in 15 years. Since 2015, the Golden Eagles have been playing on a FieldTurf home field.
The Eagles were Class B-South co-champions in 1988, defeating arch-rival and state champion Lacey Township High School, 18-15. They finished the '88 season with a record of 6-2-1. In 1994 the Eagles won Class B-South outright and played in the Group III, South Jersey state final vs. Brick Township High School. They finished the year 9-2 and ranked in the State Top 20.
Volleyball
Both the boys and girls programs are led by former professional volleyball player Jeff Mangold.
Soccer
The Central Regional boys' soccer program is coached by Troy Van Hise, Robert Bechtloff, and Cody Ertle. Coach Bechtloff had been the head coach for over 30 years before coach Van Hise took over the program in 2018. Both Ertle and Van Hise had played under Bechtloff during their high school careers. Bechtloff is now the varsity assistant coach, while coach Ertle runs the Junior Varsity program.
Central's boys have found much success in soccer, winning Shore Conference Divisional Champions in 1993, 1998, 2007, and 2010. They have also earned the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III Sectional Championship in 1980, 1988, 1994, and 1996.
The girls' soccer program at Central is led by Meredith Parliman, who is assisted by Lauren Stoltzfus and Brianne Toomey.
Wrestling
The Central Regional wrestling team has enjoyed several successful seasons and has produced some outstanding individuals as well. In 1968, Alan Hess became Central's first ever New Jersey state medalist finishing in fourth place (out of four) without winning a match. In 1973, Mike Baeli became the first wrestler to win a match at the state level, finishing fourth after defeating Art Kubo in the first round. In 1985, Central Regional crowned its first NJSIAA state champion, the late Darnell Myers, under the guidance of coach Paul Mueller.[18] Brothers Mark and Maurice Worthy won a combined five NJSIAA Championships, with Mark Worthy becoming one of only two dozen wrestlers to have won three state titles, winning in 1996 (112 lbs.), 1998 (140 lbs.) and 1999 (145 lbs.), while his brother Maurice Worthy won titles in 1996 (152 lbs.) and 1997 (160 lbs.)[19] Maurice went on to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division I Championships while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. The team had a successful run in the mid-1990s under long-time head coach Pat Lynch who crowned 4 Region Champions and was named Region Coach of the Year.
Mike Bischoff, took over the reins of the program upon Lynch's retirement in 2003. For his efforts, Bischoff would twice (2006 & 2009) be recognized as District 24 Coach of the Year. In 2005, the team won its first ever South Jersey Group III State Sectional title in thrilling fashion over four-time defending champion Kingsway Regional High School.[20] The following season brought a second South Jersey Group III title after dispatching Kingsway for the second straight year, taking five of the final six matches to win 34-27.[21]
In all, the wrestling program has produced six state champions, 23 region champions, and 51 district champions. It has earned two South Jersey Group III state sectional championships (in 2005 and 2006 in South Jersey Group III[22]), two district championships, and seven Shore Conference divisional championships in its 46-year history. Central's last state place winner was senior, Jalen Ramos (now wrestling at Rutgers), who placed 8th at the NJSIAA Championships at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall in 2012. Ramos's 126 career wins are second only to Hall of Famer, Mark Worthy's 128 victories.
Marching band
Central Regional High School's marching band, the Marching Eagles, are a Group II Band in the Tournament of Bands circuit.
Administration
The school's principal is Dr. Douglas Corbett. His core administration team includes four assistant principals.[23]
Notable alumni
- Pam Boyd-Petroski (born 1955, class of 1974), member of the 1984 United States Olympic women's handball team.[24][25]
- Tom DeBlass (born 1982, class of 2000), mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.[26]
- Al Leiter (born 1965, class of 1984), former Major League Baseball pitcher who now serves as a television commentator.[27][28]
- Mark Leiter (born 1963, class of 1981), former Major League Baseball pitcher.[29][30][31]
- Phil Longo (born 1968), American football coach who is offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.[32]
- Megan McCafferty (born 1973, class of 1991), author best known for her series of books about Jessica Darling, a witty teenage heroine.[33]
- Jeff Musselman (born 1963, class of 1981), former Major League Baseball pitcher.[34][35]
References
- School data for Central Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
- Central Regional High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 26, 2015.
- Shore Conference Realignment for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, Shore Conference. Accessed November 15, 2020.
- Central Regional School District 2015 School Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The Central Regional School District is located in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township and draws from the constituent districts of Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights, and Seaside Park."
- [Williams, Kevin. "A Renewal of the Lacey-Central Regional Rivalry", WOBM-FM, September 20, 2019. Accessed December 31, 2020. "I’m sure there are many who don’t know that for many years Lacey Township was a sending district to Central Regional High School. Until 1981 if you lived in Forked River, Lanoka Harbor or Bamber Lakes you attended Central and many of my friends from my high school days lived in Lacey. However in 1981 they got their own high school and as you might expect an immediate rivalry was born, especially when it came to athletics."
- Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
- Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 22, 2012.
- Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 15, 2011.
- Top High Schools 201-316, New Jersey Monthly, September 2006, posted January 28, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2008.
- New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2009-2010, Schooldigger.com. Accessed January 15, 2012.
- Member Schools, Shore Conference. Accessed November 15, 2020.
- League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2018-2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 21, 2020.
- NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- NJSIAA Softball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- Strunsky, Steve. "Toms River police investigate death of former N.J. high school wrestler", The Star-Ledger, May 2, 2010. Accessed January 15, 2012. "Myers was a state wrestling champion in 1984 while at Toms River High School South, and then again in 1985 while at Central Regional High School in Berkeley."
- State Champions Archived April 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Wrestling. Accessed January 15, 2012.
- Christopher, Chris. "Central claims 1st sectional Eagles earn semifinal berth against Ocean", Asbury Park Press, February 18, 2005. Accessed July 4, 2011. "The top-seeded Golden Eagles Thursday night won their first state team sectional title in history pinning a 37-26 loss on Kingsway in the South Jersey Group III championship match."
- Lawrence, Ryan. "Central topples Kingsway", Asbury Park Press, February 17, 2006. Accessed July 4, 2011. "Visiting Central took five of the final six bouts Thursday night to derail Kingsway, ranked eighth in the Gannett New Jersey Top 20 poll, for the second straight season and claim the sectional title with a 34-27 victory."
- NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- 2020-2021 Student Handbook, Central Regional High School. Accessed January 14, 2021.
- Adelizzi, Joe. "Jersey Shore Hall to add 16 members", Asbury Park Press, April 29, 2000. Accessed February 12, 2012. "Pam Boyd-Petroski, Central Regional: As a high school standout at Central, Boyd-Petroski starred in basketball and field hockey."
- Golden Eagles Athletics Hall of Fame: Pam Boyd Petroski ('74), Central Regional High School. Accessed February 12, 2012.
- Williams, Kevin. "Central Regional Inducts More Greats Into Its Sports Hall of Fame", WOBM-FM. Accessed February 14, 2018. "Tom DeBlass graduated in 2000 as the school record holder in the long jump where he also won county and state sectional titles. He was also part of the high jump relay team that set a school record and currently is one of the most respected Jiu-Jitsu figures in the world and owner of Ocean County Jiu-Jitsu."
- Rushin, Steve. "World Series: 1993 - Home Sweet Homer", Sports Illustrated, November 1, 1993, accessed April 26, 2007. "'I don't give a —— how it feels,' said a laughing Leiter, whose last hit came for Central Regional High in Bayville, N.J., where he batted .220 in 1984."
- Golden Eagles Athletics Hall of Fame: Al Leiter ('84) Archived July 31, 2012, at Archive.today, Central Regional High School. Accessed February 12, 2012.
- Adelizzi, Joe. "Leiter side of baseball", Asbury Park Press, August 31, 2005. Accessed February 12, 2012. "It's been a while between autograph sessions for Mark Leiter, the former Central Regional star who put together an 11-year major league career."
- Golden Eagles Athletics Hall of Fame: Mark Leiter ('81) Archived July 23, 2012, at Archive.today, Central Regional High School. Accessed February 12, 2012.
- Trutor, Clayton. Mark Leiter, Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed July 30, 2019. "Raised on the Jersey Shore, Leiter graduated from Central Regional High School in Bayville, New Jersey, in 1981. He starred on the baseball team along with his brother Al, who was a freshman during Mark’s senior year, and classmate Jeff Musselman, who later pitched for the Blue Jays and Mets (1986-1990)."
- "Coach", Daily Record (Morristown), December 13, 1988. Accessed September 15, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Longo, 30, was born in the Jersey Shore community of Red Bank and grew up in Bayville, where he attended Central Regional High. He quarterbacked the first Central team to make the playoffs, in 1986."
- "Darling author returns to Berkeley", Asbury Park Press, September 25, 2007. "Berkeley: Author Megan McCafferty, a 1991 Central Regional High School graduate, will visit the township branch of the Ocean County Library at 7 pm today."
- Kay, Michael. "Yanks Deal Leiter for Barfield", New York Daily News, May 1, 1989. Accessed February 12, 2012. "[Al Leiter] is expected to step right into the Jays' starting rotation, replacing Jeff Musselman, who is undergoing alcohol rehabilitation. Leiter was a teammate of Mussleman's at Central Regional in Bayville, N.J."
- Golden Eagles Athletics Hall of Fame: Jeff Musselman ('81) Archived August 4, 2012, at Archive.today, Central Regional High School. Accessed February 12, 2012.