Middletown High School South Explained

Middletown High School South
Established:September 1976
Address:900 Nut Swamp Road
City:Middletown Township
County:Monmouth County
State:New Jersey
Zipcode:07748
Country:United States
Coordinates:40.3632°N -74.1136°W
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Monmouth County#USA New Jersey#USA
Type:Public high school
Principal:Thomas Olausen
Enrollment:1,474 (as of 2022–23)
Faculty:121.7 FTEs
Ratio:12.1:1
Us Nces School Id:341011003978
District:Middletown Township Public School District
Accreditation:Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Conference:Shore Conference
Teamname:Eagles
Rival:Middletown High School North
Colors: Navy Blue and
Silver Grey
Newspaper:The Eagle Eye[1]
Yearbook:Aquiline[2]

Middletown High School South is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as one of the two secondary schools of the Middletown Township Public School District. The other school in the district is Middletown High School North. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1977.[3]

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,474 students and 121.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. There were 62 students (4.2% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 21 (1.4% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[4]

History

Constructed at a cost of $8.7 million (equivalent to $ million in) on an 80acres site, the 230000square feet school building was designed to accommodate 1,800 students.[5] The school opened its new building in September 1976 for more than 1,400 students, after spending the 1975–76 school year as a school-within-a-school inside Middletown High School North.[6]

Middletown South and the Middletown School District received national attention in fall 2001 when its teachers, members of the Middletown Township Education Association, went on strike for the second time in three years. The strike disrupted classes for several days, and hundreds of teachers were jailed. A group of 228 teachers and other school workers were sent to jail in December 2001, marking that largest such action against school staff in over two decades, though they were released after agreeing to submit their differences with the school district to non-binding arbitration.[7] After the strike, many members of the union leadership stepped down. There has not been a strike since 2001.

In October 2006, the Board of Education of the Middletown Township Public School District voted on a random drug testing procedure that would require all students in extracurricular activities or with a parking space at the high school to submit their name to a pool for random selection.[8]

Awards, recognition and rankings

In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 497th out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 51st among all high schools in New Jersey and 34th among the state's non-magnet schools.[9]

The school was the 92nd-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.[10] The school had been ranked 105th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 95th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[11] The magazine ranked the school 92nd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[12] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 57th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 17 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (91.5%) and language arts literacy (96.7%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[13]

Athletics

The Middletown High School South Eagles[14] compete in Division A North of the Shore Conference, an athletic conference comprising public and private high schools in Monmouth County and Ocean County along the Jersey Shore.[15] [16] The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[17] With 1,096 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.[18] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 893 to 1,296 students.[19]

In 2015, to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of football in Middletown, alumni of North and South high schools played each other; The Middletown North Lion football alumni defeated the Middletown South alumni 6–3 at The Swamp, to claim the victory in what was the first-ever game of its kind in Middletown.[20] Each year, students, parents, teachers, alumni, and administrators gather for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Middletown North and Middletown South. Through the 2015 season, South leads the series with a 27-11-1 record, including 14 straight victories in the Thanksgiving matchup.[20]

The football team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional title in 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1995; won in Central Jersey Group III in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006; and won in 2015 in North II Group IV.[21] Middletown South's football program holds ten state sectional championships, 17 Shore Conference Division Championships, 9 undefeated seasons and 29 state playoff berths.[22] The football program holds the Shore Conference record for longest winning streak with 43 straight wins from 2003 to 2006, which was broken with a 19–14 loss in October 2006 to Ocean Township High School.[23] The 1989 team finished the season with an 11–0 record and was ranked 13th in the nation by USA Today after defeating Madison Central High School by a score of 22–3 to win the program's first Central Jersey Group IV title.[24] [25] The 1990 team won the North II Group IV sectional title with a 15–14 win against Trenton Central High School in the championship game.[26] In the 1995 Central Jersey Group IV final at Giants Stadium, the team defeated Piscataway High School by a score of 28–10 to finish the season with an 11–0 record.[27] The 2001 team finished the season with a record of 12-0 after winning the Central Jersey Group IV sectional title with a 15–14 win against Hamilton High School West in the tournament final.[28] In 2004, The Eagles were ranked #1 in the state of New Jersey unanimously by Gannett New Jersey, The Star-Ledger, and News 12 New Jersey polls.[29] [30] The team was selected again in 2005 and in 2015 as the winner of the Star-Ledger Trophy, recognizing the best team in the state.[31] [32] Middletown South's head coach is Steve Antonucci who had a career record of 149-34 as of November 2013. Middletown South was the high school of Knowshon Moreno, who was the 12th pick of the 2009 NFL draft.[33] NJ.com listed the rivalry between Middletown North and South as 11th best in their 2017 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football". Middletown South holds the overall lead with a head-to-head record of 29-12-1 through the 2017 season, which includes 16 consecutive wins by South from 2001 to 2016.[34]

The field hockey team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional title in 1980, 1982 and 1995.[35]

The Middletown South baseball program has also been recognized for their success in the 1990s. During Head Coach Steve Antonucci's tenure which started in 1996, the Eagles won two Central Jersey State Titles (1996 and 1999) and completed the first undefeated season in Shore Conference A-North history with a 14–0 record. The Eagles were led by Darren Fenster to a 25–3 record. The baseball team won the Group IV state championship in 1996, defeating Bloomfield High School in the tournament final.[36] In 1999, the Eagles won the A-North, Monmouth County and Central Jersey state championships. The 1999 squad featured many talented players including Asbury Park Press Player of the Year Jarrett Sues, who set a school record with 21 home runs and earned ten victories on the hill.[37] The Eagles offense was the most potent in the state including the single season home run record as a team. The Eagles were also led by All-State pitcher John Scala (10-1), and All-Shore selections Jon Klopacs (C) and Mark Fitzgerald (SS). Antonucci would continue to lead the Eagles until the conclusion of the 2008 season. The 2011 baseball team won the Monmouth County Tournament and the Central Jersey, Group III title, the program's first since 1999.[38] In 2012, the Eagles clinched the A-North division title.

The softball team won the Group IV state championship in 1995 (vs. Clifton High School), won in Group III in 2002 (vs. Pascack Valley High School), 2009 (vs. Ramapo High School), 2010 (vs. Nutley High School) and 2015 (vs. Sparta High School); the program's five state titles are tied for eighth-most in the state.[39] The program's first title came in 1995 with a 9–4 win against Clifton in the championship game.[40] The team won the Group III state championship in 2015, defeating Sparta High School by a score of 8–1 at Kean University, to win the program's fifth overall group championship.[41] Softball coach Tom Erbig retired at the end of the 2016 season having led the team to 16 sectional championships and five group titles; his career record of 743-231-1 made him the winningest softball coach in the state, a title he earned in 2015 with his 722nd win, surpassing Pete Fick of Hunterdon Central Regional High School.[42]

The girls tennis team won the Group IV state championship in 1996, defeating Westfield High School in the tournament final.[43] The 1996 team defeated Cherry Hill High School East 3–2 in the semifinal round before defeating Westfield 3–2 in the finals.[44]

The girls' track team won the Group III state indoor relay championships in 1997 and 1998.[45] The girls track team was indoor Group II champion in 1997 and 1999.[46] The girls track team won the spring / outdoor track Group III state title in 1998.[47]

The boys cross country team won the Group III state championship in 1998.[48]

The girls' cross country team won the Group III in 1998, 2002 and 2019.[49] The team won the Meet of Champions in 1998.[50] They won state sectionals for three consecutive years, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The girls' soccer team was Group III co-champion with Cranford High School in 2000.[51]

The boys' basketball team did not win a single game in the 2004–05 season.[52] Three years later, during the 2007–08 season, second-year head coach Kevin Cullen led the team to the Central Jersey Group III Sectional Championship with a win over Neptune High School 45–33.[53] [54]

The ice hockey team won Handchen Cup in 2009, 2010 and 2012 (as co-champion).[55]

The girls' basketball team won the Group III state championship in 2015, defeating Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan in the final game of the tournament playoff.[56] The team won the Group III Central Jersey state championship in 2014 with a 38–35 win against Neptune High School in the tournament final.[57]

Administration

The school's principal is Thomas Olausen, whose administration team includes four assistant principals.[58]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.mhsseagleeye.com Home Page
  2. https://www.middletownk12.org/Page/2380 Clubs and Activities
  3. https://www.msa-cess.org/school-profile/?oId=0065e00000B8S8j&typ=school-profile Middletown High School South
  4. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3410110&ID=341011003978 School data for Middletown High School South
  5. Buscell, Pruscia. "School to End 12 Years of Double Sessions", Asbury Park Press, October 17, 1975. Accessed June 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Twelve years of split sessions will end next fall when the $8.7 million Middletown High School South open its doors. The building, which is scheduled for completion this spring, sits on 80 acres of woods and fields between Nutswamp and Middletown-Lincroft roads. Leading a tour of the unfinished interior of the 230,000-square-foot building, Principal Dennis Jackson - showed where sliding partitions will be installed to allow open space or walled classrooms.... The school is built for 1,800 youngsters, and it will have about 1,000 when it opens next year. There are now about 3,200 students attending morning and afternoon-sessions at Middletown High School North."
  6. Bramley, Bob. "Middletown South: A new sense of freedom", The Sunday Register, September 26, 1976. Accessed June 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The eagle is flying high as Middletown High School South begins its first school year. The eagle, an all-American balding type with piercing eyes and a hefty wingspan, is the emblem chosen for the townships second high school by a student committee; it symbolizes the separate school loyalty -- distinctly apart from that accorded the lion of Middletown North -- that has already blossomed among the 1,430 students in the new facility.... Dennis Jackson, principal of the phantom High School South which existed last year within High School North, is obviously delighted that his new domam is here in the flesh."
  7. Staff. "Middletown NJ Teachers, Secretaries Released From Jail", Wisconsin Education Association Council, December 6, 2001. Accessed May 12, 2011. "During the week, 228 teachers and secretaries had been sent to jail for violating a judge's order that they return to work. It was the nation's biggest mass jailing of striking teachers in 23 years."
  8. Herget, Alison. "School board approves random drug-testing policy", Asbury Park Press, October 24, 2006. Accessed May 12, 2011. "The random drug-testing program in Middletown comes roughly a year after then- acting Gov. Richard J. Codey signed a bill test for drugs 9th- through 12th-graders involved in extracurricular activities."
  9. Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2016", Newsweek. Accessed November 11, 2016.
  10. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  11. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 29, 2012.
  12. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed May 12, 2011.
  13. http://www.schooldigger.com/go/NJ/schools/1011003978/school.aspx School Overview; Click on "Rankings" for 2003-11 HSPA results
  14. https://www.njsiaa.org/schools/middletown-high-school-south Middletown High School South
  15. http://media.digitalsports.com/79529/files/2017/03/Shore-Conference-Realignment-2018-2020.pdf Shore Conference Realignment for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020
  16. http://www.shoreconferencenj.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=249 Member Schools
  17. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/2020-2021-lc-officers-schools.pdf League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021
  18. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/general-classifications-2018-2020.pdf NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020
  19. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2022-08/Football%20%2722%20%26%20%2723.pdf NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024
  20. Zedalis, Joe. "Football: Middletown South, Middletown North alumni ready to renew old rivalry", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 13, 2015. "Middletown North versus Middletown South is one of the most heated Thanksgiving Day rivalries in the Shore Conference. Saturday, 7 p.m., at South's sunken treasure known affectionately as 'The Swamp,' former Lions and Eagles meet in the first Middletown North-Middletown South alumni game.... The alumni game, promoted by OT Football, figures into the celebration of 100 years of football in Middletown."
  21. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-football.pdf NJSIAA Football History
  22. https://www.gridironnewjersey.com/schoolDetail.aspx?schoolId=173 Middletown South Eagles
  23. Badders, Bob. "Streak busters", Asbury Park Press, October 28, 2006. Accessed July 21, 2011. "Behind a punishing ground attack and a defense that was swallowing ball carriers left and right, the Spartans pulled off the upset of all upsets by defeating Middletown South, 19-14, to end the Eagles' Shore Conference record 43-game winning streak Friday night at The Swamp."
  24. Shevlin, Theresa. "Sweet victory; Middletown South wins sectional title", Asbury Park Press, December 3, 1989. Accessed January 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Middletown South head football coach John Andl wasn't going to relax for a second.... Not with 30 seconds, 20 seconds or 10 seconds to Play-Only when the game clock hit zero and the Eagles were crowned with their first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Jersey Group IV championship a 22-3 victory over visiting Madison Central did Andl feel relieved. 'I just kept watching the final seconds of that clock because you're not comfortable until there's no time left on it,' said Andl, who guided the Eagles to a perfect 11-0 record this season."
  25. https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/year-by-year-rankings.htm "Year-by-year final football rankings"
  26. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/499550420/ "Scotch Plains rallies to beat West Morris"
  27. Edelson, Stephen. "HS Football: Jersey Shore's greatest teams of the 1990s", Asbury Park Press, October 25, 2016. Accessed December 29, 2020. "1995 Middletown South (11-0) The Eagles won their fourth Central Jersey Group IV titles, and their first since 1991, rolling to a 28-10 victory over Piscataway in the championship game at Giants Stadium."
  28. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/499346512/ "Around the State"
  29. [Mike Quick|Quick, Mike]
  30. Staff. "Editorial", Asbury Park Press, December 10, 2004. Accessed July 21, 2011. "And one of those teams, Middletown South, ranked first in the state in the final Gannett New Jersey and Star Ledger polls. Middletown South shut out another Shore team Wall 14-0 to claim its second consecutive NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III crown and 24th straight win."
  31. Kinney, Mike. "NJ FOOTBALL: Middletown South rejoins Top 20, West Deptford debuts", The Star-Ledger, November 22, 2010. Accessed July 21, 2011. "Middletown South (8-2) advanced to its ninth sectional final since 2001 with a 21-13 win over Hamilton in the Central Jersey, Group 3 semifinals.... Middletown South will seek its sixth title since '01 and 10th overall when it battles Freehold Borough in two weeks.... The Eagles scooped up consecutive Star-Ledger trophies in 2004 and '05 as the state's No. 1 team."
  32. Ryan, Chris. "The final NJ.com football Top 20, 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 9, 2015. Accessed May 2, 2016. "After capping off a perfect 12-0 season with a convincing 35-7 win over Phillipsburg in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 final, Middletown South is the No. 1 ranked team in the final Top 20 and is the NJ.com Team of the Year for 2015. Middletown South is the first public school to finish No. 1 in the rankings since 2005, when Middletown South also held the top spot at the end of the season."
  33. van Esselstyn, Drew. "Middletown South's Knowshon Moreno selected No. 12 overall by Denver Broncos", The Star-Ledger, April 25, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2011. "This time it was former Middletown South star running back, Knowshon Moreno. Moreno, who garnered national attention while at Georgia, was expected to go much lower in the first round. But the Denver Broncos snatched him up with the 12th pick in the first round."
  34. Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "12-Middletown North vs. Middletown South: The two rivals are located only 5.1 miles apart, but until last season the football rivalry has been one-sided. Chad Glenn's 326-yard passing performance led North to a 24-6 win, snapping South's 16-game winning streak against the Lions.... All-time series: Middletown South leads, 29-12-1"
  35. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-girls-field-hockey_0.pdf History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships
  36. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/20-baseball-history.pdf NJSIAA Baseball Championship History
  37. Staff. "Where Have You Gone, Jarrett Sues?", Minor League Baseball, November 15, 2008. Accessed July 21, 2011. "Sues' road to professional baseball started right where he is back at today: on the New Jersey shores. He was as good at the bat as he was on the mound in high school at Middletown (NJ) High School South, where his senior year in 1999 saw him belt 21 homers at the plate in addition to his ten wins on the mound. He was named by the Asbury Park Press newspaper as its '1999 High School Baseball Player of the Year.'"
  38. Lerner, Gregg. "Middletown South (7) at Brick (1), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, Central Jersey, Group 3 - Baseball", The Star-Ledger, June 3, 2011. Accessed July 21, 2011. "By working batters away, then challenging them on the inner half of the plate, he neutralized Brick's collection of dangerous hitters while reaping the benefits of a balanced Middletown South offense on the way to a 7-1 triumph in the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger Central Jersey, Group 3 final yesterday in Brick. The victory gave Middletown South (19-8) its first sectional title since 1999 and second championship in less than 24 hours. It scored an 8-5 decision over No. 3 Red Bank Catholic on Thursday night in the Monmouth County Tournament title game."
  39. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-02/Softball%2023.pdf Softball Championship History 1972–2023
  40. Czerwinski, Kevin T. "Clifton's slow start ends in tough loss", The Record, June 11, 1995. Accessed November 25, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "The hurler searched for the right words, groping for an explanation as to why Clifton had just dropped the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 4 softball championship game to Middletown South, 9-4."
  41. Evans, Bill. "Softball: Middletown South rolls over Sparta, 8-1, to win Group 3 title", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 5, 2015. Accessed November 28, 2015. "The Middletown South High School softball team won its NJSIAA/Blue Ribbon Awards state Group 3 semifinal over Delsea, 2-1, in 10 innings Wednesday and dropped the Shore Conference final, 1-0, against rival Middletown South in nine innings Thursday. In Friday's state final against Sparta, the Eagles left the drama behind, rolling past Sparta, 8-1, for the fifth state title in school history and first since winning back-to-back state titles in 2009 and 2010."
  42. Evans, Bill. "Tom Erbig, winningest softball coach in state history, retires after final", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 11, 2016. Accessed January 3, 2017. "Erbig passed former Hunterdon Central coach Pete Fick this season as the winningest coach in state history with his 722nd win and could be passed in the next few years as long as South Plainfield's Don Panzarella keeps coaching.... Erbig finished his career 743-231-1 with his 16th sectional title this season. He won five state titles with the Eagles, including last season."
  43. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-10/21-girls-team-tennis-history.pdf History of NJSIAA Girls Team Tennis Championships
  44. Schuman, Neil. "Middletown South stops Westfield", Asbury Park Press, October 31, 1996. Accessed January 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Yesterday, the Eagles' senior third-singles player rallied past Westfield's Meghan Corbett to lead South to its first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group IV championship.... The Eagles avenged that loss yesterday, when they eliminated Cherry Hill East, 3-2 in the semifinals."
  45. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-12/20-relay-history_0.pdf History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships
  46. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-01/Girls%20Indoor%20Track%20%26%20Field.pdf Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023
  47. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-08/21-spring-track-group-history.pdf NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles
  48. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-xc-group-team-champions_0.pdf NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions
  49. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-xc-group-team-champions.pdf NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions
  50. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/19-xc-moc-history.pdf NJSIAA Girl Cross-Country Meet of Champions Winners (1972-2019)
  51. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-girls-soccer.pdf NJSIAA History of Girls Soccer
  52. Costa, Brandon. "Coach Cullen took Eagles to new heights", Asbury Park Press, March 15, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2016. "In the fall of 2006, Cullen inherited a boys basketball program that had won only three games in its previous two seasons, including a winless campaign in 2004-05."
  53. http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=260152&tclass=Central%2C%20Group%20III 2008 Boys Basketball - Central, Group III
  54. Rosenfeld, Josh. "Dougher helps Scotch Plains capture crown" (substory: "Middletown South prevails behind Callori"), The Star-Ledger, March 5, 2008. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  55. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/20-ice-hockey-history.pdf NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History
  56. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/2020-girls-basketball-history.pdf NJSIAA Girls Basketball Championship History
  57. Staff. "Neptune (35) at Middletown South (38), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, Central Jersey, Group 3 - Girls Basketball", The Star-Ledger, March 11, 2014. Accessed December 11, 2014. "Stephanie Karcz scored a game-high 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead Middletown South past Neptune, 38-35, in the Central Jersey, Group 3 final in Middletown."
  58. https://south.middletownk12.org/principals-page Building Administration
  59. Stephenson, Colin. "Rutgers' Howard Barbieri is a jack of all trades on the offensive line", The Star-Ledger, August 30, 2009. Accessed August 28, 2019. "One other thing: Barbieri also spent time last year as a backup tight end. Not bad for a walk-on who played almost only on the defensive line at Middletown South High School."
  60. Van Develde, Elaine. "Olympians to get the royal treatment Oct. 22 parade will honor local swimmer and gymnast", Central Jersey Archives, October 4, 2000. Accessed November 21, 2020. "It’s no secret that Tom Wilkens and Alyssa Beckerman, both Middletown natives, went to Sydney, Australia, for the world’s biggest sporting attraction.... Beckerman, a former Middletown High School South star, trained in Cincinnati, Ohio."
  61. https://www.state.nj.us/education/news/2004/0526arts.htm "DOE Co-Sponsors 24th Annual Governor’s Awards in Arts Education"
  62. Chesek, Tom. "Archive: A Sneak Preview in Circuit City", Upper Wet Side, April 22, 2011. Accessed September 22, 2015. "Red Bank area native, movie actor and filmmaker Peter Dobson directing his project EXIT 102, which climaxes a daylong REELS & WHEELS event at various venues in Asbury Park.... PETER DOBSON: I was born in Riverview Hospital; lived on West Front Street out by River Plaza.... I went to Lincroft Elementary, Thompson Junior High and Middletown High School South — where I spent two years in tenth grade. I also lived for a while in Loch Arbour, so I have very vivid memories of hanging out in Asbury Park."
  63. https://web.archive.org/web/20110109090708/http://scarletknights.com/baseball/coaches/fenster.asp Darren Fenster - Assistant Coach
  64. https://monmouthhawks.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/tom-gray/2010 Tom Gray
  65. Kuperinsky, Amy. "‘Cobra Kai’ season 4 on Netflix: Battle for the soul of Valley rages on for N.J. creators and cast", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 31, 2021, updated January 6, 2022. Accessed November 17, 2022. "Heald (co-writer of Hot Tub Time Machine), who met Hurwitz when they were students at the University of Pennsylvania, proudly remembers being an 'alpha' marching band drum major at Middletown High School South."
  66. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/K/jeff-kunkel.shtml Jeff Kunkel
  67. Edelson, Stephen. "Middletown's Rick Lovato Jr. signs with Packers", Asbury Park Press, December 23, 2015. Accessed December 27, 2015. "Middletown's Rick Lovato Jr. was signed by the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday.... A former player at Middletown South, Lovato was an FCS All-American long-snapper at Old Dominion."
  68. Malwitz, Rick. "Author to sign copies of Melanie McGuire book", Courier News, November 26, 2008. Accessed November 24, 2014. "For example, according to Melanie's brother, when his sister, the former Melanie Slate, was attending Middletown South High School, she boasted about affairs with two married teachers."
  69. Wilno, Don. "Jump gets jump on Wesley College; Sanderson helps bowl over Temple", Asbury Park Press, September 29, 2007. Accessed October 17, 2007. "Redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno, a graduate of Middletown High School South, tied senior starting tailback Thomas Brown with 74 yards rushing in the University of Georgia's 26-23 overtime victory over Alabama at Bryan-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala."
  70. Burton, John. "What It's Like on the Campaign Trail: Middletown's Olivia Nuzzi Reports for the Daily Beast", The Two River Times, February 25, 2016. Accessed August 1, 2017. "Nuzzi grew up in the River Plaza section of Middletown, where her mother still lives, and graduated from Middletown High School South."
  71. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=PETERCHR01 Christian Peter profile
  72. Finley, Bill. "In Person; When the Cheers Aren't Enough", The New York Times, February 12, 2006. Accessed October 17, 2020. "'I am able to look my mom, my dad, my brothers and sister in the eye and say I am fine,' said Peter, a former football star at Middletown South High School, who these days is living in Huntington Beach, Calif., trying to put his life back together."
  73. Staff. Moqut Ruffins Returns To Renegades, Our Sports Central, December 12, 2007. Accessed May 2, 2016. "Louisiana Tech recruited Ruffins after a solid high school tenure at New Jersey power Middleton High School South, where he was part of two (2000,2001) Central Jersey Group 3 titles."
  74. Politi, Steve. "Meet the Super Bowl 2016 player from New Jersey who saved his sister's life", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 3, 2016. Accessed December 24, 2018. "Because this weekend is, and against long odds on an athletic level -- we'll get to that part of this Jersey underdog story soon enough -- Scott Simonson will take the field as a special teams player and a third-string tight end for the favored Carolina Panthers.... But the Red Bank native who played for powerhouse Middletown South will be there at Levi's Stadium, and so will a family that includes the sick little girl he helped save."