Paulsboro High School Explained

Paulsboro High School
Established:1907
Type:Public high school
Principal:Paul Morina
Enrollment:384 (as of 2022–23)
Faculty:32.6 FTEs
Ratio:11.8:1
Us Nces School Id:341272002608
Teamname:Red Raiders
Conference:Colonial Conference (general)
West Jersey Football League (football)
Rivals:Woodbury High School
West Deptford High School
Colors: Red and
white
Address:670 North Delaware Street
City:Paulsboro
County:Gloucester County
State:New Jersey
Zipcode:08066
Country:United States
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Gloucester County#USA New Jersey#USA

Paulsboro High School is a comprehensive community six-year public high school that serves students in seventh through twelfth grade from Paulsboro, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the sole secondary school of the Paulsboro Public Schools.

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 384 students and 32.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. There were 154 students (40.1% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 1 (0.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Students in grades 9-12 from Greenwich Township attend Paulsboro High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Greenwich Township School District.[2] [3]

History

The district's first high school program began in 1907. Paulsboro High School was dedicated in May 1917 and constructed at a cost of $60,000 (equivalent to $ in).[4]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 309th-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.[5] The school had been ranked 278th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 265th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[6] The magazine ranked the school 277th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[7] The school was ranked 264th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[8]

Athletics

The Paulsboro High School Red Raiders[9] compete as a member school in the Colonial Conference, which is comprised of small schools in Camden and Gloucester counties whose enrollments generally do not exceed between 750 and 800 students for grades 9–12, and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[10] [11] With 286 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2022–24 school years as Group I South for most athletic competition purposes.[12] The football team competes in the Diamond Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[13] [14] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group I South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 200 to 463 students.[15]

The football team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship in 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1992–1997, 2000–2002, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2016 and 2017.[16] The 1980 team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional title with a 16–6 victory against Glassboro High School to finish the season at 9–2.[17] The 1984 team used a touchdown pass in the last minute of play to win the South Jersey Group I championship game by a score of 34–26 to finish the season with a record of 9-1-1.[18] The 1984 team beat Glassboro 40–8 in front of 4,000 spectators to win the South Jersey Group I state title.[19] The 1986 team finished the season with a 10–1 record after winning the South Jersey Group I state sectional title with a 10–0 win against Haddonfield Memorial High School in the championship game, avenging the team's only loss in the regular season.[20] With their quarterback setting state records for career points and touchdowns scored. the 1995 team won the program's fourth consecutive South Jersey Group I title with a 50–0 win against Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School in the playoff finals to run their record to 11–0.[21] In 2000, the team finished the season 11–0, defeating previously unbeaten Glassboro High School by a score of 21–15 in the finals to win the South Jersey Group I title.[22] The 2001 team finished the season 12-0 after winning the South Jersey Group I state sectional title with a 55–6 win against Gloucester City in the tournament final.[23] In 2016, the team won the 18th sectional title in program history, defeating Salem High School by a score of 29–26 in the South Jersey Group I state sectional tournament final.[24] The 2017 team won the program's 19th overall championship, its third title in four seasons and finished the year with a 10–2 record, defeating Penns Grove High School by a score of 34–24 in the playoff final of the South Jersey Group I state sectional tournament.[25] [26] NJ.com listed the rivalry between Paulsboro and Woodbury High School at number 20 in their 2017 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", with Paulsboro leading the series between the two teams with a 56-43-3 record.[27] Head coach Glenn Howard entered the 2020 season with 15 sectional championships and an overall career record of 300–68 in his 34 years leading the team, ranked fourth in wins among all active football coaches.[28] Longtime assistant coach Kevin Harvey was named to replace Glenn Howard after his retirement in 2022.[29]

The boys' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 1996 (defeating Science Park High School in the final game of the tournament) and 2015 (vs. University High School).[30] The 1996 team won the Group I state title with a 53–51 win against Science Park of Newark in the championship game played at the Rutgers Athletic Center.[31]

The boys track team won the Group I spring / outdoor track state championship in 1998.[32]

The girls' outdoor track and field team won the Group I state championship in 2004 and 2019.[33]

The boys tennis team won the Group I state championship in 2019, defeating runner-up Malcolm X Shabazz High School in the final match of the tournament.[34]

Wrestling dynasty

The wrestling team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship every year from 1980 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2014, and won the Group I state championship from 1983 to 2007, 2009-2011 and 2016–2020; the 40 sectional titles, 33 group championships and the 25 consecutive group titles are the most of any school in the state[35] As of the 2019 season, head coach Paul Morina won his 700th match, becoming the second coach in state history to reach that milestone.[36] Morina reached his 606th victory as coach with a win against Haddonfield Memorial High School in January 2015, breaking the South Jersey record; From the time he became coach until he set the win record, Morina had won 28 sectional titles and went on to win 25 group championships.[37]

1,000 wins

On February 2, 2011, Paulsboro became just the third high school in history to accumulate 1,000 wins.[38] It joined Granite City High School (Granite City, Illinois) and Vacaville High School (Vacaville, California) in the 1,000-win club.[39]

37-year conference unbeaten streak

Paulsboro High School's wrestling team had a streak of 307 consecutive victories against Colonial Conference opponents. The streak started in 1971 when Haddon Township High School had handed them their last conference loss. It would be nearly four decades until Collingswood High School was responsible for halting the streak on January 16, 2008, with a 28–22 decision over the Red Raiders.[40] Paulsboro had won 25 consecutive state championships in Group I until 2008 when they lost early in the state tournament. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, that streak was the longest in the entire nation at the time, and only three other teams have won more state championships overall than Paulsboro.[41]

'The Streak'

Paulsboro High School owns the New Jersey state record for consecutive football victories with 63 running from 1992 and until September 26, 1998, when they lost to longtime rival Woodbury High School by a score of 14–13. The 63 consecutive wins is still the state record, surpassing the next closest streak in South Jersey by 20 games, and besting the previous state record holder by nine.[42] [43] [44]

Controversy

Principal Lucia Pollino was suspended after an incident in which three students were allegedly strip searched while on a senior trip to Walt Disney World in April 2007. A lawsuit has been filed by an attorney representing one of the students asking for $250,000 in damages related to the incident.[45] Superintendent of Schools Frank Scambia said that Pollino would be reassigned to become director of assessments, a position for which she would be compensated with the same salary she had received as principal. The district reached a settlement with Pollino after she sued the district, charging that she had been the victim of gender discrimination and that she had never approved the strip search.[46]

The current principal, Paul Morina, also served as the CEO of Hometown International, a publicly listed company with a market cap of $113M despite owning one deli. Morina, according to SEC filings, held 1.5 million shares of Hometown common shares, which on paper had been worth more than $20 million, given the current share price. Morina was also involved in Mantua Creek Group, which owns the building that Your Hometown Deli operates in. Christine Lindenmuth, who is a math teacher and administrator at Paulsboro High School, was also an executive at Hometown International.[47] Morina wasn't charged in either suit, and the Justice Department complaint alleges that he was taken in by Patten, according to the federal criminal indictment.[48]

Popular culture

A special premiere of the 2004 Kevin Smith film Jersey Girl was held at the school, which had been the location of several scenes in the film. A street leading out of the school was named Kevin Smith Way.[49]

Administration

The school's principal is Paul Morina. His core administration team includes the assistant principal[50]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3412720&ID=341272002608 School data for Paulsboro High School
  2. https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/1516/15/4020/000.html Paulsboro Public Schools 2016 Report Card Narrative
  3. Paciolla, Christina. "Slash in school aid to Greenwich Township prompts tax hike", Gloucester County Times, March 25, 2010. Accessed January 25, 2011. "The cost of sending over 100 township students to Paulsboro High School also increased to $2,500 per pupil."
  4. https://phs.paulsboro.k12.nj.us/about About
  5. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  6. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 3, 2012.
  7. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 6, 2011.
  8. http://njmonthly.com/articles/towns_and_schools/highschoolrankings/top-new-jersey-high-schools-by-rank.html "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank"
  9. https://www.njsiaa.org/schools/paulsboro-high-school Paulsboro High School
  10. http://thecolonialconference.org/schools/ Schools
  11. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/2020-2021-lc-officers-schools.pdf League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021
  12. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2022-08/General%20Classifications%20%2722-%2723%20-%20%2723-%2724.pdf NJSIAA General Classifications - Public Schools 2022-2023 and 2023-2024
  13. https://www.gridironnewjersey.com/schoolDetail.aspx?schoolid=232 Paulsboro Red Raiders
  14. https://www.westjerseyfootball.com Home Page
  15. 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
  16. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-football.pdf NJSIAA Football History
  17. Curt, Holbreich. "Pauls defeat Glassboro, win 2nd straight crown", Courier-Post, December 7, 1980. Accessed January 26, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Paulsboro High School took advantage of Glassboro's sloppy first quarter and used a rugged defense to defend its South Jersey Group 1 football title with a 16-6 victory yesterday.... The Bulldogs' troubles started midway through, the first period when they failed to cover a Paulsboro (9-2) punt from their own 32-yard line."
  18. Benevento, Don. "Paulsboro turns back Audubon", Courier-Post, December 5, 1982. Accessed March 8, 2021. "Vince Scott caught a 25-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds to play yesterday to give Paulsboro High School a thrilling 34-26 victory over Audubon and the South Jersey Group 1 football championship. Scott's reception, which broke a 26-26 tie, enabled the Red Raiders, ranked sixth in the Top Ten Poll, to finish the season at 9-1-1, while unranked Audubon finished at 7-4. For Paulsboro, it was their third sectional group title in the last four years and it was the Colonial Conference champions' second victory of the year over Audubon."
  19. Vogeding, Bob. "Paulsboro romps 40-8, dethrones Glassboro", Courier-Post, December 2, 1984. Accessed February 2, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "What a standing-room-only crowd of better than 4,000 saw here in the Group 1 championship yesterday was Redman getting another touchdown and 138 yards rushing.... Instead, it was a super two-way effort from the guys in the trenches, a swarming effort by a determined secondary and an explosive offensive performance featuring John Worthy, Robert Muse and Emmett Merchant that shone brighter than the sun overhead as Paulsboro, No. 13 in the Top Ten Poll, dethroned the defending champions with a no-doubt 40-8 victory."
  20. Burrows, Walt. "Paulsboro tops Haddons, 10-0; defense excels", Courier-Post, December 7, 1986. Accessed January 14, 2021. "Ron Victor scored on a seven-yard run, Tom Paulsen kicked a 20-yard field goal and a stubborn defense held Haddonfield High School to 76 total yards as Paulsboro won the South Jersey Group 1 football championship, 10-0, here yesterday. It marked the fifth Group 1 championship overall for Paulsboro and its fourth in the last seven years. The Pauls won it in 1980-82-84 and now in '86 to keep their current streak of winning in the even years alive.... Paulsboro, 10-1 and No. 4 in the fop Ten Poll, gained a first down on the running of Peter Brandt and then managed to run out the clock."
  21. McBride, John. "Paulsboro trounces Gloucester in title game", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 3, 1995. Accessed February 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Paulsboro's spectacular senior quarterback carted off some impressive numbers as he made his way to the sideline: 4,029 yards rushing, 3,844 yards passing, and state career records for touchdowns (101) and points (656). He also established a South Jersey single-season scoring record with 212 points. Most important, Harvey concluded his four years by helping the Red Raiders to their fourth straight South Jersey Group 1 championship in a 50-0 shellacking of Gloucester at Gateway High.... Paulsboro (11-0), which has won nine titles since 1979 and is 21-6 in postseason play, took a 6-0 lead on its first possession."
  22. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/183898427/ "S.J. football champions; Paulsboro always finds a way to win in football"
  23. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/499346512/ "Around the State"
  24. Chando, Matt. "Extra points made the difference for Paulsboro in 29-26 win", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 3, 2016. Accessed December 11, 2016. "The Paulsboro and Salem football teams were evenly matched squads in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute.com South Jersey, Group 1 final Saturday at Rowan University. In fact, each team scored four touchdowns in the Red Raiders' 29-26 victory, which clinched Paulsboro's 18th sectional title in program history."
  25. Consentino, Matt. "Dehron Holloway sparks Paulsboro to third SJG1 title in 4 years", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 2, 2017. Accessed December 6, 2017. "Holloway scored three touchdowns and led an outstanding defensive effort with three interceptions as the top-seeded Red Raiders knocked off second-seeded Penns Grove, 34-24, in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 1 final. Paulsboro captured its third championship in the last four years and 19th overall.... The Red Raiders (10-2) held one of the most explosive offenses in South Jersey – which came into the game averaging more than 46 points per game – to just 18 points, all in the second half."
  26. http://highschoolsports.nj.com/tournament/63633/ "Football - 2017 NJSIAA South, Group 1 Playoffs"
  27. 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 28, 2022. "20-Paulsboro vs. Woodbury... One of the longest-standing rivalries in New Jersey, these two neighboring towns held a big celebration to celebrate their 100th meeting two years ago.... All-time series: Paulsboro leads, 56-43-3"
  28. Koob, Andrew. "N.J. football′s winningest active head coaches in 2020", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 27, 2020, updated October 1, 2020. Accessed December 6, 2020. "4-Glenn Howard, Paulsboro Record: 300-68 Winning Percentage: 81.5 Years as head coach: 34 seasons; all at Paulsboro. A Paulsboro graduate, Howard had led the Red Raiders to 15 South Jersey Group 1 titles - including six straight from 1992-97"
  29. Web site: NJ.com . Bill Evans NJ Advance Media for . 2022-02-23 . Paulsboro legend Kevin Harvey named to replace Glenn Howard as football coach . 2023-08-22 . nj . en.
  30. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/2020-basketball-history_0.pdf NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History
  31. Burrows, Walt. "Painlsboro takes first state basketball title", Courier-Post, March 11, 1996. Accessed February 1, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Paulsboro High school athlete has earned many accolades for his play as a quarterback on the football team. But this time it was different. He led Paulsboro, 22-7, to its first state Group 1 basketball title with 28 points in a 53-51 thriller over Science of Newark at the Rutgers University Louis Brown Athletic Center."
  32. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-08/21-history.pdf NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Boys
  33. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-08/21-spring-track-group-history.pdf NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles
  34. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/20-team-tennis-history.pdf History of Boys' Team Tennis Championship Tournament
  35. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-04/2021-wrestling-history.pdf NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History
  36. Anastasia, Phil. "Paulsboro's Paul Morina wins 700th match in state wrestling final",The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 11, 2019. Accessed June 29, 2023. "Morina joined Emerson Boro's Stan Woods, who just finished his 50th season, as the only coaches in New Jersey wrestling history with 700 career wins."
  37. McGurk, Tom. "Paulsboro wrestling coach becomes all-time wins leader in S.J. history", Courier-Post, January 28, 2015. Accessed December 6, 2017. "When he took his first head coaching job in 1986, the Paulsboro alum not only replaced his mentor, he took the reins from a legend who built this small Gloucester County town into the mecca of South Jersey wrestling.... Morina was crowned the all-time winningest wrestling coach in South Jersey history Wednesday night with win No. 606 coming in a 47-14 triumph over Haddonfield. Under Morina, Paulsboro has won 110 of 115 playoff matches (with one tie) en route to 28 sectional and 25 state titles."
  38. Atansia, Phil. "Phil Anastasia: Paulsboro High claims 1,000th victory in wrestling", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 3, 2011. Accessed December 6, 2017. "The Red Raiders are the first high school team in the East and just the third in the country to win 1,000 matches. Granite City, Ill., was the first, and Vacaville, Calif., accomplished the feat on Jan. 22."
  39. Evans, Bill. "Isn't it Grand?", NJ.com, August 22, 2013. Accessed December 4, 2016. "The Red Raiders defeated the Hawks, 59-6, to win the 1,000th match in the storied history of Paulsboro wrestling, making them just the third high school wrestling team in the country to achieve the feat. Granite City, Ill. and Vacaville, Calif. previously reached the milestone."
  40. http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/VARSITY/801170338/1020/varsity Paulsboro streak ends - Courier-Post Online
  41. http://www.1010wins.com/pages/187529.php? Yahoo! News - "300 Wins in a Row for High School Wrestling Team
  42. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/sam_carchidi/20080120_Sam_Carchidi__A_compendium_of_epic_battles_over_the_years.html A compendium of epic battles over the years - Philly.com
  43. http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/SPECIAL29/708080329/-1/special29 South Jersey's Longest Unbeaten Streaks
  44. Strunsky, Steve. "IN BRIEF; Paulsboro High's Football Team Sets Winning-Streak Record", The New York Times, October 26, 1997. Accessed December 11, 2016. "But in his second career, as coach of his alma mater, Mr. Howard, 37, entered the New Jersey high school football record books last Saturday by leading the Red Raiders to their 55th straight win, over Haddon Heights, breaking Randolph High School's mark of 54 set in 1991."
  45. Davies, Kristy. "Paulsboro student plans lawsuit over strip search", Courier-Post, June 6, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2007. "The attorney representing a Paulsboro High School student who was allegedly strip-searched on a class trip to Florida sent notice to the high school, public school district and Board of Education on Tuesday he intends to file suit for $250,000 in damages."
  46. https://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/4101/paulsboro-high-settles-suit-with-principal-over-searches "Paulsboro High settles suit with principal over searches"
  47. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/19/hometown-international-nj-deli-linked-legal-problems.html “ Key investor in $100 million NJ deli has a history of legal problems, ties to criminals”
  48. Web site: Arvedlund . Erin . A N.J. deli was valued as high as $100 million last year. Now, three men have been charged with fraud. . 2023-07-18 . www.inquirer.com . en.
  49. Gurney, Kaitlin. "Paulsboro names a street for director of 'Jersey Girl'", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 23, 2002. Accessed May 7, 2012. "With all the pomp that Paulsboro could provide to pay homage to Hollywood, a tiny street was christened Kevin Smith Way yesterday.... As the golden curtain sheathing the new street sign in front of Paulsboro High School was removed by the Jersey Girl director, actress Liv Tyler piped up in protest: 'It used to be called Tyler Way.'"
  50. https://phs.paulsboro.k12.nj.us/staff School Staff
  51. Carchidi, Sam. "Hodges leads Raiders over injury-riddled Herd", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 28, 2007. Accessed November 26, 2007. "On the second score, Hodges received a key downfield block from receiver Willie Little Flipper Anderson, whose father, Flipper Anderson, was a Paulsboro standout who later played in the NFL."
  52. News: Burzichelli, son of Paulsboro Mayor John D. Burzichelli, is one such believer. A 1972 graduate of Paulsboro High School, he knows his community well and is unflinching in his willingness to discuss the town's problems as well as its strengths. . Paulsboro Puts Its Pride On Line . October 21, 1990 . Pensiero, Nicole . The Philadelphia Inquirer . August 28, 2015.
  53. http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/carter_russell00.html Russell Carter player profile - ND
  54. Silva, Matt. "NFL Draft: Paulsboro's Davenport should hear his name", Detroit Free Press, April 27, 2017. September 28, 2017. "It's Julién Davenport. Davenport, a Paulsboro High School graduate in 2013, has seen his name spelled a couple of ways."
  55. Szafran, Wes. "Paulsboro High School product Gerald Hodges plans to stick with Penn State", The News of Cumberland County, July 26, 2012. Accessed September 3, 2012. "While it is expected that some of the players will take advantage of their opportunity to transfer schools without sitting out a season, Paulsboro High School graduate and senior linebacker Gerald Hodges doesn't plan on being one of those who jumps ship, according to his high school coach, Glenn Howard."
  56. http://www.bsubulldogs.com/news/2009/4/28/FB_0428094343.aspx Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Isaac Redman as Free Agent
  57. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ROSSKEV01 Kevin Ross
  58. Shyrock, Bob. "Bob Shryock: Paulsboro's 'Pretty Boy' Sharpe headed to wrestling hall of fame", South Jersey Times, December 5, 2014. Accessed August 15, 2016. "Larry Weil, A.K.A. 'Pretty Boy' Larry Sharpe, is headed to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Paulsboro High School graduate, retired and living in Cape Coral on Florida's East Coast, will be enshrined in Tampa on Jan. 31."
  59. Chappelear, Scott. "Dream comes true for Silvestro", South Jersey Times, February 4, 2014. Accessed December 4, 2016. "Paulsboro High School graduate Isaac Redman played in the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in just his second year in the NFL last season. Fellow Red Raider Alex Silvestro may be a step ahead."
  60. http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/0/88972D5C89F839FE85256A4000718880?opendocument Brigadier General (Retired) Edwin H. Simmons
  61. Weinberg, David. "Paulsboro's Chazz Witherspoon back in ring Saturday in A.C.", The Press of Atlantic City, Marc 9, 2018. Accessed September 26, 2021. "Witherspoon, a former basketball standout at Paulsboro High School and a Saint Joseph’s University graduate, is 6-0 with six knockouts since suffering a third-round TKO loss to former prospect Seth Mitchell at Boardwalk Hall in 2012."