A New Name

It is no longer the Poland Spring Arena that occupies the western part of the Toms River High School North campus. No they are not doing anything to the building with the exception of some signage to indicate a name change. That’s because the Toms River Regional School District has sold the naming rights of the arena to the Pine Belt Auto Group. The five-year, $500,000 agreement will help fund technology improvements for all students in the district. Pine Belt officials expressed excitement over the partnership, saying their business values education and the community and this allows them to be involved in both. The newly-named Pine Belt Arena opened in June of 2003 and while used by Toms River North students on a daily basis is also home to sporting events, concerts, shows and more,
including the WOBM Christmas Classic basketball tournament.

Recently-retired football coach Warren Wolf will throw out the first pitch at tonight’s Lakewood BlueClaws game. Wolf, a diehard Chicago Cubs fan, announced a couple of weeks ago that he would not return for a second season as football coach at Lakewood High School. Of course he is best known for the 51 years he walked the sidelines at Brick Township High School.

Practice begins tomorrow for the U.S. Army All Shore Gridiron Classic with the 34th annual meeting between Ocean and Monmouth County football players set for this coming Thursday night at Toms River North. The Ocean County team will practice at Lacey High School while the Monmouth County All-Stars will work at Rumson Fair-Haven. The teams will work out on a daily basis through Wednesday.

Former Toms River South soccer standout Sheree Gray made her debut with the Sky Blue FC this week in Philadelphia and tomorrow night will play her first home game for the Women’s Professional Soccer League team from New Jersey. Gray, who led the South Indians to a state championship moved on to Penn State University where she graduated in 2009 after a solid career. She has played for various U.S. National teams and was training with Sky Blue before they signed her late last week. The team also includes former Toms River East and West Virginia standout Carolyn Blank. Gray and Blank will be in action tomorrow night at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University when they host magicJack SC.