Wikipedia

Ridge High School

Ridge High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Bernards Township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Bernards Township School District.

Ridge High School
Address
Map
268 South Finley Avenue

Bernards Township
,
Somerset County
,
New Jersey
07920

United States
Coordinates40°41′39″N 74°32′50″W / 40.69417°N 74.54722°W / 40.69417; -74.54722
Information
TypePublic high school
EstablishedSeptember 1961
School districtBernards Township School District
NCES School ID340165005124[1]
PrincipalRussell Lazovick
Faculty147.9 FTEs[1]
Enrollment1,682 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio11.4:1[1]
Color(s)  Green
  White[2]
  Black
Athletics conferenceSkyland Conference (general)
Big Central Football Conference (football)
Team nameRed Devils[2]
PublicationDevil's Quill (literary magazine)[3]
NewspaperDevil's Advocate[3]
Websiteridgehigh.bernardsboe.com

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,682 students and 147.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1. There were 15 students (0.9% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 8 (0.5% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1] As of 2021, the racial breakdown consists of White (60.9%), Asian (28.3%), Hispanic (6.6%), two or more races (3.4%) and African American (0.8%).

History

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Students in Bernards Township had attended Bernardsville High School dating back to 1927. When Bernardsville became an independent municipality in 1924, the new board of education was given ownership of the high school and Bernards Township students continued attendance at the school as part of a sending/receiving relationship. There were failed efforts in early 1959 to pass a referendum that would create a regional district for Bernardsville and Bernards Township, along with Bedminster Township, Far Hills and Peapack and Gladstone.[4] By a more than 3-1 margin, voters approved an October 1959 referendum that would cover construction of a standalone high school in Bernards Township that would accommodate up to 670 students and be constructed at a cost of $1.5 million (equivalent to $15.7 million in 2023).[5]

The 60 acres (24 ha) of land on which the high school sits was donated by George Ludlow Lee Sr., who was the owner and chairman of the board of Red Devil, Inc. The school's team nickname, the Red Devils, derived from the company's logo, though the color was changed to green to avoid the red that was used by rival Bernardsville High School.[4]

The school opened with 21 classrooms for 500 students in grades 9-12 in September 1961, though some of the school facilities were not yet completed.[6]

Stephen Kovacs was appointed the Ridge High School head boys’ fencing coach in November 2019, for a salary of $8,542.[7][8] He was head coach through February 2021.[9] A number of fencers on the school team attended the nearby Kaprica Fencing Academy, which Kovacs owned and where he was head coach.[10] Kovacs was arrested in 2021 by detectives for allegedly sexually assaulting two teenage fencing students multiple times in 2020 and 2021; he died in Somerset County Jail in January 2022.[11][12][13][14]

Awards, recognition and rankings

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During the 1986-87 school year, Ridge High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[15] the highest award an American school can receive.[16][17] During the 2009-10 school year, Ridge High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence for a second time.[18]

In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 3rd in New Jersey and 220th nationwide.[19] Ridge High School was ranked 194th, the second-highest in New Jersey, in Newsweek magazine's 2010 rankings of America's Best High Schools.[20] The school was ranked 175th in Newsweek's 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States and was the third-ranked school in New Jersey, with 3.132 AP tests taken in 2008 per graduating senior and 50% of all graduating seniors passing at least one AP exam; The school was ranked 136th nationwide in 2008.[21] The school was listed in 98th place, the second-highest ranked school in New Jersey in Newsweek's 2007 list of the Top 1,200 Public High Schools in the United States.[22] The school was listed in 116th place, the second-highest ranked school in New Jersey, in the 2006 issue.[23] Ridge High School was ranked as Number 91 in Newsweek's 2005 survey, third-highest in the state for that year.[24]

Ridge High School was the 9th-best public high school in 2012 as rated by the New Jersey Monthly magazine[25] and was the 140th best high school in the United States as rated by Newsweek, being the top-rated comprehensive high school in New Jersey.[26]

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 215th in the nation among participating public high schools and 16th overall (ninth among non-magnet schools) in New Jersey.[27] The school was ranked 140th in the nation and eighth in New Jersey on the list of "America's Best High Schools 2012" prepared by The Daily Beast / Newsweek, with rankings based primarily on graduation rate, matriculation rate for college and number of Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate courses taken per student, with lesser factors based on average scores on the SAT / ACT, average AP/IB scores and the number of AP/IB courses available to students.[28]

The school was the 13th-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.[29] The school had been ranked 9th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 12th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[30] The magazine ranked the school 24th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[31] Before that, the school was ranked 11th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[32] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 27th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 1 position from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (95.2%) and language arts literacy (98.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[33]

Ridge High School was ranked the 37th best high school in the United States and the 12th best in New Jersey by Newsweek in 2015.[34]

In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 71st out of 500 best high schools in the country. It was ranked 15th among all high schools in New Jersey and third among the state's non-magnet schools.[35]

Athletics

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The Ridge High School Red Devils[2] competes in the Skyland Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties in Central Jersey. The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[36] With 1,414 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.[37] Interscholastic sports offered at Ridge include volleyball, baseball, ice hockey, football, fencing, basketball, cross country, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, ski racing, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, winter track, marching band, Special Olympics Unified Sports and wrestling.[2]

The football team competes in Division 5B of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location.[38] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 893 to 1,315 students.[39]

The baseball team won the Group II state championship in 1987 (against runner-up Hackettstown High School in the finals), 2000 (vs. West Morris Mendham High School) and 2002 (vs. Dumont High School).[40] The 2000 team finished the season with a record of 27-5 after winning the Group II state title with a 4-1 victory against Mendham in the championship game.[41] The team has won the Somerset County Tournament in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1989, 2011 and 2022; the seven titles (through 2024) are the second-most in the tournament's history since it was established in 1973.[42][43]

The school was the winner of the 2014-15 ShopRite Cup for Group II, finishing with 68 points, one point ahead of Hunterdon Central Regional High School.[44] The team repeated as winner of the Group II ShopRite Cup for 2015-16, behind first-place finishes in girls soccer, girls cross country and boys fencing. The school finished in second place in girls tennis and girls golf, third place in football and ice hockey, and earned bonus points for having no disqualifications in the fall and spring seasons.[45] The school was the winner of the Group IV winner of the 2019-20 Shop Rite Cup.[46]

The girls tennis team won the Group II state championship in 1984 (defeating runner-up Millburn High School in the tournament's final round) and 2016 (vs. Bergen Tech).[47] The 2016 team defeated Princeton High School 4-1 in the semifinals before knocking off Bergen Tech 4-1 in the finals.[48]

The 1985 boys' soccer team finished the season with a 20-0-2 record, the state's only unbeaten team, after winning the Group II state championship, defeating Millburn High School by a score of 3-0 in the final game of the tournament.[49][50]

The wrestling team won the Central Jersey Group II state sectional title and the overall Group II state championship in 1986[51]

The football team won the Central Jersey Group II state sectional title in 1987, the North II Group III championship in 2003 and the North II Group V title in 2013.[52]

The girls' track team won the Group II indoor relay state championship in 1987 and 2007 (as co-champion).[53]

The girls' soccer team won the Group II state championship in 1996 (vs. West Morris Mendham High School), won the Group III title in 2003 (vs. Colts Neck High School) and was Group IV co-champion in 2015 and 2017 (with Freehold Township High School both years).[54] A 4-1 win against Colts Neck gave the team the Group III championship an undefeated 2003 season, leading the team to take the #3 national ranking with a 22-0 record.[55] A scoreless tie after double overtime with Freehold Township gave the 2015 team a share of the Group IV title and a 23-0-1 record for the season.[56][57] The 2017 team finished the season with a 18-4-2 record and was co-champion with Freehold Township High School after the Group IV title game ended in a scoreless tie after regulation and two overtime periods.[58]

The girls' field hockey team won the North II Group III state sectional championship in 2005.[59]

In 2007, the girls cross country team finished third in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, and finished sixth at the Northeast Nike Team Regional Championships.[60] The next year, the team finished #2 in the Meet of Champions and won the Section 2 Group 4 Championships and the Group 4 Championships. In 2009, the team got 6th place in the Meet of Champions; in 2010, they took home fourth, and in 2011 they placed 6th in both the Meet of Champions and the Nike Northeast Regional Qualifier.[61][62]

The boys' cross country team finished fourth in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2006. The team finished sixth in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2010.[63]

The ice hockey varsity team won the Public A state championship in 2008, 2007 and 2019, won the McInnis Cup in 2004, 2005 and 2007-2009[64] The team won the Public A state championship in 2008, with a 5-0 over Watchung Hills Regional High School in the tournament final.[65] In 2017, the team went on to win its second Public A state championship, defeating Watchung Hills by a score of 2-1 in the tournament final.[66] The team won the 2019 Public B state championship defeating Randolph High School.[67]

The boy's varsity ski team won the 2009 New Jersey Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (NJISRA) overall state championship.[68]

The boys' lacrosse team won the Group III state championship in 2010 (defeating West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in the tournament final) and the Group IV title in 2013 (vs. Southern Regional High School); the team won the 2013 Tournament of Champions vs. Don Bosco Preparatory High School.[69]

The Ridge girls' golf team won the 2015 Tournament of Champions, 26 strokes ahead of Red Bank Catholic High School in second place, marking the team's fifth consecutive state championship.[70]

The Ridge girls' volleyball team won the Group IV state championship in 2017, defeating Cherokee High School.[71]

The coach of the boys fencing team, Stephen Kovacs, was arrested in October 2021 on charges of sexual assault.[72][73] He died in jail in January 15, 2022.[72][73]

In March 2022, at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships, the boys track team set a national high school record with a time of 9:53.40 in the distance medley relay.[74]

In 2023, the boys' tennis team won the Group IV state championship, the program's first, with a 4-1 victory in the finals against Cherry Hill High School East.[75]

Extracurricular activities

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The Ridge High School Forensics Team (speech and debate) has had numerous national champions. They have won the New Jersey state tournament every year from 2001 to 2024 (except for 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).[76][77]

The Ridge Marching Band competes in the Fall season in the USBands and the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA) circuits. The marching band won its first NJ state championship in Group IIIA in 2015 with their program "Ridge in the City."[78] The Marching Band placed 6th and 5th at USBands National Championships in 2012 and 2011, respectively. In 2012, despite being ranked 2nd going into National Championships, the band was unable to compete due to the damage in Basking Ridge from Hurricane Sandy. Prior to the creation of the USBands National Championships, the band placed 2nd at the USSBA Northern States Championships in 2005 and 2009, 3rd in 2008, and place in 2007.[79] The now inactive Winter Guard has finished as high as 3rd in MAIN championships. Although the program no longer exists, the Indoor Percussion Ensemble placed 2nd at USBands Indoor Championships with its inaugural program in 2013 and won its first USBands Winter Standstill Percussion title in 2015. The marching band placed 2nd at the USBands National Championships in 2016, as well as winning caption awards for best overall effect and best percussion.[80] The band has enjoyed many successes over recent years, most notably placing 1st in the USBands Yamaha Cup at MetLife Stadium in 2021 where they also swept all the caption awards.[81] Despite performing in a torrential downpour, the band claimed 3rd place in Group IIA at the NJMBDA State Championships in 2023.[82]

Administration

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The school's principal is Russel Lazovick. Core members of the school's administration include the three assistant principals.[83]

Notable alumni

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See also: Category:Ridge High School alumni

Notable faculty

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e School data for Ridge High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Ridge High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Club List 2021-2022, Ridge High School. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  4. ^ a b History, Ridge High School. Accessed November 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Bernards Voters OK High School Bernards Township", Plainfield Courier News, October 7, 1959. Accessed March 1, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Two-fifths of the township's 3,000 registered voters went to the polls yester day to approve by nearly a four to one margin a Board of Education proposal to float a $1,532,000 bond issue to build a high school. The vote was 918 in favor of the plan and 247 against. Pupils here attend Bernards High School in nearby Bernardsville on a tuition basis. The new one-story school, to be built in the Cedar Hill tract off S. Finley Ave., will have a maximum pupil capacity of 670."
  6. ^ "New Ridge High School Opens for 500 Students", Courier News, September 6, 1961. Accessed March 1, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The doors of the new Ridge High School in S. Finley Ave. swung open to the 500-member student body for the first time today at 7:45 a.m. The $1,500,000 structure is; completed with the exception of a few finishing touches in the gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria kitchen and hallways. All 21 class rooms are finished and uncompleted items will not hinder the academic schedule, according to Principal William J. Keeler."
  7. ^ Gene Robbins (November 26, 2019). "Several Ridge H.S. Coaches Approved, Appointed". TAPinto.
  8. ^ "Coaches Directory 2019". Ridge High School. 2019.
  9. ^ Alexis Tarrazi (October 26, 2021). "Somerset County Fencing Instructor Sexually Assaulted Girls In Bridgewater: Cops; Stephen Kovacs, 49, of Watchung, owns Kaprica United Fencing Academy in Bridgewater and formally served as a coach in Ridge High School". Bridgewater, NJ Patch.
  10. ^ Gene Robbins (November 24, 2021). "School Board Members Grapple with Two Hot Topics Monday". TAPinto.
  11. ^ Lavery, Patrick (October 26, 2021). "Bridgewater fencing coach accused in sex assaults of two teen females". New Jersey 101.5.
  12. ^ Noah Cohen (October 27, 2021). "N.J. fencing instructor charged with sexual assault, authorities say". NJ.com.
  13. ^ Jeff Goldman (October 28, 2021). "Fencing coach charged with sex assaults began preying on teens at out-of-state competitions, authorities say". NJ.com.
  14. ^ Cecilia Levine (January 19, 2022). "NJ Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Teens Dies In Jail: Report". Somerset Daily Voice.
  15. ^ National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  17. ^ Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post, September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
  18. ^ 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Private Schools, United States Department of Education. Accessed October 29, 2009.
  19. ^ Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Ridge High School", The Washington Post. Accessed July 22, 2011.
  20. ^ Staff. "America's Best High Schools: The List", Newsweek, June 13, 2010. Accessed March 23, 2011.
  21. ^ Staff. "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools", Newsweek, June 8, 2009. Accessed June 10, 2009.
  22. ^ The Complete List: 1,200 Top U.S. Schools, Newsweek May 22, 2007
  23. ^ The Complete List: 1,200 Top U.S. Schools, Newsweek, May 8, 2006.
  24. ^ "America's Best High Schools", Newsweek, August 5, 2005.
  25. ^ "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical; Here are the 2012 Top High Schools ranking listed alphabetically.", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  26. ^ Sadlouskos, Linda. "Ridge HS, Bernards, High in Newsweek's 'Best' List UPDATED: Ridge placed at no. 140 in Newsweek's just released list of best public high schools in U.S.", Basking Ridge, NJ Patch, May 21, 2012. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  27. ^ Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2013.
  28. ^ Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2012", The Daily Beast / Newsweek, May 20, 2012. Accessed May 21, 2012.
  29. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  30. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 26, 2012.
  31. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 11, 2011.
  32. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  33. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 24, 2012.
  34. ^ Davis, Tom . "500 Best Schools In America: Ridge High School Is 37th Newsweek released its 2015 ranking of the nation's best high schools. Fifty-six N.J. schools are on the list.", Basking Ridge, NJ Patch, August 19, 2015. Accessed January 23, 2022."Newsweek's list included Ridge High School in Basking Ridge as its 37th best high school in America (12th in the state)."
  35. ^ Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2016", Newsweek. Accessed November 11, 2016.
  36. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  37. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  38. ^ Kinney, Mike. "Big Central revises 2020 football schedule for its shortened inaugural season", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. "The newly formed Big Central Football Conference has released a revised 2020 schedule for its inaugural season.... the BCFC is comprised of schools from Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties."
  39. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  40. ^ Baseball Championship History 1959–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed May 1, 2024.
  41. ^ "Yesterday's NJSIAA Baseball Finals", Home News Tribune, June 11, 2000. Accessed March 13, 2021. "Group II Ridge 4, Mendham 1: Erik Dial pitched a four-hitter and Andy West went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI as Ridge defeated Mendham at Toms River East. Ridge (27-5) won its second state title, the Red Devils' first since 1987, while Mendham (27-5) was making its first appearance In a championship game."
  42. ^ "The history of the Somerset County Baseball Tournament (THROWBACK PHOTOS)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 8, 2019, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed November 24, 2020.
  43. ^ Frezza, Harry Jr. "Ridge and Bridgewater-Raritan baseball prevail in SCT semis, will meet for title Friday", Courier News, May 20, 2024. Accessed May 25, 2024. "Ridge has won seven county titles, second to Immaculata’s 14."
  44. ^ Twelfth Annual ShopRite Cup 2014-2015 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 10, 2015.
  45. ^ 13th Annual ShopRite Cup 2015-2016 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 22, 2017.
  46. ^ 17th Annual Shop Rite Cup 2019 - 2020 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  47. ^ Girls Tennis Championship History: 1971–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  48. ^ Mendelowitz, Andy. "Tennis: Pingry, Ridge and New Providence win Group titles", Courier News, October 20, 2016. Accessed January 19, 2021. "For Ridge, though, there might have been some extra giggle in their smiles. The Red Devils had lost in the Group IV final the previous two seasons before finally snagging the trophy with a 4-1 win over Bergen Tech. Ridge last won a Group II championship in 1984.... In the morning semifinal, Ridge beat Princeton 4-1 with two-set wins from Kruti Navin at first singles, Yemula at third singles and from both doubles."
  49. ^ NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  50. ^ Stuart, Sandy. "Red Devils only unbeaten team in state", Bernardsville News, November 28, 1985. Accessed February 7, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Before the soccer season started in September, Ridge coach Rick Hildebrand predicted that his young team — with only three senior starters — would be one of the best in the school's history. His prophesy was more than fulfilled Tuesday night, as the Red Devils shut out powerful Millburn 3-0 to win the state Group 2 championship. Ridge, which compiled an incredible 20-0-2 record, was the only soccer team in New Jersey to go undefeated all season."
  51. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
  52. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  53. ^ History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  54. ^ NJSIAA History of Girls Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  55. ^ Sebastian, Freddy. "State Champs", Courier News, November 23, 2003. Accessed June 22, 2011. "It was appropriate that the Ridge High School girls soccer team ended its perfect 22-0 season the way it had hoped Saturday, with a 4-1 rout of Colts Neck, in the Group III championship at The College of New Jersey."
  56. ^ Deakyne, Brian. "Girls Soccer: No. 2 Ridge, No. 5 Freehold Township crowned co-champions after scoreless draw", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2021. "One team made program history, while another won its first state title in more than a decade as Freehold Township and Ridge played to a scoreless tie in the NJSIAA/Sports Authority Group 4 state final at Kean University on Saturday night. Ridge, No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, and No. 5 Freehold Township battled for 100 minutes in the final game of the high school season in New Jersey, but with no goals scored, the two programs were crowned co-champions."
  57. ^ NJSIAA Group Tournament, Final Round, Group 4, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 21, 2015. Accessed March 11, 2021. "Ridge 23-0-1 • 8-0 Skyland - Delaware"
  58. ^ Christie, Sherlon. "Girls Soccer: Freehold Township wins second state title in school history", Asbury Park Press, November 18, 2017. Accessed March 11, 2021. "Over the last three years, the Freehold Township girls soccer team has made a habit of putting together solid postseason runs. At Kean University’s Alumni Stadium on Saturday evening, the Patriots also met a familiar opponent in Ridge and due to the overall strength of both squads, the game once again ended in a scoreless tie after 100 minutes of outstanding soccer by both teams.... With Ridge (18-4-2) knocking on the door in the first and second overtimes, LaRossa made a couple diving saves to extend the game for a full 100 minutes."
  59. ^ History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  60. ^ 2007 NIKE TEAM REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEW YORK & NORTHEAST, November 24, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  61. ^ 2008 NJSIAA/The Star-Ledger/M-F Athletic - Boys and Girls State Group Championships: Group IV Girls, November 16, 2008. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  62. ^ NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  63. ^ "2006 NJSIAA/The Star-Ledger Boys and Girls State Cross-Country Championships", Morris County Track Association, November 18, 2006. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  64. ^ NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  65. ^ Staff. "Ridge takes 2008 Public A State title over Watchung Hills", New Jersey Devils, March 22, 2008, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 26, 2008. Accessed June 22, 2011. "One season after stumbling in the semifinals of the NJSIAA tournament, the Red Devils got 22 saves from Bill Higley for a 5-0 shutout win over the Watchung Hills Warriors in their 2008 Public A High School Ice Hockey Championship on Saturday."
  66. ^ Gould, Brandon. "Complete coverage: Ridge wins 2nd title in program history, beats Watchung Hills in Public A final", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 5, 2017. Accessed May 28, 2017. "Second-seeded Ridge scored twice in the second period on its way to a 2-1 victory over 13th-seeded Watchung Hills in the NJSIAA/Devils Public A Tournament final on Sunday at Mennen Arena.The win brought home the second state championship in program history for Ridge, which also beat Watchung Hills in the 2008 final."
  67. ^ Havsy, Jane. "Randolph falls in hockey final again", Daily Record, March 4, 2019. Accessed September 12, 2019. "But for the second year in a row, Randolph tumbled in the finale. Ridge scored three third-period goals for a 4-1 victory against the Rams on Monday afternoon. It is the Red Devils' second NJSIAA title in three seasons, following a Public A victory in 2017 — also against Randolph. The Rams have won eight overall, the last in '15."
  68. ^ Staff. "Carroll sparks Ridge to boys' team title; Vernon girls' have Merritt (High school Boys Skiing news)", The Star-Ledger, February 28, 2009. Accessed July 22, 2011. "Ridge, behind Carroll and fellow seniors Merritt Branch, Chris Samuels, Spud Faison and James Needell, captured its first overall team title in a combined 9:20.38 at the New Jersey Interscholastic Ski Racing Association championships at Hidden Valley yesterday in Vernon."
  69. ^ NJSIAA Boys Lacrosse Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  70. ^ Davis, Alyssa. "Ridge wins team title at girls golf Tournament of Champions", Courier News, May 21, 2015. Accessed September 26, 2015. "The gloomy weather didn't dull the shine of Ridge High School as it took the team title scoring a combined 314 which was 26-points better than the second place team, Red Bank Catholic.... This marks the fifth year in a row that Ridge can boast the Tournament of Champions title."
  71. ^ NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  72. ^ a b "Ridge fencing coach charged with sex assault in Bridgewater". New Jersey Hills. October 26, 2021.
  73. ^ a b Jeff Goldman (January 18, 2022). "Fencing instructor charged with sexually assaulting 2 teen girls dies in jail, attorney says". nj.
  74. ^ Haley, John. "Ridge boys set national DMR mark as NJ teams/individuals shine at national indoor meets", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 14, 2022. Accessed March 17, 2022. "At the New Balance Nationals held at the New York City Armory, one national record needs to be changed as the Ridge boys set a new U.S. national standard in the distance medley relay as the team of senior Andrew McCabe, junior Patrick Doran, senior James Kisker and Jackson Barna turned in a record time of 9:53.40."
  75. ^ Holcombe, Michael. "Freshman Glaze comes up big to help Ridge win first ever boys group championship", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2023. Accessed June 14, 2023. "After making its way through the semifinals with a 4-1 win over Bergen Tech in the morning, you would think that Ridge would have nothing on its mind in the afternoon but defeating Cherry Hill East in the final of the Group 4 State Championship at Mercer County Park on Wednesday....In the end, Ridge still managed to sweep all three singles matches to grab the state championship trophy for the first time in the school’s history, defeating Cherry Hill East 3-2."
  76. ^ 2005 National Results, National Forensic League. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  77. ^ Tarrazi, Alexis. "Ridge Forensics Named State Champions For 22nd Consecutive Year", Basking Ridge, NJ Patch, March 19, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2024. "Over the weekend, the Ridge Forensics Speech & Debate Team claimed the title of State Champion for the 22nd year in a row, beating second-place Summit High School by more than 100 points."
  78. ^ "Ridge High School Marching Band wins N.J. State Championship", Bernardsville News, November 3, 2015. Accessed January 23, 2022. "The Ridge High School (RHS) Marching Band captured first place in the N.J. State Championship competition on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Union High School, capping off a successful season with their 2015 program, 'Ridge in the City.' Ridge competed with 22 other Group IIIA bands, and also brought home special awards for Best Music, Best Overall Effect, and Best Percussion."
  79. ^ Competition Results, Ridge Marching Band.
  80. ^ Hansen, Nola. "Successful Ridge Marching Band Season 2016 Ends with 2nd Place at Nationals", TAP into Basking Ridge, November 13, 2016. Accessed January 23, 2022. "For the first time since 2013, Ridge Marching Band competed in the USBands National Championships on Sunday, Nov. 6, where they placed second out of 21 bands from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania."
  81. ^ "USBands".
  82. ^ "CompetitionSuite".
  83. ^ Staff Directory, Ridge High School. Accessed October 13, 2024.
  84. ^ Tarrazi, Alexis. "Basking Ridge Junior Wimbledon Tennis Champ Honored Samir Banerjee of Basking Ridge won first-place at the Wimbledon 2021 Boys' Singles on July 11.", Basking Ridge, NJ Patch, September 30, 2021. Accessed January 23, 2022. "Banerjee, a Ridge High School student started playing tennis at the age of six. He is currently ranked 2nd in the Junior International Tennis Federation."
  85. ^ Staff. "Film by Ridge High alum, J.C. Chandor, critically accclaimed at Cannes", The Bernardsville News, May 24, 2013. Accessed June 19, 2013. "Chandor, a 1992 Ridge High School graduate, wrote and directed his first feature-length film released in 2011, the critically acclaimed Margin Call, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Screenplay category."
  86. ^ "Chris Daggett, Independent candidate for governor of NJ, to deliver policy address, Oct. 7", Princeton University. Accessed December 1, 2012. "Daggett, a lifelong resident of New Jersey, was born in Orange, and moved to Linwood before settling in Bernards Township. He attended Ridge High School, graduated from the University of North Carolina with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and the University of Massachusetts with a doctorate in education."
  87. ^ Marc Del Gaizo, UMass Minutemen ice hockey. Accessed November 16, 2023. "Graduated from Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey in 2018."
  88. ^ Birkby, Robert. Mountain Madness: Scott Fischer, Mount Everest & a Life Lived on High, Citadel Press, 2009. ISBN 0-8065-2876-1, p. 21. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Scott liked school and developed an interest in theater, taking part in The Crucible and appearing on the stage at Ridge High School dressed as a Puritan."
  89. ^ Jarryd Goldberg, Boston College Eagles. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Earned All-State, All-Area and All-Conference honors as a senior midfielder at Ridge High School"
  90. ^ Mueller, Mark. "Families savor a great day for 'the Jersey girls'", The Star-Ledger, August 22, 2008. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Heath's family could not be reached yesterday, but Todd Hebden, who coached her as a sophomore and junior at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, said he wasn't surprised Heath had made it to the national team and the Olympics."
  91. ^ "Billionaire journeys from Ridge High School to space", Berbardsville News, February 10, 2021. Accessed February 23, 2021. "When Jared Isaacman dropped out of Ridge High School more than 20 years ago to pursue a successful career in business, it seemed like the sky was the limit."
  92. ^ "Father of the Bride to be staged at Ridge", New Jersey Hills, May 9, 2002. Accessed September 3, 2019. "The Ridge High Drama Club will stage the 2002 spring play Father of the Bride at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at the Ridge High School auditorium on South Finley Avenue. As the play opens, Mr. Stanley Banks, played by Matt Joachim, learns that the young man who has been visiting his daughter lately is about to become his son-in-law when young Kay, played by Drama Club Secretary Kelly Anne Lyons, announces the engagement."
  93. ^ Kelly-Anne Lyons (Actress), Amazing Women Rock, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 15, 2009. Accessed September 3, 2019. "Kelly-Anne Lyons (who plays the role of Chelsey Pucks in the online video series called Chelsey OMG, two excellent segments of which AWR features here), grew up along the East Coast of the USA. She spent the younger part of her childhood in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, her adolescence and teenage years in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and attended University in New York City.... Alongside dance, she attended Ridge High School, where she maintained honor role status, was very active in sports (field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse), student council, and numerous clubs."
  94. ^ Staff. "Ridge H.S. Graduate Max Mahoney Signs Contract with German Pro Basketball Team", TAP into Basking Ridge, September 24, 2020. Accessed September 25, 2020. "Max Mahoney, a 2016 Ridge High School graduate who recently completed four years at Boston University, has signed a pro basketball contract to play for a German team. Mahoney, a 6-foot-8 forward, recently signed with the VFL Kirchheim Knights, a team that plays in the ProA, the second highest stage league in Germany."
  95. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy. "New Worlds: How Bill Murray made beautiful music with N.J. director", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 1, 2022. Accessed October 4, 2022. "Muscato grew up in Basking Ridge with an appreciation for the performing arts, attending New Jersey Symphony performances in New Brunswick and Morristown.... The director began experimenting with video production at Ridge High School, learning to shoot and edit film and make documentaries as a teen."
  96. ^ Perry, W. Jacob. "Ridge grad loses bid for U.S. Senate seat", The Bernardsville News, December 18, 2009. Accessed September 12, 2019. "The local alumni, Steve Pagliuca, 54, who was in the Ridge High Class of 1973, placed fourth in a contest triggered by the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on Aug. 25."
  97. ^ "Urban Skills Project Helps Ease Trauma Of The Past", Bernardsville News, August 29, 1985. Accessed April 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Editor's Note: The three articles on this page were written by Jasbir K. Puar of Basking Ridge, a summer intern at The Bemardsville News..... She graduated from Ridge High School in June and will attend Rutgers University."
  98. ^ Kelly Williford, Virginia Tech Hokies women's tennis. Accessed September 3, 2019. "High School: Ridge; Hometown: Basking Ridge, N.J."
  99. ^ Rockland, Kate. "The Band They All Ache To Become", The New York Times, December 5, 2004. Accessed April 21, 2021. "The Bouncing Souls are true sons of New Jersey and have the tattoos to prove it.... Fifteen years ago, at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, the Souls were just your typical sweet, pierced, rock 'n' roll outcasts. And because they were high school wretches -- honestly, aren't there any punks anywhere who were captain of the football team? -- they say it was satisfying to film their video 'Gone' (2001) in the halls of their old school."
  100. ^ "Former Ridge High fencing coach dies in jail", The Bernardsville News, January 19, 2022. Accessed October 25, 2023. "Stephen Kovacs, 49, of Watchung, a former Ridge High School fencing coach who had been charged last year with sexual assault in Bridgewater, died on Saturday, Jan. 15, in Somerset County Jail in Somerville, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office."
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