The Shore Conference has a very quiet history within the NJSIAA Group IV Tournament, at least when it comes to making it to the Group championship game. Three years ago, Freehold Township lost to Newark East Side in the Group IV final, which made the Patriots the first Shore Conference team in 38 years to make it that far in Group IV.
In fact, between 1943 and 2019, Neptune was the only Shore Conference program to play in a Group IV championship game.
Over the years, there have been Group IV teams from the Shore who have at least been a threat to make it to the Group IV final, but few that have had a realistic chance to beat programs like Linden, Elizabeth or Newark East Side once they get there. This year could finally be the year for the Shore, with Marlboro boasting its best team ever — one that has gone toe-to-toe with the noteworthy programs over the past two years (St. Peter’s Prep, Ranney, Manasquan). With all due respect to very good Freehold Township teams from 2007 and 2019, this Mustangs group looks like the Shore’s best bet of the last 20 years or so.
Marlboro senior Jack Seidler. (Photo: Ray Rich Photography)
Marlboro senior Jack Seidler. (Photo: Ray Rich Photography)
There are eight other Shore Conference teams competing in Group IV this year and only one of them is seeded better than No. 8 in their respective sections. Jackson Memorial has had a resurgent year and could make a run to the final in Central Jersey Group IV. There may be another sleeper in there somewhere, but within a few days, Marlboro is likely to be the flag-bearer for the Shore Conference in Group IV.
Below is a look a both the Central and South Jersey sections of Group…