Parade for Point Beach School Champs on Friday

Point Pleasant Beach is throwing a "Parade of Champions" to honor first place student state champions on Friday and all students, residents and alumni are welcome.

The town will hold a parade celebrating champions in basketball, bowling and academic problem-solving, with the line-up starting on Cooks Lane at 3:30 p.m. and the parade beginning at 4 p.m. on what Mayor Vincent Barrella and council have declared is "Red and White Day."

The route will be from Cooks, up Arnold Avenue, to Cramer, Gowdy, Forman and then ending in the high school gym. 

The event honors the girls and boys Point Beach High School basketball teams which both won state championships this past season; Bryce Petraccoro, a Point Beach student who achieved the best average in the Shore Conference bowling for Manasquan and a group of 17 G. Harold Antrim Elementary School students who won a state championship at Montclair State University in problem-solving in March.

The Antrim group won for a "quality, multi-media presentation entitled 'Safety 101,' " according to an excerpt from a proclamation members of the Point Beach Council will present to the students on Friday, said Councilman Bret Gordon. The students are in fourth, fifth and sixth grades and this is the first time a group from a Point Beach school had even advanced to the state level in what is a national program.

Ellen Magliaro, athletic director for the high school, said it's optional for the high school band to play and march in the parade.

"Some of the band members and athletes are busy with other sports, so they may not be able to go, but we're trying to get some to do it, we're trying to get some student council members to go," she said. "We have banners made. We are very happy the town is honoring us."

All high school parents were notified about the parade via email, Magliaro said.

Police are advising that there may be some brief traffic delays around the parade route and that it may be helpful for motorists to avoid the area if possible.