Toms River High School East

Former Toms River High School East RB/DB Nico Steriti suffered 12 concussions -- has no regrets about playing -- but does say that more needs to be done to help athletes in any sport heal from a concussion.

It's been a tough couple years for Toms River High School East after riding a high wave in 2019 when they finished 9-2 and made a playoff run, but they're now looking to bust through the tide to friendlier waters -- and results.

Communities are in mourning from Toms River and Ocean County up to Niagara Falls, New York after hearing of the passing of 23-year old Patrick Romano this weekend in a house fire.

The Toms River East Raiders went from major underdogs to a team moments away from competing for a state sectional title in 2019 while winning a division title with a 9-2 record, winning their first playoff game in 10 years and completing a four-year rebuild under head coach Kyle Sandberg.

They left a mark on the game still etched on the turf nearly a decade later.

The rebuilding process for any team takes a long time to turn things around and as Kyle Sandberg enters his fourth season as Head Coach, he's encouraged by the progress he has seen on the field and is expecting more out of his players in 2019.

In any rebuilding process the journey to return to winning ways takes time, and as long as progress is being made you know things are working. This year things are looking up for Toms River East under third-year head coach Kyle Sandberg.