SPORT SHORTS

United Soccer Academy Director Mark Lowden was announced as Pulse Camps director at Rutgers Prep School.

Lowden has been working as a youth soccer coach in New Jersey for over 11 years, achieving numerous club accomplishments and coaching awards. Originally from the UK, Lowden is a former professional soccer player and now holds qualifications through the English Football Association (FA), the NSCAA and the USSF in coaching. Winning many different championships and tournaments, Lowden’s latest achievement was taking a team 10-0 in flight 1. In conjunction with United Soccer Academy, he has continuously coached a very popular skills school clinic in which children develop their foot skills to help bring their game to the next level. Lowden is known to get the best out of all players as a team and as individuals. Having him at the helm of Pulse Sports has supported the program’s success.

Participants at Pulse will experience professional, high-quality soccer training at Rutgers Prep School’s outstanding facilities under Lowden’s guidance. The camp will also include a daily swim.

“The goal of Pulse Camps is to provide young, motivated soccer players a chance to develop key skills and habits, as well as offer high school-level players an additional resource to help prepare for the upcoming season,” Lowden said.

For more information on Pulse Premier Soccer Camps or to register, visit Pulse- Camps.com or call 732-563-2526. Please note that all soccer programs will be divided by age, ability and gender.

Thomas Pontone, whose TLP Stables has owned more than 250 horses, including Hambletonian winners Muscle Hill and Market Share, was elected to the board of directors of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Pontone, who resides in Holmdel, is president of the Funeral Homes Products division of Matthews International. He has owned standardbred race horses since 1996, when he and his father, Lou, created the TLP Stables.

“Tom Pontone will fill the vacancy in the owners’ committee created by the passing of Eddie Razzetti,” said SBOANJ President Tom Luchento in a prepared statement. “Tom has many years of experience as an owner, racing some of the leading horses of the last two decades.”

Pontone, 53, plans to call on his “deeprooted passion for harness racing in the great state of New Jersey” in his role on the SBOANJ board of directors.

“I absolutely love harness racing and am very devoted to it,” he said. “My wish is that the sport can continue to grow and prosper here, and there is no doubt in my mind that it can.”

In addition to his ownership interest in 2009 Horse of the Year Muscle Hill, the St. John’s University graduate also was a partner in 1998 Pacer of the Year Red Bow Tie, 2013 Trotting Horse of the Year Market Share and 2003 Pacing Horse of the Year Art Major, among many others. His current stable is now 65 horses.