By Jacqueline Chafart, Staff Writer

The swim team, under the leadership of senior captains Taryn McKeever and Gillian Thorp, head coach Alyssa Morreale and assistants Allison Duffy and Katie Gillan, is 6-1 in its division and stands at 6-2 overall. 

One of the team’s most significant achievements this season was at the Monmouth County Championship on Jan. 5. With a combined score of 198 points, the team placed third behind Middletown South and Colts Neck high schools.

“We did really well at counties and we hope to be undefeated [in our conference] this year like we have the past couple years,” Thorp said.

Freshman Lydia L. races to the finish against Peddie on Dec. 1 at Peddie. (Photo by Maggie Ward)

Junior Catherine Wright placed first in the 200-yard individual medley and second in the 500-yard freestyle. She won the 200 IM race with a time of 2:13.12, more than three seconds ahead of the next swimmer. “It was pretty exciting and cool to win an event at counties,” Wright said.

Other top scorers included junior Madeline Condon, who placed sixth in the 200-yard IM and seventh in the 100-yard backstroke, and sophomore Jessica Zebrowski, who placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle.  

Another first place victory for the team came in the 400-yard freestyle relay, where the team of Condon, freshman Caroline Gulka, Wright and Zebrowski finished more than two seconds ahead of Middletown South, the next fastest team, with a time of 3:45.26.

“We are really proud. Everyone is working really hard, even the less experienced swimmers who come to all our events and cheer us on even if they are not swimming,” McKeever said.

“We are blessed to have 39 swimmers on our team this season, but having such a large group of girls does present spacing challenges at practice and at meets,” Gillen said. “We look to continue to score big with top seeds and depth at the Shore Conference meet, Prep State meet and the state tournament in February.  We will try to defend our Non-Public B championship title to close out the season at the end of February.”