Rumson starts season with victory over Shore
Blue Devils steal three golds from Bulldogs
CHRIS KELLY Rumson-Fair Haven’s Sara Mosen-Cohen anchors the 400-meter freestyle relay team to first place in the Bulldogs’ season opening win over Shore Regional at the Ranney School on Dec. 5.
With a strong start under their belts, the Rumson-Fair Haven swim teams seem poised to stake their claim as the area’s elite team once again.
The Bulldogs began their title quest for the season with a pair of victories over Shore Regional.
With every girl on the squad finding her way into the pool, Rumson’s ladies recorded a 97-73 win, while the boys narrowly defeated Shore 89-75.
"I was very impressed with the way Shore swam. They have some quality swimmers in their program," said Rumson head coach Ian Forman. "We’re just trying to maintain the tradition of the girls, and build back the boys to where they used to be. Today’s wins were big steps in achieving our goals.
CHRIS KELLY Shore’s Dan Kelly swims to a first-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly during the Blue Devils’ loss to Rumson-Fair Haven on Dec. 5.
"Its always nice to win, but the more important thing was we swam very well today," the coach added. "The boys’ results were a pleasant surprise, while we were able to maintain the standards of the girls’ program, getting everyone into the pool."
Setting the tone for the girls was their 200-meter medley relay team of Johanna Kyesbu, Carlie Matthews, Robin Coggins and Bryanne Matthews, who captured first with a time of 2:15.5.
Rumson would finish with 10 of 11 first-place spots.
Earning the golds were Ashley Bissett (200- and 500-meter freestyle); Carlie Matthews (200-meter individual medley and 100-meter breaststroke); Trudy Woyciehowsky (50-meter freestyle); Kyesbu (100-meter butterfly); Bryanne Matthews (100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke); and Woyciehowsky, Bryanne Matthews, Coggins and Sara Moser-Cohen (400-meter freestyle relay).
On the boys’ side of the pool, the Dawgs captured nine of the top slots.
Leading the team were Chris LoBiondo and J.C. Rodenberg.
The duo were part of two winning relay teams, the 200-medley and 200-freestyle relays, while winning a pair of individual events as well.
Rodenberg and LoBiondo first teamed up with Shawn Matthews and Phil Rehders for the medley relay, and then with Dan Haaran and Rehders for the 4 x 100 race.
Individually, Rodenberg posted a 1:14.3 in the 100 free, and a 1:12.6 in the 100 backstroke. LoBiondo recorded a 27.9 in the 50 free and a 1:24.5 for the 100 breaststroke.
Other individual golden performances were turned in by Shawn Matthews (200 free) and Rehders (200 I.M.). Their last gold came from the 200 freestyle relay team of Ryan Puck, Haaran, John Troynowski and Shawn Matthews, who turned in a 1:59.7.
Stealing three golden times from Rumson for Shore were Joe Gallo and the girls’ 200 freestyle relay team. Liz Palasky, Katie Rose Welsh, Lauren Ostrowksy and Rachel Koechlin bested Rumson in the 4 x 50 freestyle sprint, while Gallo earned top honors for the 100 butterfly and 500 free.
As one the state’s elite swim teams, the Rumson-Fair Haven girls’ team has understandably set its goals very high for this season. They expect to win all of their regular season meets this season, and have their sights set on yet another state title.
As for the boys, they are looking to continue the trend they started last year, and build their program, with hopes of seeing the Rumson boys talked about in the same way the girls are currently praised.
The Bulldogs will return to the pool on Tuesday when they host Monmouth Regional. From there, they will travel to Middletown next Thursday to face an improved Middletown South team.
Their first match-up with RBC, their stiffest competition the past few seasons, will be on Jan. 16 at the Ranney School.
As for Shore Regional, they return to the pool today, when they host Neptune at 3:30 p.m. Next week they’ll travel to Ocean on Monday, and will host Monmouth on Friday.