Sudol realistic about team’s chances
By: John E. Powers
It’s not that Hillsborough High School swimming coach Todd Sudol doesn’t have high expectations for his teams in Saturday’s 39th Somerset County Championships at the Somerset Valley YMCA.
Sudol is simply being realistic.
The Raider boys, third a year ago behind champion Bridgewater-Raritan and second-place Pingry, will hope to be in the top three or four teams. The girls, fourth a year ago behind champion Mount St. Mary, will have the Mountain Valley Conference champions to deal with again in addition to teams like Bridgewater-Raritan and Bernards, the two other teams that finished ahead of them last year.
"I’d like to see a top three for both the girls and boys," Sudol said. "I really think we’re swimming very well right now at the right time."
Sudol believes that junior Nick Giacopelli, who is unbeaten in the 200 freestyle and has just one loss in the 100 freestyle, might be the best swimmer in the county. Giacopelli was third in the 100 freestyle, fourth in the 200 freestyle and swam on the Raiders’ first-place 200 freestyle relay team in last year’s county meet.
"I really don’t think anybody will be close to Nick in the 200," Sudol said.
Since the Raiders have Giacopelli and senior Jamie Schnatter and sophomore Mark Green, there’s a chance that the team could make a run at six-time and defending champion Bridgewater-Raritan. Schnatter and Green contributed to Raiders’ winning medley and 200 freestyle relays last year.
"I think Mark Green has a real good chance to place in the top three in the 500 free and 100 backstroke," Sudol said. "Jamie should come up strong in the sprints and Bryan Zeiher is good in the butterfly and a solid IMer.”
Sudol should also get points from freshmen James Lyon in the 200 and 500 freestyle and Frank Ippolito in the 100 breast and 200 IM.
Individuals like Pingry senior Marc Falkner, who won the 100-meter breaststroke in a meet-record 1:08.65 in last year’s county meet and Bridgewater-Raritan senior Tom Roglieri, who was second to graduated Raider star Jason Kay in the 50 freestyle, will be tough to beat.
"I would think that Bridgewater-Raritan would have to be the favorite because they have the best all-around swimmers," Sudol said. "But we have a chance to be close to them. I’d like to take a second. That’s my goal."
Bridgewater-Raritan, which hasn’t won a county title since 1999, could make a run at Mount St. Mary, the defending champion and Bernards in the girls’ race. Sudol thinks the Raider girls could also take a third with depth and balance. Hillsborough did beat Bernards 113-57 in a dual meet two weeks ago, but this will be an entirely different setting with 12 swimmers gaining points in each event.
"We beat Bernards in a dual meet, but they could get a lot of firsts and so will Bridgewater-Raritan," Sudol said. "I’d like to see us take a third. I think it’s a good goal for us."
Bernards’ sophomore Catherine Skoda won the 50-meter freestyle and 100 backstroke last year. Lauren Reed of Mount St. Mary will be a favorite in a couple of races and Bridgewater-Raritan’s Allison Page (50 free), Megan Capparell (100 back, 200 IM) and Melanie Block (200 free, 500 free) will score points and possibly firsts.
Hillsborough will be led by Kristen Mendez, who has qualified for the states in the 100 butterfly. The Raiders have also qualified in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.
Stacey Prow, Devon Trabilsy, Mendez and freshman Alyssa Barberio and Jackie Tierney will give the Raiders a chance to win both relays.
Tierney, Kristi Patane, freshman Madison Goldberg and Jen Lyon teamed in the 400 free relay to beat Bernards in the dual meet. Barberio (50 free), Mendez (100 fly), Tierney (100 free) and Trabilsy (100 breast) will be in contention to score big points.
"All of those kids can finish in the top five in their events and Kristen Mendez has a good chance to win the butterfly," Sudol said. "It really depends on how well everybody swims on that given day. Those teams might have better individuals than we do in some events, but you never know."