Pirates will lose just two seniors to graduation
By: Justin Feil
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The West Windsor-Plainsboro High South girls’ swim team began the season with a 109-61 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan in December. The Pirates won their next 12 dual meets before meeting B-R again in the Central Jersey A final Monday.
There was no repeat of the turnaround last season, in which WW-PS lost the first meet of the season but then knocked off the Panthers in the sectional final. This time, Bridgewater widened its opening-meet gap, winning 113-57.
"I knew coming into this meet that it was going to be very tough," said WW-PS head coach Paul Hamnett, whose Colonial Valley Conference and Mercer County champion Pirates finish 12-2 overall. "They are too strong of a team. I saw from their swims from the beginning of the year to now, up and down, they have too much depth for us."
WW-PS did not win any of the 11 events, and actually came out of only two events tied with the Panthers. In the 200 individual medley, Erika Tomei finished second, Jen Hong was third and Ayla Colella was fifth as WW-PS and B-R each picked up eight points. That same split came in the 500 freestyle as well, as Katie Welsh was second, Liron Noiman was third and Talia Markowitz was fifth for the Pirates.
"We swam well," said Hamnett, who noted his team’s improvement of nearly 500 power points over its season opener. "I think we would have been better off if Katie (Guthrie) and Steph (Kraml) were healthy. It might have been closer, but it didn’t cost us the win. They were just faster."
WW-PS hopes to return next season for another shot at a sectional title. The Pirates lose only seniors Kraml and Hong to graduation.
"Girls, there’s only two of you not coming back next year," was Hamnett’s message to his team afterward. "I expect to be back here next year. It shows how hard we have to train for next year. That’s our focus. We’re already setting goals for next year."