McKinley helps PHS reach top of mountain

Little Tigers boys reach CJ B swim finals

By: Bob Nuse
   Opponents of the Princeton High boys’ swim team know they’re going to face a lineup with its share of stars.
   With swimmers like Jesse Applegate, Mark Fisher, Peter Hand, Nate Ristucci and Yoshi Deligne, the Little Tigers are usually going to finish first in every event in a meet. But what separates Princeton from being a very good team and a great team is its depth. Not only are the Little Tigers top-heavy, but they’ve got swimmers who are able to take a third and a fourth in the same races they’re winning.
   That was certainly the case on Friday, when Princeton won every event and captured at least a third place in all but two others on its way to a 108-62 win over Rumson-Fair Haven. With the win, the defending Central Jersey Division B champions advanced to this year’s CJ B final, which was scheduled for Monday night against Nottingham.
   One of those swimmers just off the top group is sophomore Tom McKinley. As a freshman a year ago he made only the smallest of impacts for the Little Tigers. But this year his role has grown to the point where he finds himself swimming on the first relay, usually in both the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay.
   "I hadn’t been swimming for a long time before last year," recalled McKinley, who was part of two of two winning relays in Friday’s win. "Last year my sister (Erin) was a captain for the girls’ team, so my mom wanted me to go out for swimming. I didn’t really want to do it at first, but she wanted me to and now I’m glad I did it."
   McKinley has made up for his time away from the pool by working as hard as anyone on the Princeton team. He’s not a club swimmer, but he puts in a huge amount of time each Princeton practice.
   "Tommy is an outrageous competitor," said Princeton coach Greg Hand, whose team improved to 13-0 with the win over Rumson. "He’s only been swimming a short time, except for summers, and he has thrived in the high school environment. Technically, he has a way to go. But he works as hard as guys like Nate and Yoshi.
   "He probably takes more strokes per 25 than anyone in Mercer County. That works for him. On the other hand, if he becomes more efficient he’ll be even faster."
   McKinley’s 23.78 in the 50 free against Rumson was his first under 24 this season for the Little Tigers. And as he gains more experience, he only figures to get better.
   "Mr. Hand is a great coach and I owe a lot to his coaching," McKinley said. "And it’s great having the older guys as teammates. All the captains are great and really do a good job with our team."
   McKinley knows he had very little to do with last year’s Little Tiger run to the state B finals. But this year he’s hoping to make more of an impact in the pool.
   "The captains do a great job of making everyone feel like a part of it," McKinley said. "This year I feel it a little more than I did last year. I’m swimming in the relays and I feel like I have to pull my weight."
   Even if he’s not winning individual races, the Little Tigers know McKinley is pulling his own weight.
   "He’s come along and his attitude is perfect," Hand said. "He puts everything into it. He’s a lot of fun to have on the team. Last year he was just getting his feet wet. He’s one of the young kids that not a lot of people know about and he’s putting together a fine high school career."
   One that he hopes includes a second straight trip to the state B finals.
   While the Princeton boys were winning Friday to reach the CJ B finals, the Little Tiger girls dropped a 104-66 decision to Rumson. Princeton picked up wins from Nina Rossi in the 50 free and 100 free; Maddie Carroll in the 200 free and 100 breaststroke; and Kristin Gray in the 100 butterfly.
   "Our kids had as much spirit as I’ve seen all year," Hand said. "They were putting everything into it. We were only down 10 points going into the 500, but the second half of their lineup was real strong. Rumson was a good team last year and they’re still strong across the board."
   With the loss, the Princeton girls finished the season with a 5-6 record.