Strong showings by several competitors helped the host Strathmore Swim & Tennis Club to a fourth-place overall finish in the Monmouth County Swimming Championships.
Nick Tupper won the backstroke competition for 13-14-year-olds, and the 13-18-year-old 200-meter freestyle relay team, comprised of Tupper, Nick Demetrios, Nolan Doyle and Nick Williams, also took first place to propel Strathmore to a second-place finish in the boys competition.
Although Strathmore’s girls finished a disappointing seventh, there were several bright spots, coach Jennamarie DeVito noted.
Kathleen Cogland won the 25-meter butterfly in the 10-and-under category, and Courtney Foley took first in the 25-meter freestyle for 6-and-under group.
DeVito said on Sunday that she was pleased with the club’s fourth-place showing in the nine-team competition.
"A lot of our swimmers took heat ribbons and we had many personal bests," the second-year mentor explained. "In the end, everyone on our team improved and they had a lot of fun. That’s really what it’s all about."
DeVito also credited her team for putting in a long day to ready the pool for the event. Team members showed up around 5:30 a.m. and worked again on clean-up after the meet, with most staying until late in the afternoon.
"It was a long day," she said.