Hopewell Valley swimming
By: John E. Powers
Hopewell Valley Central High School girls swimming coach Bill DeHaven says he’s usually nervous before his team’s meets. That was the case before Tuesday’s road tilt with Nottingham.
"I was nervous, just because of the things I’d read about their team, and the fact that we were missing Emily Alexander and Catherine Brooks and at this point of the season, it seems everybody is worn out," he said.
Not to worry, coach.
The Lady Bulldogs scored an impressive 108-61 win, winning every event except the 200-meter freestyle relay and the 100 backstroke. Anjana Sinha won the 50 freestyle (51.29) and the 100 freestyle (1:06.89), while Kristin Cuprzinski won the 200 IM in 2:42.21, came in second in the 500 freestyle and was on two first-place relay teams.
The win pushed the Lady Bulldogs’ record to 5-5.
"I was surprised by the final score," DeHaven said. "Whenever I put a lineup together, I’m always pretty nervous, no matter who we swim. I look to our team to be a little nervous, too. It keeps the fear up, I guess. I have it every meet."
DeHaven’s sister, Mary Pat, was part of the 200 medley team along with Sinha, Cuprzinski and Cris Coleman which won in 2:23.10. Mary Pat DeHaven won the 200 freestyle in 2:26.89, Emma Cantor won the 100 butterfly in 1:29.46, and Maddie Jacobs won the 500 freestyle in 6:41.11. Meg Angelastro won the 100 breaststroke in 1:32.54, and Sinha, Cuprzinski, Cantor and DeHaven went 4:39.26 to win the 400 free relay.
The girls and boys were scheduled to host Ewing on Thursday.
"Hopefully, we can keep getting some good times," Bill DeHaven said. "We’re looking forward to competing at the counties."
The boys dropped a 108-62 decision to Nottingham, falling to 3-7-1. Nottingham senior Vince Bartolone was the star, winning the 100 fly and 200 free and contributing to the Northstars’ wins in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Hopewell Valley junior Billy Dunne won the 100 backstroke in 58.62 and the 100 freestyle in 52.06. Sophomore Will Armington won the 100 freestyle in 1:01.10.
"Nottigham has a very deep team," Hopewell boys coach Laura Gordon said. "They have a good team and have some young stars. Bartolone is incredible. We could have been stronger, but we’re coming off winter break, coming off some illness. It wasn’t our strongest meet of the season. They swam well, and we pushed a little bit."
Dunne was also second in the 200 freestyle to Bartolone, and Armington was just nipped by Northstar senior Steve Matthews in the 50 freestyle, 26.97-to-27.11.
"It was hard to tell who won," Gordon said.
Senior Greg Stolowski was second in the 500 freestyle in 6:09.8 despite not feeling well.
"Greg was pretty sick," Gordon said. "I’m impressed with how well he did. If I could have moved him to another event, I’m sure he would have been happy with that, but he stuck it out."
Junior Cael Sutherland was second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.9.