South teams a combined 9-2

By: Sean Richards
   You really have to like the way the South Brunswick boys and girls swimming teams have come out strong this season.
   Rising to all the early-season challenges, the boys are now 5-0 after recently downing East Brunswick, 95½-74½, and Old Bridge, 103-67.
   The girls are also looking good as they rebounded from a 94-76 loss to East Brunswick to crush Old Bridge, 122-48, to raise their record to 4-2.
   "It went great," said coach John Harding of Monday’s double dip of Old Bridge. "We’ve been a little sick and under the weather, but everyone stepped it up."
   Especially the boys, who received plenty of pep talks prior to the meet as Harding cast a leery eye at the rising Old Bridge program. They responded in style by capturing seven of the events to win going away in their home pool.
   "It felt a lot closer," said Harding of the 36-point spread. "We had some guys missing, but the team was pumped up and turned in some really good times."
   The most noteworthy time was turned in by the 200-medley relay team consisting of Henry Ma, Brian Dai, Dillon Diatio and Dan DeOliviera. Breaking a seven-year-old school record by nearly a second and half, they combined for 1:50.67 to set the tone in the first meet of the day.
   Ma, in particular, had an outstanding day against Old Bridge. In addition to being part of the record-breaking relay team, he also won the 200 IM and 100breast as well as competing on another winning relay team.
   For those who are counting, that’s four wins on the day for the talented senior.
   Tyler Wardlow was also in fine form, recording personal bests in the 100back and 200 free races. Wardlow also came up huge at the end. Despite the meet already being clinched, Wardlow hauled down the Old Bridge swimmer in the anchor leg of the 400 freestyle to give the Vikings a sweep of all three relays.
   "That was exciting," said Harding. "We had it (the meet) won, but Tyler kept coming and caught him in the last few feet."
   The issue was never in doubt for the girls against Old Bridge as they swept all 11 events. Double winners there were Stephanie Bartolotta (200 and 500 free), Amie McMahon (100 butterfly, and 100 back) and Abby Weingarten (100 buttlerfly, 100 breast). Other winners included Liz Samtur (50 free) and Danielle Bartolotta (100 free).
   "All the girls swam pretty good times considering they weren’t being pushed," said Harding.
   In the earlier meet against East Brunswick, the Vikings got two wins from Weingarten in the 100 butterfly (1:12.70) and 100 breaststroke (1:20.90).The girls also won the 200 medley relay with McMahon, Weingarten, Samtur and Danielle Bartolotta turning in a 2:17.80 at the Middlesex County College pool.
   Double winners for the boys against East Brunswick included Wardlow (200free, 100 back), Ma (200 IM, 100 breast) and DeOliviera (50 free, 100free).
   South Brunswick was to have competed against Piscataway Thursday before taking a long break and returning to the pool on Jan. 2 at Mother Seton. A break from the pool in terms of meets, that is. The team will be spending plenty of time in it further preparing for what’s obviously shaping up to bean outstanding season.
   "We’ll work on our conditioning even more," said Harding. "I like the way we’ve done so far, but there’s always room for improvement."