Team came up just short of state final berth
By: John E. Powers
The Hillsborough High boys’ swimming team answered the challenge and kept up with tradition this year.
The Raiders kept pace with previous Hillsborough teams that have built quite a lofty reputation as one of the better programs in the state.
Hillsborough won its fourth straight Central Public A title and placed second behind champion Bridgewater-Raritan in both the deep Somerset County and Skyland Conference meets. Senior star Pat Kuehne became the first Raider since Jason Kay to place second at the Meet of Champions when he finished second in the breaststroke.
The Raiders finished the dual meet season with a 9-5 record, losing 90-80 to eventual state champion Cherry Hill West in the State Public A semifinals.
"It was another year where we definitely swam beyond my expectations," said head coach Todd Sudol, who completed his seventh season. "That’s what you always want. You want your team to exceed your expectations. They met the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the season. Throughout the season, as a coach I just made sure they stayed on track to meet their goals and guide them in the right direction."
Sudol said the biggest thrill for the team was winning the sectional championship by beating Montgomery 103-67 after having lost to the Cougars 94-76 in a dual meet earlier in the season. Kuehne and fellow seniors Tim Rauch, Rob Webb and Bobby Gendimenico led the victory with Kuehne and Webb winning two events apiece and Rauch taking a first and second and Gendimenico adding a third and fourth. The seniors, who were all team captains, combined for a whopping 39 points.
"My whole senior class was special, what those guys accomplished since their freshman year," Sudol said.
Throughout the season, Sudol said the team was focused on the sectional tournament and his philosophy paid off as his third-seeded club stormed past Rancocas Valley, second-ranked West Windsor-Plainsboro South and then top-seeded Montgomery.
"We concentrate on certain parts of the season," the coach said. "We’ve learned that the state tournament is what we want and we prepare for it. It does mean making sacrifices in other parts of the season. You might lose a dual meet (early in the season), but it’s a small sacrifice for something greater."
Kuehne, the county champ in the breaststroke, broke his own school record with a 58.95 at the Meet of Champions and also bettered his 200 IM with a 1:57.49. Rauch, the county champ in the 100 freestyle, broke his own 500 freestyle school record with a 4:55.21 in January. The 200 freestyle relay record was improved on as Kuehne, Rob Parker, Webb and Rauch went 1:30.02 at the Meet of Champions and the 400 freestyle team of Parker, Webb, Kuehne and Rauch went 3:17.95. The 400 team won the county championship.
Kuehne won his third straight conference 100-yard breaststroke title in 1:01.12 and took the 50-yard freestyle in 22.42, something he just missed at the county championships where he finished second to Bridgewater-Raritan’s Mike Randall, who was fifth at the conference meet.
Kuehne set a record for the second straight year at the county meet in the 100-meter breaststroke, going 1:08.39 to top his 1:08.65 of a year ago.
"I’m definitely going to miss it," Kuehne said of his high school career. "I’ll really miss the camaraderie of it.
Last year, Sudol’s club lost nine graduated seniors. This year, the number of losses won’t be as a high, but Kuehne, Rauch, Webb and Gendimenico certainly will be missed.
"My seniors always set an example and now the new crew will step up," Sudol said.
The future leaders showed what they could do this year. Sophomore Parker won the 500 freestyle in the state semifinal with Cherry Hill West. He also swam on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays with three seniors.
"He’s a young guy who’ll will be looking for (to lead)," said Sudol, adding that youngsters like sophomore Tanner Horst, junior Greg Johnson, sophomore Dave Wilson and sophomore Brian Giacopelli will give his team a strong core.
"Each year we’re evolving," Sudol said. "We’re established. Once you get the program where you want it, you just make sure you keep the kids on the right track."

