MacKenzie is ‘Outstanding’ swimmer
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
LAWRENCE — Sean MacKenzie is glad he came back to the Princeton High School boys swimming team this season.
So are the Little Tigers, who got a Most Outstanding Swimmer performance out of the senior to overtake Pennington for third place at the Mercer County Championships on Saturday.
MacKenzie won the 200 individual medley, captured the 400 freestyle in a meet record 4:04.70. He capped his day by helping Princeton win the 400 free relay in another meet record time, 3:39.89, just ahead of Pennington.
”I was psyched,” said MacKenzie, who will swim for Jim Bolster’s Columbia Lions next year. “Everyone was psyched. Everyone was feeding off each other so obviously it rubs off on everyone else. I was feeling good.”
MacKenzie was the top individual swimmer at the meet, edging out Joe Grant of West Windsor-Plainsboro South. Grant’s incredible anchor leg won the 200 free relay for the Pirates, and gave them a 10-point lead on Notre Dame. Grant also anchored the Pirates win in the medley relay and won the 100 and 200 freestyles, but in the end Notre Dame squeaked out a five-point win when their 400 free relay finished ahead of the Pirates.
”It was our best lineup for the relays,” said Pirates coach Paul Hamnett. “Two firsts and a fifth is better points than a first, third and whatever else we would have taken. It was a couple points here and a couple points there that was the difference.”
Dan Druckman was second in the 100 back third in the 100 butterfly while Mike Prewett was second in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 fly. Notre Dame had a little more depth than the Pirates.
”There were three or four places where it came down to a tenth of a second to determine the whole county championship,” Hamnett said. “I haven’t been in many that have been this close. A couple times it’s come down to the last relay. It made it a lot more fun than it has been in the past, especially in the guy’s end. We knew it was going to take a lot for us to finish ahead of Notre Dame. They all did best times for the year on the relay splits, so they can hold their heads up for sure.”
The Pirates now set their sights on performing well in the Central Jersey A state tournament. Seedings were due out after deadline on Monday, two days after a strong showing at the county meet.
”It’ll help us,” Hamnett said. “The boys went through a tough meet. The biggest thing was they began to believe in themselves. We were a little disappointed in the first day. We wanted 18 swims in the final. We got 16.
”I think the guys saw how well they swam in the finals, and they got confidence in themselves and each other. Notre Dame probably should have won by 20, not five. It’s a credit to our guys to keep it that close.”
WW-P North finished sixth. Derek Chiao took second in the 100 breaststroke while Jung-Mao Hsieh was fifth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 back.
MacKenzie helped produce a surprising third over a Pennington team that contended for last year’s county crown. PHS was fifth last year when MacKenzie took off the season to focus on swimming for his club Eastern Express team as well as academics. He rejoined the Little Tigers in midseason this year.
”Everything’s been positive ever since I came back with all the kids and I was fortunate that Coach let me come back,” MacKenzie said. “I didn’t think (of returning this year), but I kind of wanted to. I was talking to kids and fortunately Mr. (Greg) Hand let me come back.”
MacKenzie had missed high school swimming. A return to the county meet showed just the sort of thing he was missing.
”Just the overall environment,” he said. “Just the team gets your spirits up and it’s just appealing.
”It’s a confidence builder. Everyone’s stepping up. Just watching every kid swim, they’re all going their best times. It’s a good thing to be a part of. You just feed off the energy.”
MacKenzie drew inspiration from his teammates’ performances Saturday. Peter Deardoff was third in the 200 free and sixth in the 400 free. Alex Zantal was second in the 100 free and fourth in the 50 free. The two along with Matt Kuhlik and MacKenzie won the 400 free relay.
”I enjoy watching them a lot,” MacKenzie said. “Just seeing everyone progress is a good thing. That’s also one of the things I missed.”
Sean MacKenzie is happy to be back to help the Little Tigers as they head into the Central Jersey B state tournament. Win or lose, it’s been good to be a part of it again.
”Overall, I’m happy with it,” he said. “It’s paid off. I’m more motivated. I’m inspired to work hard.”

