PRINCETON: PHS boys win CJ B swim title

Little Tigers top Ocean, 99-71

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
NORTH BRUNSWICK – The Princeton High boys’ swim team certainly came a long way in a few short months.
With a roster full of freshmen, there figured to be some growing pains for the Little Tigers. But when senior Sean Mackenzie returned to the team in January after missing last season and the first few weeks of this season, Princeton became a championship caliber team.
The hopes the Little Tigers could capture a title came to fruition on Thursday with a 99-71 win over Ocean Township in the Central Jersey B Division finals.
Princeton got off to a good start with a win in the 200 medley relay and after Ocean won the next two events to take a 25-21 lead, the Little Tigers never looked back.
Alex Zantal won the 50 free, with freshman Derek Colaizzo finishing second to give Princeton a 33-29 lead. Mackenzie followed with a win in the the 100 butterfly to extend the lead to 42-36. The Little Tigers then started to pull away with a 1-2 finish in the 100 free by Zantal and Matt Kuhlik. By time Mackenzie won the 500 free and Peter Deardorff rallied to finish third in the event, Princeton was in control with a 63-47 lead.
The Little Tigers would win the 200 free relay, get a second from Harun Filipovic in the 100 back and a great performance from freshman Addison Hebert to win the 100 breast. They then closed the meet by winning the 400 free relay. 
"At the beginning of the season I didn’t think we could do this," Zantal said. "But after counties I had a lot of confidence in the team. We all had the right mindset and everyone was mentally ready and focused. I had the confidence we could do this. The team really came together after the half of the season.
"The mental thing kind of clicked and we all realized we had a serious chance to do this."
The Little Tigers will swim next in the state B semifinals, which will be on Tuesday against an opponent to be determined.