Seniors finish on strong note
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Princeton High boys swim team went into Tuesday’s state B Division semifinal knowing it faced a tough challenge in trying to defeat Mountain Lakes, which is seeking its fifth straight state title.
The Little Tigers managed to win five events against the Lakers, but fell well short of winning the meet as they suffered a 103-67 loss.
”Depth was a factor,” said Princeton senior Sean MacKenzie, who won the 200 IM, 100 butterfly and was part of the winning 400 free relay. “We have a lot of kids. But they have been through this before. Mountain Lakes has always been known as that team. I am proud of what our team has done. We didn’t back down one bit.”
In addition to the wins from MacKenzie, the Little Tigers also picked up wins from Alex Zantal in the 50 free and 100 free. But Mountain Lakes proved to be too deep for the Little Tigers, who finished the season with a 12-5 record and a Central Jersey B title.
”We swam a great meet and we were beaten by a better team,” Princeton coach Greg Hand said. “The guys are justifiably proud of their performance today. We thanked the seniors for setting such a tone throughout the season. I told the younger guys that we expected them to learn from the older guys and just carry on the tradition of working hard and seeing what you can do.”
MacKenzie and Zantal are two of the four seniors who will be leaving the Princeton program. Those two, as well as Alex Pelle and Brian Lopes, have left a mark for others to follow.
”They’re great guys,” Hand said. “We only have four seniors on the team and each of them in his own way kept contributing to us by the way they train, by the things they say to the team, and by just buying into what we’re doing. It’s a special group and they leave a legacy of setting a climate we all know we have to have but which does not come easily. They compete with everything they’ve got and you could see that today.”
MacKenzie, who rejoined the team early in the season after a year away, helped lead the Little Tigers to a CJ B title. And he leaves Princeton proud to have been part of the championship run.
”These guys have done everything they needed to do at the right time and it was good to be a part of it,” he said. “It’s a good feeling and a great way to end. Usually when I am on the blocks, nothing is in my mind. But before the (final 400 free relay), I was thinking that I could not believe this was my last race. It still doesn’t feel like it. I guess it hasn’t sunk in. I love that really. Everyone was psyched.”
MacKenzie competed like a champion despite battling an illness that has lasted for a couple of weeks. The fact he battled the way he did was no surprise to Hand.
”He showed another dimension of his character last Thursday when he had to work so hard when he was not feeling well,” Hand said. “He has always swum so hard for us and he is an incredible relay swimmer as well as individual performer. He is completely there for the team and we were so happy he was there for us this season.”
Hand hopes the younger Princeton swimmers watched the likes of MacKenzie and Zantal and remember the way they competed. He also wants them to learn from the loss on Tuesday.
”The first thing is, remember what it felt like,” Hand said. “As soon as the meet got rolling, even if you were a little bit nervous or scared prior, you probably didn’t feel that way once you were in it. There is something to that idea of having been here before and I think they can build on that. I hope they really want to come back to this level. The other things have to do with that it takes to get here. They can either build a team culture or assume it is going to happen without them. I hope they are really committed towards doing what is necessary to be successful with their training and efforts to be successful.”

