By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
It’s kind of cool, really.
A horde of Vikings invading and pillaging the shores of South Jersey, conjuring up images of Leif Erikson or, at the very least, Hagar the Horrible.
OK, maybe a stretch.
They won’t actually be pillaging, but they will be competing at Gloucester County Institute of Technology in the land of the 856 area code.
And it’s not really shores, but a pool.
And 10 swimmers isn’t exactly a horde. But it is the largest contingent of Vikings to ever qualify for the NJSIAA Individual Swimming Championships.
”Last year we sent seven, and to send 10 this year is really great,” coach John Harding said. “I’m hoping it becomes the norm instead of happening every so often. Most years we’ve sent maybe one or two.
”Now we’re stepping up, we’ll be represented in six individual events, plus relay teams. It means we’re going in the right direction. We’re not just putting out good teams, but good quality swimmers.”
Last year, in fact, was the first time a relay team ever qualified for South Brunswick. This weekend, there will be three relay teams at GCIT when action begins on Saturday. A total of four girls and six boys have qualified.
The first SBHS girls relay team to reach states is the 200 medley, comprising Liz Samtur (backstroke), Gess Charniga (breast), Abby Weingarten (fly) and Lauren Socienski (free).
”I think they have a shot at swimming OK,” Harding said. “They just made the qualifying time. But with just one senior (Samtur), just going and getting that big-meet competition is a good experience for them.
”It’s great for Liz to go out like this. She’s had a great career for us, she’s been a (Greater Middlesex Conference) medal-winner every year. She’s been kind of overshadowed by some other stars in the past, but this is great for her to be there. She deserves it, she’s one of the best I’ve had on this team.”
As for the other girls, Socienski and Charniga are sophomores and Weingarten is a junior. Charniga and Weingarten are making return trips to the event, and will both be swimming as individuals in the 100 breast. Charniga finished 14th last year and “has a chance for a medal,” according to Harding.
”She could be in the top eight and that would be pretty good in her sophomore year,” he said. “Her qualifying time of 1:07 puts her right up there. And I think Abby has a chance of coming back on Sunday. They’re both capable of putting up those kind of numbers against good competition in a fast pool.”
The way the individual format works, everyone swims on Saturday, and the top 16 finishers come back for Sunday’s finals. From there the top eight get medals.
The boys will have three individuals vying in four events, plus two relay teams.
The 400 free relay is making a return appearance from last year, with Tyler Wardlow leading off, followed by Calvin Chiu, Will Samtur and James Kugel.
”That was the order we did it in the GMC’s and it worked out really well,” Harding said. “We had the lead going into the third leg before St. Joe’s made up ground. If those guys are hyped up, they should be in good shape.”
The Vikings finished with a 3:24 in the GMC’s, within one second of St. Joe’s and nearly six seconds ahead of the third-place finisher.
South also qualified a 200 medley relay team for the first time, with a foursome of Chiu (back), Wardlow (breast), Ben Woller (fly) and Kugel (free). They too, were runners-up by one second to St. Joe’s (with a 1:42), while beating the third-place team by four seconds.
”If they can put up another 1:42, that’s pretty solid,” Harding said. “That puts you up there with some big-time swimming schools.”
Individually, Wardlow will be competing in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, as he qualified for the maximum four events. Chiu is swimming the 100 back and freshman Tyler Blackburn qualified in the 500 free.
”Tyler had such a great meet at GMC’s that if he puts those times up on Saturday he’ll be back on Sunday,” Harding said. “That’s always the goal, to get into that top 16. With a fast pool and fast competition you never know how quick you can go.
”It’s hard to say how Calvin and Tyler will do. Calvin’s a sophomore, Tyler is a freshman. But they’re the kind of guys that can surprise you. They tend to rise to the occasion a lot. Either way, it will get them some good experience.”
No matter what happens, Harding is delighted to have six male qualifiers in a rebuilding year.
”A lot of guys stepped up and we added some talented freshmen,” he said. “We kind of re-invented ourselves. Hopefully this keeps up and we push things to the next level.”

