By: centraljersey.com
Scott Vitabile has been swimming with pain all year.
Sometimes there’s no better cure for discomfort than success in a big event.
The Hightstown High sophomore hopes to have just that at the Mercer County Swim meet at Lawrence High this weekend. Vitabile will compete in the 200 freestyle and 100 fly.
The top six finalists receive medals while 7-through-12 earn ribbons at the competition.
"I think I have a good chance (to medal)," Vitabile said. "Last year I was seventh in the 200, I hope to make into the top six."
He feels that getting experience in the 2010 meet should help.
"I think it will be better this year," he said. "It’s a little different than swimming at Peddie (Aquatics); it probably means more than a club meet because it’s high school swimming."
But Vitabile will be forced to ignore the pain in his shoulder, which is particularly bothersome in the fly.
"I’m not sure how I hurt it, maybe overworking it," he said. "I’ll probably see a doctor soon. It doesn’t really upset my strokes, it just hurts."
Coach Tim Kalick feels Vitabile has the Rams’ best chance of medaling.
"He’s our big gun, I’m definitely looking at him to do some big things," Kalick said. "I think generally he’s been a lot better this year, he’s gotten stronger, he has a whole year of Peddie under his belt."
Kalick is also looking for possible final berths from Vitabile’s brother, Steve (200 IM, 400 free relay), Bobby Raymond (50 free, 100 free), Brian Hubbard (100 free, 100 back) and Eric Hubbard (200 IM, 100 breast).
"I think any of those five can be in the final 12," the coach said. * * *
As for the girls team, coach Cheryl "The New Mastermind" O’Connor is hoping sophomore twin sisters Steph and Jen Lauer have the potential to reach finals. Steph is doing the IM and 100 fly while Jen will swim the back and breast.
"They just kind of missed it last year," O’Connor said. "I think they could get in this year."
Like Scott Vitabile, they are more equipped this time after their experiences the past year.
"It was all new to them last year," O’Connor said. "And they also decided to swim for Peddie and went to a lot of clinics. They’ve been working hard all year and that’s what you have to do to stay competitive in this sport."
O’Connor is also hoping Aziza Ahmed might reach finals in the 50 free, as she and the Lauers all garnered over 100 points for the team this year in dual meets.
"We’re not going to be the powerhouse that wins all the meets so we set other goals we can accomplish, and one of them is the 100-point club," O’Connor said. "We only had one last year, so to have three this year is pretty darn good."

