Girls second, fourth for boys
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Kara Lydzinski would have loved to have been a part of a Somerset County Championship win in her first varsity season, but the freshman can take solace in knowing that the MHS girls pushed Hillsborough to the end.
A momentum changing sweep of the 100 breaststroke by Katie King, who won in a meet-record 1:04.34, Michelle D’Allegro and Jenna D’Allegro pulled the Cougars within one point of Hillsborough with one event left.
That left the fate of the Cougars in the hands of Brianna McKenna, Brigid DiBlasio, Katie King and Lydzinski in the 400 freestyle relay.
”It was really exciting,” said Lydzinski, the team’s anchor leg. “Our whole team, we did a cheer and got all amped up. We were wishing each other good luck. It was a lot of pressure, but a lot of fun.”
They responded with their fastest time of the season, a 3:32.58 clocking that only lost to Hillsborough’s meet record. Montgomery’s time was the second fastest in the entire state, and it took their top efforts to get it.
”Brianna and Brigid both went 53,” said MHS girls coach Claire Scarpa. “Neither had broken 54 ever. Katie went 52.2. Kara anchored with a 50.
”As bummed as I was we didn’t win, there was nothing to be disappointed about. I never thought we’d be that fast again. That’s faster than we went the year we won the state with a 3:30; we didn’t swim that fast at the county that year.”
The Cougars finished just seven points behind repeat champion Hillsborough, but gained momentum going into the state tournament. The girls opened the Central Jersey Group A tournament as the top seed, and swam like it Tuesday in their 102-68 win over Freehold Township. The Cougars’ depth was too much for a Freehold team that did win five events, but couldn’t match MHS. McKenna won the 100 free, Miranda Ford won the 500 free and Lydzinski took the 100 backstroke.
Third-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro South was scheduled to host sixth-seeded WW-P North on Thursday. MHS swims the winner between Jackson and Toms River North.
The Cougar boys finished fourth in a hotly contested Somerset County Championship meet Saturday. After winner Hillsborough, the next four teams were separated by just 27 points. MHS had 174.
Zack Warner added to his incredible senior season with another record. He tied Nic Fink’s 2011 record in winning the 100 breaststroke in 56.65 seconds, almost three seconds faster than the runner-up. Warner also won the 200 IM in 1:57.75. Jake Otterbein was sixth in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 butterfly. Ryan Fitzpatrick took third in the 200 IM and sixth in the 500 freestyle. Montgomery was fourth in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay.
”They all swam great times,” said MHS boys coach Noelle Keller. “There were no new school records, however, all of our swimmers swam right on their times. It was a great meet for them. We did have a lot of PRs.”
The county meet preceded the start of the state tournament. The Cougar boys are seeded No. 1 in Central Jersey Group A.
”I think we’re in a great bracket, and I think we’re going to go very far,” Keller said. “We’re really excited for this state tournament. We’re excited for it to begin.”
MHS began with a splash as they topped Toms Rivers South, 113-57, Tuesday. Otterbein won the 200 free, Warner took the 50 free, Wesley Chen won the 100 free, Alec Wilson captured the 500 free and Evan O’Mara won the 100 backstroke. The Cougars won all three relays to advance to host the winner of South Brunswick vs. Rancocas Valley. Second-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro South and sixth-seeded WW-P North were scheduled to swim Thursday, while in CJ B, top-seeded Princeton High was also scheduled to begin states Thursday.
”I think we’re really excited,” Lydzinski said. “We’re really pumped. Coach Scarpa is excited and proud of us. I think we will do well.”
Lydzinski is the younger sister of current Princeton University swimmer Megan Lydzinski, who was an unmatched sprinter in her days at MHS. Kara had enjoyed coming to meets to see her sister and the Cougars compete.
”Being able to swim in it and experience it, it’s a lot more exciting,” Kara said. “You’re able to be part of it and cheering for your friends. I didn’t know many people when I used to come. I knew my sister and some of her friends. It was a lot more exciting this time.”
Kara is more versatile in the pool, and the Cougars have used that to their advantage. It helped them to nearly top Hillsborough in the county meet.
”I played around with the lineup,” Scarpa said. “I pulled Lydzinski out of the 50, and Brianna McKenna out of the 50. I thought she had a better chance in the 200 free. Lydzinski as well, she could have won the 50, but who knows? I figured, let’s stack the IM and go with it. We didn’t score a single point in the 50, but I think it worked out well. We got 2-3-6 in the IM, and 5-6 in the 200. They were guaranteed points there.”
MHS was second in the opening medley relay at the county meet before McKenna and Ford went 5-6 in the 200 free. King was second in the 200 IM with Lydzinski not far behind in third and Michelle D’Allegro sixth. Lydzinski came back for second in the 100 fly.
”I haven’t found my best stroke yet,” Lydzinski said. “I’m beginning to love the 100 fly. I love the 200 IM. I love sprinting. It’s like four 50 sprints. I think it’s a really good event.”
In the 100 free, DiBlasio was third and McKenna fourth. Ford scored again with a fourth in the 500 free. MHS swam to fourth in the 200 free, and DiBlasio’s fourth-place finish set up the thrilling sweep in the breast and then the 400 free.
”One team in Somerset County went 1-2-3 in an event,” Scarpa said. “In our county, that’s not easy. It was special.”
Said Lydzinski: “I knew we were going to do well. Katie, Shelly and Jenna are amazing breaststrokers. Our whole team had confidence in them and they did amazing.”
The Cougars are hoping to keep their amazing swims coming in the state tournament. For Lydzinski it is the next thing to look forward to in what’s been an exciting first year on the MHS squad.
”I was looking forward to making some new friends and having fun and being able to represent Montgomery,” she said. “My sister had so much fun with it and I was looking forward to being on the team.”

