Ketchmark’s swims help Pirates
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
LAWRENCE — The Mercer County Championships began and ended with a record relay for Meredith Ketchmark.
In between wasn’t too bad either for the junior who helped the Pirates cruise to a ninth straight county crown on Saturday. Their 310 points put them well ahead of runner-up Notre Dame’s 233.
”We’re not going to get too used to it,” Ketchmark said. “There’s always the possibility that another team can come out on top of us. Our team is really, really good. Everyone, even in prelims the people that didn’t make it back to finals, did awesome. So there’s not really much more you could ask for out of our team.”
WW-P North finished third with 159 points. Virginia Hung won the 100 butterfly and Kelly Covey won the 50 free.
”Our goal coming into this meet was to improve our standings to third overall,” Covey said. “By getting those firsts and coming in the top spots, it helps us a lot and we believe we can get it.”
Covey was third in the 100 and also anchored the Knights’ third-place 400 free relay, but it was her 27.41 new personal best that proved her most thrilling event.
”It was amazing,” Covey said. “I was so excited. At prelims I went 28 (seconds), and I was hoping to maybe break 28, but to break it by .5 felt so great. I knew I could do it. To see it on the board was amazing.
”That’s my best time that I ever swam,” she added. “It’s got a lot to do with the team spirit that we have. It’s a different kind of motivation that you get from swimming at a meet like this. You’re having a lot of fun, but at the same time you really want to get those firsts and seconds.”
Princeton High placed seventh with 81 points. Victoria Cassidy was second in the 200 individual medley and 400 freestyle.
Ketchmark sandwiched meet record swims to anchor the 200 medley relay and 400 free relays around a win in the 200 freestyle and a second-placing showing in the 100 free behind meet Most Outstanding Swimmer Sam Kietlinski of Hopewell Valley.
”The last two years, I was mainly in distance, and even 200 IM or the 100 fly,” Ketchmark said. “This year, I barely ever swam them. I got moved all over the place this year, but I like it better. I like the sprints a lot better.”
Ketchmark combined with Cori Michibata, Rebecca Lewinson and Jocelyn Yuen to win the medley relay in a record 2:02.02.
”It’s always exciting when you’re not seeded first and you come out on top and breaking the meet record, that’s amazing,” Ketchmark said. “What’s even better is that whole relay is going to be here again so we can break it again.”
Ketchmark jumped right into the pool again to win the 200 free by more than four seconds.
”I was just going in pretty confident,” Ketchmark said. “I didn’t want to get overconfident. I knew all the girls I was swimming against were really fast. I was happy with my performance. I dropped time. I think it was definitely my best time in meters.”
After a short break, she returned to place second in the 100 free.
”I was pretty tired afterwards,” Ketchmark said. “I definitely wanted to beat Sam Kietlinski. She’s a really, really tough person to beat. I got my best time.”
The disappointment in losing didn’t last too long as Ketchmark finished off the meet in fine fashion by anchoring the 400 free relay to the Pirates’ third relay record of the day in 4:07.31. Joining her were Julie Tomei, Amanda Grant and Winnan.
”Everyone cheering on the sides gets the adrenaline going,” Ketchmark said. “Sometimes it’s hard to hear when you’re swimming, but you can hear it when you turn to breathe. It motivates you so much.”
Lewinson won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Michibata led a 1-2-3-6 finish in the 100 backstroke with Winnan second, Tomei third and Rachel Sartor sixth. Yuen was second in the fly. Grant was second in the 100 breast as the Pirates dominated for their ninth straight title.