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Girls Swimming

by Matt Cosentino

South Jersey boasts a number of outstanding individual girls swimmers, and Moorestown junior Carter Orth is one of the best. She took third in the 100 butterfly and seventh in the 200 IM at the state championships last year; she also won both events at the South Jersey Coaches Invitational and has school records in those two events and the 100 backstroke. The Quakers have several other talented returners and a strong freshman class, and coach John Battersby believes last year’s berth in the state tournament was a terrific experience that should help the Quakers compete in the South Jersey Swim League Mediterranean Division this year.

Bishop Eustace senior Mary Kate Davis is another elite area swimmer. She took sixth in the 500 free at the Meet of Champions and helped the Crusaders reach the South Jersey Non-Public B semifinals. Clearview has a pair of standouts back from a team that went 9-2 and reached the South Jersey Group A semifinals. Senior Brittany Bayes took seventh in the 500 free and 16th in the 200 free at the Meet of Champions, while junior Marissa Moskalow was seventh in the 100 breaststroke and eighth in the 200 IM at the same meet.

Both Cherry Hill schools are looking to follow up remarkable seasons from a year ago. Cherry Hill East went 13-1 and won the South Jersey Group A championship before falling in the state semifinals. The Cougars’ top returners include senior Natalie Simunek, who took second in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 back at the S.J. Invitational, and junior Gabriella Timuscuk, who took second in the 100 fly at the same meet. For Cherry Hill West, which had a 10-2 record and reached the Central Jersey Group A final, senior Jenna Zagoren is back after placing seventh in the state and second at the S.J. Invitational in the 100 back. She also has the school record in the event, while senior Erin McBride is the school record-holder in the 100 free.

Cherokee went 8-3, reached the Central Jersey Group A semifinals and won the South Jersey Girls Swim League Caribbean Division title. The Chiefs welcome back senior Emily Werth and juniors Cassi Cotton, Isabel Obregon and Morgan Sage, who teamed up to set school records in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and finish 17th in the state in each event. Julianna Foss, who placed fifth in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 100 butterfly at the state championships and holds school records in both events, returns to lead Shawnee.

Haddonfield has unfinished business in South Jersey Group B after losing the final by just four points to Mainland. Meet of Champions qualifier Sophie Fontaine, a sophomore who placed second in the 100 free and second in the 100 back at the S.J. Invitational, is one of the Bulldawgs’ top returners.

Lenape, which earned its first playoff berth in over a decade, will look to make it two in a row behind sophomore Nicole Shek and junior Samantha Avgousti. “We lost a strong group of seniors, but are hoping our young freshmen can fill in the gaps,” coach Heather Lopez says. Gloucester Catholic also lost some key swimmers but returns senior Emily Shenk, who won the Tri-County Conference title in the 100 back.

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family’s High School Winter Sports Preview, November, 2013.
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