This is one of the last times we’ll be talking swimming for a while, as things are wrapped up for the winter season while sports like track get into gear. So below you’ll find links to the team, swimmer, and coach of the year for both the boys and girls as well as the All North-Jersey skinnies. Then we wrap up the seasons of the Super Six.
Boys
Team of the year: Bergen Catholic
Swimmer of the year: Josh Sembrano, BC
Coach of the year: Jeff Krapels, Demarest
Super Six
1. Bergen Catholic
The Crusaders finished 9-2 and cemented their upward trend this season, coming up one win short of a state title. They performed admirably against CBA despite losing, and their other loss was to Westfield, another state powerhouse. Bergen Catholic won its third consecutive league title and its second county title in a row (its third overall). The team also won the prestigious Eastern States Invitational. They beat Paramus Catholic in the first round of the state tournament and St. Augustine in power points in the semifinals. Individual dominance was also a hallmark of BC’s 2013-2014 season. Josh Sembrano, Ralph Cannarozzi, Sebastian Lopez, and Liam Kelly comprised the Crusaders’ 200 medley relay team which broke records all season, including the state record at the Meet of Champions. Their win was Bergen’s first in a relay at the meet since 1994, and their first win overall since 2003. Their time, as well as Sembrano’s in the backstroke, achieved an automatic All-American time.
2. Demarest
The Norsemen were North Jersey’s sole state champion, as they defeated Northern Highlands in the North 1B finals. They also placed third at the Bergen Meet of Champions. Despite a loss to Moorestown to end their season, they still had an enormously successful first season under Jeff Krapels, with the sectional final win and a 10-2 dual meet record. They boasted a ton of depth, including Luke Rutigliano, Tanner An, Roy An, Josh Oh, Dan Oh, Lukas Keh, and Kevin Shin, but their true star this season was Johnny Kilduff. Kilduff helped Demarest go through Ramapo and Highlands before they lost to Moorestown in the Public B semifinals. They also had good wins against Old Tappan and Tenafly this season.
3. Northern Highlands
Highlands went undefeated in the league and capped their season with a state tournament win over Tenafly. “The whole season was a team effort,†said coach Tom Viscardi of his no-name Highlanders. It’s true-Highlands didn’t send anyone to the Meet of Champions and didn’t have any All-County First-Teamers. Max Distler and William Youm were huge leaders for Highlands this season, as were Tommy Hart, Matt Bough, Francis Biagioli, Brian Donohue, and Dan Mecca.
4. Fair Lawn
Fair Lawn showed this season that they are another team on the up-and-up. They earned their highest finish at the county meet (eighth) in 15 years and posted another undefeated season (13-0). They defeated Livingston in the first round of the state tournament but fell to Millburn in round two. Fair Lawn swimmers broke six individual records this season, one by Matt Lustberg and five by All-County Third Teamer and All-League First Teamer Nick Marte. Marte finished as the top dual meet point scorer in Fair Lawn history. Jeremiah Sanchez, Gavin Yuan, MarcAnthony Rodriguez and Brandon Lachapel were other key contributors.
5. Tenafly
Tenafly was somewhat on the outside looking in this season. Their season-ending loss to Highlands, an 85-85 thriller that came down to power points, was heartbreaking for Harrison Yi and the rest of the Tigers, whose only losses this season were to Highlands, Demarest, and Bergen Catholic. They earned solid wins against Ramapo, Old Tappan, and Pascack Valley before they trumped Kittatiny in the first round of the state tournament. They also finished in sixth place at the Bergen Meet of Champions Next season the Tigers will certainly be hungry and will definitely be looking for revenge against Northern Highlands.
6. Ramapo
The Raiders put together a solid 7-4 season, spending most of the year in on or the periphery of the Super Six. They finished in second place at the Bergen Meet of Champions and defeated Mountain Lakes for the first time in their history in the state tournament, and put up a great fight against eventual sectional winner Demarest. Brendan Woo had another stellar season after being named 2012-2013 North Jersey Swimmer of the Year. J.T. Klimko, Ryan Marczinkowski, Noah Kim, Jon Links, Will Park, Christian Kim, and David Maryash comprised the Raiders’ core. Facing the prospect of losing county champion Woo and this year’s senior class will be difficult for coach Nick Liulakis, but Ramapo should again be competing for a league title.
Girls
Team of the year: IHA
Swimmer of the year: Meaghan O’Donnell, Wayne Valley
Coach of the year: Shawn Buchanan, Pascack Regional
Super Six
1. IHA
Another year, another tremendous season for the Blue Eagles. They went 9-1, only losing to Westfield, and won the triple: they won the Bergen county title, the Big North United Division title, and the Non-Public A state title. This year was their 25th straight league title and 16th straight county title. They defeated Paramus Catholic and Pope John before defeating Red Bank Catholic in the state tournament; it was the team’s 19th overall state title. IHA will look to repeat everything they accomplished in 2013-2014 next year, and they can even push the envelope further if they swim Westfield again. IHA got help from a host of swimmers. Jason Schlereth praised Elise Bell, Sara Nestrowitz, Emilia Weihenig, Kelly Czochanski, Susan Neggia, Samantha Arnold, Kim Caccamo, Amanda Lauer, and Charissa Venice for being amongst the team’s most valuable components this season.
2. Kinnelon
Kinnelon had it a little tough in the state tournament, beating third-seeded Highlands narrowly before losing somewhat surprisingly to Mountain Lakes, the first seed. Kinnelon went 9-3, losing twice to Mountain Lakes and once to Chatham. Meghan Thompson had another brilliant season, as did Lauren deTorres and Mackenzie Heffernan. They finished third at the Morris County Championships. It’s hard to call it a down year, but Kinnelon will definitely hope to make some more signifiant strides next year.
3. Northern Highlands
Highlands’ girls, who finished 11-2, split the honor of Bergen County Team of the Year with Pascack Regional, named by the BCWCA. After their tremendous class of 2013 graduated, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Highlanders heading into this season. Even though they couldn’t get to where they got last year, losing by just four points to Kinnelon in the North 1B semifinals, Highlands showed a tremendous amount of grit and leadership. Maddie Wolf had another tremendous season, as did Caitlyn Bach, who played a huge part as one of Highlands’ captains this year. They won their ninth consecutive league title as well as the Bergen County Invitational, which they have won all four years it’s existed.
4. Pascack Regional
It was a dream season for Pascack in what ended up being Shawn Buchanan’s final one coaching the Indians. The Coach of the Year guided Pascack to its best season yet, as they got their first ever state tournament win. They finished 9-0 in the regular season, 10-1 overall, as they defeated Millburn before losing to Tenafly in the state tournament. Their program continues to ascend and Buchanan believes the influx of talent, like freshman Sarah Litvinsky, will continue. The Indians didn’t send anyone to the Meet of Champions, a true testament to their team mentality. One of Pascack’s assistants will likely be in line to replace Buchanan, but there’s nothing official yet. (Follow @varsityaces on Twitter, that’s the first place you’ll see any announcement)
5. Wayne Hills
Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley fought each other tooth and nail this season. Though Valley won the head-to-head matchup and the county title, Hills went 9-3, second in the league and second in the county. They earned the fourth seed in the state tournament and beat Demarest in the first round before losing to a loaded Mountain Lakes team. They relied on a combination of strength and experience, with seniors Gabi Cancel and Liz Gohkman leading the way. Sam Kauffman and Cancel’s sister Emma were also a huge part of Hills’ success.
6. Wayne Valley
Wayne Valley finished first in the county and league. Meaghan O’Donnell put on a show for Wayne Valley at the Meet of Champions, but there was a lot of talent behind her, too. Dana Bacon, Tracy Gorab, Stephanie Tang, and Kaitlin O’Donnell were important both individually and in relays. Wayne Valley will be a county and league favorite next year as they return many of their best swimmers.