IHA takes home 20th straight county title by Sean Farrell of The Record
WEST NYACK – The streak lives on.
Like usual, there was never any doubt about it.
Immaculate Heart became the Bergen County girls swimming champion for the 20th year in a row, and still hasn’t lost since the tournament’s inception.
The Blue Eagles won seven of 11 races on Saturday night and nearly tripled the scoring of second-place Ridgewood in yet another brilliant showing at Felix Festa Middle School. NV/Demarest, Hackensack and Indian Hills rounded out the top 5.
“I was thinking about it today,” said senior Sarah Horne, the butterfly champion. “They’ve been winning longer than I’ve been alive. You see it as a number. But then when you really think about it, how much has happened in 20 years and how IHA has consistently been on top, that’s pretty exciting.”
More: Boys Swimming: NV/Demarest’s Bergen County title victory comes in thrilling fashion
Horne was one of three Blue Eagle seniors to win solo races. The Penn State-bound Kate Sheridan was excellent in the 100 freestyle by lowering her own meet record in 51.45 seconds. And fellow senior Catherine Fazio had a bit of redemption with a first-place performance in the 200 IM. She was the runner-up in each of the last three seasons.
“It means a lot to us,” Fazio said. “Coming to this meet is always exciting, and to win it all four years. Another team couldn’t say that so it’s pretty exciting.”
The opportunity to race against the state champions seemed to bring out the best in everyone. Hackensack sophomore Briana Williams became the school’s first county champion in about a decade with her personal-best time of 56.5 seconds in the backstroke. The Comets and Indian Hills each set school records in the medley relay, while Leonia/Palisades Park’s Elle Morse broke the county record in the 50 freestyle. Morse, who later won the breaststroke, is believed to be the first champion in program history.
“I’m just proud to represent Leonia like that,” Morse said. “I was on the verge of tears when I looked at the clock. It still hasn’t sunken in. I don’t know what to think about it.”
Morse lowered the county record by nearly a half second in the 50 freestyle to hold off a close race from Sheridan, the two-time defending champion.
“I felt confident, more confident than last year,” Morse said. “I knew that she would be a tough competitor. I look up to her a lot as a swimmer. She’s really talented so I knew that it would be a tough race. I was really excited to win.”