Local Swim Teams Buoyant With Expectations

Head Coach Steve Trivino was "pleasantly surprised at the big new crop of freshmen swimmers" on the girls team. While the boys team does not have depth, he said, what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality.

The girls team went into the season without last season's senior standouts Catherine Canavan and Lisa Housel. "They were the last links to our 2008 county championship team," Trivino commented.

However, with the additions of freshmen Rebecca Coughlin, Lauren D'Angelo and Addy Maykish, Trivino said a "weight has been taken off my shoulders as they have filled tough events."

Not only are they competing in tough events, they are performing strongly.

"Addy Maykish's time in the 500-free is one of the top five in the team's history.  Rebecca Coughlin is real strong in the 200 IM (Individual Medley) and Lauren D'Angelo has a solid butterfly," Trivino stated.

Along with freshman sprinter Jacqueline Mescia, sophomore Julia Housel and junior Cara Housel, Trivino is hoping to put a combination of swimmers together to qualify for the state finals in the freestyle relays.

Led by team senior captains Kelsey Caufield and Samantha Schilling, the girls team currently has a 4-0 record. However, they are facing some upcoming tough competition in defending county champions Millburn and runner up Mount St. Dominic.

"We are in a competitive league with good coaches. I am hoping to put a little scare in these teams when we face them," Trivino said.

With only 16 boys competing on the boys' team, Trivino said he has the shortest lineup ever but does have a quality team.

Led by senior captains Travis Aion and Jackson Salter, Trivino said the team usually takes first place in the majority of events. "It is the depth of swimmers, we need to fill the outside lanes," Trivino commented.

Trivino does have hope to develop this team. "We are taking ocean and pool swimmers and developing them. The potential is there," he commented.

The 200 medley relay team already has a qualifying state time. The lineup of swimmers has changed from last year when the relay team set a team record.  With backstroker Tom Machi graduating, sophomore Dave Burton has switched from butterfly to backstroke, Salter has taken over butterfly from breaststroke, Aion switched to breaststroke from freestyle, and sophomore Danny McCarthy replaced Aion at freestlye.

Individually, Aion should compete in breaststroke, while Salter can choose what event he wants to swim at state championships. Trivino is hopeful Burton will qualify as well.

Trivino credits the summer recreation swim team with feeding swimmers into the program. "We see families coming back. We are fortunate to have a strong parent organization and the swimmers are having fun," he commented.