Shore Opens Bald Eagle Swim League With Win Over Tri-Town

You would need one hand to count the number of losses the Jersey Shore Summer Swim Team has experienced the past several years. Since 2005, they have compiled 30 wins to their one loss (they have tied nine times). This success can partly be attributed to the steady hand of former coach Patty Kennelly. First year coach, Lee Thompson, has continued the winning tradition by leading his team in the season opener over Tri-Town, 7-3, on Tuesday night at the Jersey Shore Borough Pool.

Jersey Shore swimmers start to warm up for the Tri-Town meet.

Shore swimmers finish warm-ups with some quick starts

  

The viewing area starts to fill up with parents, siblings,
 and relatives for the start of the meet.

Head coach Lee Thompson gives pep
talk to swimmers before the start of the meet

The night wasn’t easy as Thompson was exposed to the controlled chaos of Jersey Shore’s 130 swimmers. “The hardest part of tonight’s meet was getting the kid’s organized, who’s out with sickness and injuries and come up with a final line-up, said Thompson. “It seemed like there was a lot of chaos but the age group captains and parents have helped a lot and taken a large burden off the coaches’ shoulders.”

There is always some down time before and
during the meet to get a quick game of cards in.

He was happy with all the performances the kids put in but was particular happy with the 12-and -under girls. “They seemed very strong every single race” said Thompson. Once he sits down to review the results, he’ll realize how effective they were against Tri-Town. It is a group loaded with over 25 swimmers that can be moved around to various events and perform well. They went 1-2-3 in every individual race but also captured the top spots in the opening and closing relay. As the meet winded down under the pool lights, the girls put up a final score of 66-7.

 But size of the age group doesn’t always matter in creating a cohesive unit. Whereas the 12-under girls are over 25 strong, the 12-and-under boys were only 7 strong and were able to win their age group, 47-12. Max Mason and Jacob Butzler led the group by winning their three individual events. The 50 yard freestyle, 50 yard backstroke, and 100 yard freestyle for Mason and the 100 IM, 50 yard breaststroke, and 50 yard butterfly for Butzler. Teammate Kollen Walters added to the point total with two second place finishes in the 50 yard backstroke and butterfly. Harris Brewer also captured some points with a second and third place finish in the 100 and 50 yard freestyle respectively.

The 14-and-under girls are even smaller as their four swimmers were able to win 48-18. Courtney Breon won the 100 yard freestyle with teammates Olivia Bellomo and Madalyn Charnego finishing second and third respectively. Shore’s Sydney Rosencrance won captured the 50 yard breaststroke with a time of 0:49.78 and also finished third in the 50 yard freestyle. The group went on to win four of the six individual events.

Jersey Shore’s 10-and-under Natalie Charnego
in the breaststroke leg of her 100 yard individual medley.

Jersey Shore’s 15-and-over Toby Letterman chases
Tri-Town’s Courtney Kitchen to
the wall in the 100 yard individual medley.

Jersey Shore’s 12-and-under Olivia Stemler races to the wall to finish her 100 yard
individual medley for a second place finish.