Jersey Shore, Williamsport 15-and-Overs Battle It Out In The Water

The Jersey Shore Summer Swim Team opened up the 2012 Bald Eagle Swim League season with a 7-3 win over Williamsport on Tuesday night. While Shore won the majority of the younger age groups (only losing the 14-and-under girls and the 10-and-under boys), the real battle took place with the oldest age group; the 15-and-overs.

Luke Engle on route to a first place finish for
Jersey Shore in the boys 14-and-under 50 meter freestyle.

The Williamsport Wave 15-and-over girls picked up a quick six points over the black and orange in the opening 200 medley relay which did not field a quartet. In the hole by several points, Shore started to accumulate points when Jamie Mason and Kortnee Blair took first and third respectively in the 50 meter freestyle. Jersey Shore was able to tie the age group score in the next event as Mason won the 100 meter individual medley, while teammate Alaniah Rosencrance captured a point with a third place finish behind Williamsport's Alex Isaacson.

Williamsport sisters Bethann and Jess Schwoyer halted Jersey Shore's momentum by taking 1-2 in the 100 backstroke respectively. Shore started to regain energy with Rosencrance and Mason wins in the 100 meter breaststroke and butterfly respectively. Down by a point heading into the final relay, Mason, Blair, Brittany Younkin, and Rosencrance were able to take first over Isaacson, B. Schwoyer, Melaina Chapman, and Amanda Getgen for a 35-34 win.

Jersey Shore’s Sadie Griswold cuts through
the water in the breaststroke leg of her 100 meter
individual medley.

The 15-and-over boys was just as close. At times throughout the meet, Williamsport was ahead only to have the lead change over in favor of Jersey Shore and then back again. At two points in the swim meet, their score was tied. Shore's Derek McPherson was able to win all three of his individual events; the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and the 100 meter individual medley. Teammate Zach Lehman picked up three points with third place finishes in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and 100 meter breaststroke.

In the last individual event of the evening, Evan Moore and Nate Lose picked up six points in the 100 meter butterfly as they finished 1-3 respectively, to tie the score at 31-31. Unfortunately, the Shore swimmers used up all their eligibility in the opening relay and individual events and could not field a final relay, falling short in a 31-37 loss.

"It was a good meet to open the dual meet season with", said coach Patty Kennelley. "We even had the 12-and-under girls break a league record in the 200 medley relay".

The foursome of Gabbie Moore, Sam Keegan,
Emma Butzler, and Kendra White broke
the 12-and-under girls 200
meter medley relay record by over three
seconds set in 1997 by Jersey Shore.