Record Setting Night for Jersey Shore Swimmers

Many years ago, the diving boards were removed from the Jersey Shore High School Pool.  As a result, the school’s diving program became non-existent.  Not a big deal when teams visited the JS Pool as the visiting team divers had to sit and watch the meet unfold.  It is problematic when Shore travels to a pool that has a diving board.  The team has to watch their opponents rack up points while watching deckside.

This scenario plays out on a rotational basis every time Williamsport and Shore meet up.  Last year, the Millionaire girls visited Jersey Shore.  While Shore won by eight points, Williamsport’s divers sat and watched the meet unfold. This year, the meet took place at the Williamsport High School Pool where their divers could run up the point total on Jersey Shore.

The Shore girls were ahead by ten points by the time the meet got to the diving events.  Williamsport was able to erase that gap and spring ahead by three as they finished 1-2-3. 

Staring down a deficit, the Moore sisters (Gabbie and Allie) quickly regained the team lead by going 1-2 in the next event, the 100 butterfly.  Jordon O’Connor also added a point with her fifth place finish. 

Freshmen contributed a large part to Shore’s ability to overcome the lack of scoring divers.  Taylor Fleming and O’Connor contributed in big ways with solid wins in the 100 yard breaststroke and 50 freestyle respectively.  Fleming joined the upperclassmen Gabbie Moore, Emma Butzler, and Kendra White to capture the 200 medley relay.  The all freshmen foursome of O’Connor, Allie Moore, Leslie Shadle, and Maegan Sorgen tacked on two points with a third place finish in same relay.

The girls won 2 of the 3 relays and 8 of 9 individual events (lost the diving event) on route to a 98-85 victory.  In addition to the wins, Butzler broke her own school record in the 200 individual medley by 0.54 seconds.

Jersey Shore’s Taylor Fleming out in front of the 100 yard breaststroke.  She would go on to win the event.

The Jersey Shore boys were outmatched by Williamsport and fell 102-36.  However, Senior Luke Engel was able to break two long-standing records in the 200 yard individual medley (previous Brett Ulsamer, 2009) by 0.41 secs and the 100 yard butterfly (previous Eric Gephart, 2005) by 0.34 seconds.

“I am really happy with the ways these kids are swimming,” said Head Coach Jenna Brooks.  “They are coming off of a week of high intensity training over the holiday break and really performing well in the water.”  Both the boys and girls are back in action with a meet against Lewisburg on Thursday.