2010

July 31, 2010

MOUNT HOLLY — The more things change in Tri-County Swimming, the more everybody enjoys the things that don’t. This year’s Jack Hafner Burlington County Championships were as they always are, a celebration of summer swimming, a showcase for faces old and new, and, as we’ve come to expect, another coronation for Pheasant Run. The Flyers, under first-year coach Chris Gaffney, cruised to a 168-point win over Deer Brook, which eked out a slim 27-point margin over third-place Pomona. The Flyers won 13 of the 20 relays (eight girls and five boys) and finished second in five of the seven relays they didn’t win. “The depth and the talent of this team is something that I’ve never been around before,” Gaffney said. “It’s just incredible. These kids work hard every single day. This isn’t just raw talent. It’s about working hard every time they hit the pool or with whatever they do.” Gaffney was charged with taking over the juggernaut that was built by Ken Rauba and expanded on by Tom Wilkinson. The Flyers’ dominance over almost two decades was something Gaffney couldn’t fully appreciate until the clipboard and whistle were in his own hands. Coaching Old Orchard, Gaffney’s first and only head coaching stop before joining Pheasant Run, couldn’t prepare him completely for his new post. “It’s a whole new animal, coaching Pheasant Run,” Gaffney said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity Old Orchard gave me with my first coaching job. It taught me a lot about myself and my coaching philosophy. It gave me a good foundation when I got here.”

 
All that depth in the relays translated into wins in the individual events, too. The Flyers won 14, including nine girls golds. Pheasant Run won 17 of the 33 girls races. The highlights were Lauren Begley’s win in the 15-18-year-old backstroke, where she out-touched Sunnybrook’s Claire Wixted by .01 of a second, and another dominating performance by the Carter Orth, who took home wins in the 13-14 individual medley and the butterfly.  
 

The IM proved to be the best indicator of who the county’s best swimmers are. Five other swimmers were double-winners Saturday. All five started the day by winning the IM. Among the girls, Orth was joined by butterfly winner Jillian Bujanowski of Riverdel in the 11-12s and Sunnybrook’s freestyler Steph Yaszemski in the 15-18s. Sunnybrook’s 11-12 star Alexander Martin and Pomona’s 15-18 anchor Matt Belecanech tacked on backstroke golds to their IM medals. Deer Brook’s Bryan Mattingly turned the 13-14 freestyle into a matching set with his IM win. “I was hoping to win the IM, which I did,” Bujanowski said. “In the butterfly, I knew I was pretty close so I was happy about that. It was important to win for Riverdel because I love what Riverdel is all about.” Bujanowski didn’t know she had actually won the fly, but she had a good excuse. She edged Woodstream’s Morgan Sage by less than 0.1 of a second in their second head-to-head meeting of the day. Yaszemski didn’t provide quite as much drama. There was little doubt about the winner in her two wins. “It was a good day,” Yaszemski said. “I knew there could be a lot of close races but I came in here with an open mind. I just sprinted and sprinted.” Yaszemski quickly tired of recounting her own exploits. She was far more animated talking about Hanna Henderson and her close win in the 8-and-under backstroke. With her arm draped around Henderson’s shoulder, it was hard to tell which swimmer looked up to the other more.

 
That’s the biggest constant in summer swimming. Stars like Belecanech, who are preparing for nationals with their competitive year-round club teams, somehow always find their way back to their local clubs for summer swimming. Being a small part of a team over the course of 66 races every weekend keeps some of the top swimmers in South Jersey coming back year after year.

 
“I love the whole team atmosphere,” Belecanech said. “It’s all about being a part of a team, whereas club swimming sort of puts you on an island by yourself. I’m not racing for me. I’m racing for the whole team.” 

July 25, 2010

Riverdel 328, Barclay Farms 226: The Stingrays finished 4-1 with Shaun Corcoran (8U 25 free, 25 back), Robby Rodolico (11-12 50 free, 50 back) and Robbie Wachter (11-12 50 breast, 50 fly) winning twice among the boys. On the girls side, Samantha Wargny (9-10 50 free, 25 fly) and Jillian Bujanowski (11-12 100 IM, 50 fly) won twice.

July 17, 2010

Riverdel 294, Chestnut Run 260: The Stingrays edged out Chestnut Run to improve their season record to 3-1. Two-time winners for the girls were Samantha Wargny (9-10 50 free, 25 fly), Jaylyn Bark (9-10 20 back, 25 breast), Jessica Starke (11-12 100 IM, 50 free), Jillian Bujanowski (50 back, 50 fly). On the boy’s side, Robbie Wachter (11-12 50 back, 50 fly) and Riley Shaw (13-14 100 free, 50 fly) were double winners.

July 10, 2010

Riverdel 322, Old Orchard 222: Eight double winners propelled Riverdel (2-1) to a Division D win over Old Orchard. Among the boys, Danny Pedrick (9-10 25 back, 25 breast), Glenn Daly (9-10 50 free, 25 fly), Robbie Wachter (11-12 50 back, 50 fly), Gary Hessler (15-18 200 IM, 100 free), Austin Antuzzi (15-18 100 back, 100 breast) won twice. Double winners for the girls were, Rhiane Howley (8-under 25 breast, 25 fly), Samantha Wargny (9-10 25 back, 25 fly) and Jillian Bujanowski (11-12 50 breast, 50 fly).

July 1, 2010

Wenonah 304, Riverdel 250: Six double winners led the Stingrays in their D Division setback. Rhiane Howley won the 25 breaststroke and butterfly for 8-under girls, Jaylyn Bark won the 50 freestyle and 25 breast for 9-10 girls, and Samantha Wargny won the 25 backstroke and fly in the same age group. Jillian Bujanowski (11-12 girls) finished first in the 100 IM and 50 breaststroke. Her 1:13.63 in the IM broke a 9-year-old team record held by Allie Rodolico. In 15-18 boys, Gary Hessler won the 200 IM and 100 free, and Austin Antuzzi won the 100 back and breast.

June 26, 2010

Riverdel 299, Wexford Leas 255: Riverdel had eight double winners in its season-opening win. Among the boys, Glenn Daley (9-10 25 back, 25 fly), Robby Rodolico (11-12 100 IM, 50 breast), Robbie Wachter (11-12 50 free, 50 fly) and Gary Hessler (15-18 200 IM, 100 back) won twice. In the girls competitions, Rhiane Howley (8-under 25 breast, 25 fly), Jaylyn Bark (9-10 25 breast, 25 fly), Samantha Wargny (9-10 25 back, 50 free and Jillian Bujanowski (11-12 100 IM, 50 back) were double winners.

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