When South swimmers Meredith Ketchmark and Rebecca Lewinson graduated last year after leading the girls’ team to the Mercer County Tournament championship and two state titles, it was unknown how the team would respond this year without their leadership.
The Pirates seem to know the answer: just fine. For the third straight year, South’s girls claimed the Pirate Invitational title on January 15, just days after they had a key victory over Princeton. This month’s wins have proven that the team has the potential to head back to the championship this year.
With a defeat over Princeton, 107-63, and a win at its own tournament, the Pirates, led by senior captain Amanda Grant and juniors Cori Michibata and Jocelyn Yuen, have been swimming at the top of their game. They also have a win over crosstown rival, North, under their belts already this season.
Against Princeton on January 11, Michibata won the 200-yard individual medley as well as the 100-yard backstroke, while Yuen won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.
But the veterans aren’t the only contributors. Freshman Sydney Bornstein continues to impress, as she won the 100-yard freestyle against Princeton and was part of the winning 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams. Meanwhile, Grant came in second in the 100-yard freestyle and won the 100-yard breaststroke.
At the Pirate Invitational, the South girls won seven events. Two of those wins came from Yuen, who broke the meet record in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing the event in a time of 57.11. The former record, set in 2003 by a swimmer from Pennsbury, was 57.28. Yuen proved to be very valuable for the Pirates at the Invitational. In addition to her win at the butterfly, she also won the 5-yard freestyle with a time of 24.28.
Bornstein had a win in the 200-yard freestyle, while South’s 200-yard medley relay team of Michibata, Grant, Bornstein, and Yuen also finished first. Grant took home a victory in the 100-yard breastroke, and South’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Annie Bonazzi, Bornstein, Michibata, and Yuen also finished first.
The team is looking ahead to the county meets between Thursday, February 3 and Saturday, February 5, where the Pirates will vie for their 11th straight county title.
South’s boys’ swim team finished third at the Pirate Invitational, with a score of 192.
North Girls, South Boys B’Ball Step Up
The members of the North girls’ basketball team may be young, but they have been playing like veterans. With a record of 6-4, the team has come up with important wins this season over South, Hopewell Valley, and Lawrence.
Only Jacquie Klotz, Kerry McNeilly, and Marilyn Allen came into the season with varsity experience.
“The team has had to ‘learn under fire’ and has been fortunate to get some wins during the process,” said Coach Bob Boyce. “Jacquie Klotz is one of the finest players in the area.”
