Ridge Girls Swim Team Advances To State Sectional Finals

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Following wins against Columbia City last week, Ridge boys’ and girls’ swim teams took on Bridgewater on Tuesday, Feb. 13 in a close, thrilling state sectionals semi-final meet.

Ridge girls won 94-76, marking their first-ever win against Bridgewater. The boys battled hard but were ultimately beaten 94-76 by a strong Bridgewater team. The girls advance to the state sectional final for the first time, against Westfield, on Thursday, February 16 at Raritan Bay YMCA.

In the girls’ meet, Ridge got off to a strong start taking first and second place in the 200 Medley relay, the race being won by the quartet of Emily Thompson, Kinga Kiss, Eszter Kiss and Maggie Luo, second place going to Giulia Beverini, Niamh O’Sullivan, Victoria Doucette and Amelia Ellis.

Reversing a heart-breaking loss to Bridgewater in the regular season, Ridge turned in a dominant performance this time, winning 7 out of 8 individual events.

Eszter Kiss, Thompson and Beverini won both of their individual events. Kiss took victory in the 100 fly and 100 breast, Beverini in the 50 Free and 100 Back and Thompson in the 200 and 400 Free. Emily Wang also took the win in the 200 IM.

In the freestyle relays, Ridge were edged into second place in the 200 Free relay but came back to finish strong with a win in the 400 Free relay, the last event of the night, to seal their historic win.

In the boys’ meet, Ridge battled hard and won many events, but the depth of the Bridgewater team ultimately brought them down.

Despite this, Ridge secured some memorable victories. The quartet of Garrett Gould, Kevin Cao, Mitch Ferraioli and Gabe Beverini opened the meet with an impressive, close win in the 200 Medley Relay.

In the individual events, Ferraioli snatched two trademark, come-from-behind wins in the 200 and 400 Free events. Gould secured two more individual victories in the 50 and 100 Free events. Kevin Cao narrowly won an exciting 100 Breast event.

The boys came second in the 200 Free relay and Gould stormed home in the 400 Free relay, the final event of the night, to overcome a large deficit and grab first place for Ridge.

In the end, despite a valiant effort, Bridgewater’s many second and third places gave them enough points for the win and a place in the state sectionals finals.

Ridge MVP’s were Niamh O’Sullivan and Anurag Bhat.

The girls’ team will face Westfield on Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Raritan Bay YMCA in the state sectionals final.

— Submitted by Ailsa Ferguson