High Place Finishes, County Records For Ridge At Somerset County Championships

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Ridge girls’ and boys’ teams turned in a superlative performance at the Somerset County Championships at Montgomery on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The girls’ team came third behind Mount St Mary and Watchung Hills and the boys’ team finished second behind Bridgewater.

On the boys’ side, Garrett Gould won two events, becoming County Champion in the 50 and 100 Free, breaking team records in both events.

The boys’ 400 Free relay team of Gould, Mitch Ferraioli, Kevin Cao and Gabe Beverini took the County title with an exciting come-from-behind win to close out the meet. The same quartet took second place in the 200 Medley relay.

In the girls’ events, Emily Thompson won the County Champion title in the 100 Fly and 100 Back, breaking County, pool and team records in both.

The girls’ 200 Medley relay team of Thompson, Emily Wang, Eszter Kiss and Giulia Beverini breaking the County, pool and team records in that event. The girls also took the County title in the 400 Free relay event.

In the boys’ individual events, there were plenty of top 8 finishes, with Ridge’s depth giving them second place overall.

Ferraioli took second place in both the 200 Free and the 100 Fly. Kevin Cao was third in the 100 Breast and Ian D’Silva took fifth in the 100 Back. Gabe Beverini took seventh in the 200 IM and eighth in the 100 Free. Orion Wang was seventh in the 500 Free and eighth in the 200 Free. Anson Chen took eighth place in both the 200 IM and 500 Free.

On the girls’ side, team Captain Emily Wang took third place in the 200 Free and 5th in the 100 Back. Ezster Kiss took fifth place in both the 200 IM and the 100 Fly. Giulia Beverini was fourth in the 50 Free and 8th in the 100 Free. Victoria Doucette took eighth place in the 50 Free and Sammie Oei was 8th in the 500 Free.

Ridge moves on to the knockout States competition later in February.

— Submitted by Ailsa Ferguson