Central Regional Boys Swimming Team Enjoyed a Season to Remember

Sophomore Evan Mahoney played a key role on Central Regional High School's boys swimming team to make it a season to remember.

Now he is preparing for the baseball season as one of the leading prospects for an outfield that has two spots to fill.

"I'm still getting back into it," Mahoney said. "I'm still getting down the mechanics. I have some speed and the coach is looking me at the No. 1 or 2 spots or No. 9 spot (as coach John Scran likes to have a 'double-leadoff' situation in the batting order with speed at the top and bottom of the lineup).

 "We're looking pretty good," Mahoney said.

It's not easy for Mahoney. He spends the first 90 minutes after school practicing with his high school baseball team that opens its season on April 1 at Toms River South with a loaded, high-powered scrimmage schedule. Then he  heads over to Toms River for practices with the YMCA team from 3:45 to 6:30 p.m. every day, to prepare for the April 5 nationals in Fort Lauderdale.

Mahoney is one of 17 members of the Toms River YMCA  team preparing for the premier showcase. He will swim the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyles and the 100-yard breaststroke. It's his third year at the nationals.  Last year his times were good enough for him to swim in the consolation finals in his two favorite events, where he was 13th nationally in the 100-yard freestyle and 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke.

"We're getting there," Mahoney said. "Now that the other meets are done, we're focusing on the nationals."

For Mahoney, that also included his high school swim meets and the NJSIAA individual swim championships two weeks ago on in two events at  Gloucester Tech. He was second in the 100-yard freestyle in :46.37, a personal best, and not far behind the winning time of :45.81 in that meet.

Mahoney also swam for the second straight year in the 100-yard breaststroke, a :58.39 that bettered his own previously held school record in that event. Despite a better time this year than in last year's state finals, Mahoney was one spot higher in third place in that event last year, which speaks for the improved field in that event. He was just hundredths of a second off a second place finish.

His personal best in the breaststroke came in the Winter Carnival at the University of Maryland in January, a :57.8.

"Hopefully, in the nationals this year, I can swim a :56," Mahoney said. "But :53 is where I want to be."

Mahoney last year also finished tied for fourth place in the 50 free.

"He's the type of kid who has seen big races before," said coach Steve Stout.  "He has tremendous technique and skill and swims with a lot of confidence."

Mahoney also swam the anchor leg on the 4x400 relay that posted a 3:24.82 time, just .6 of a second off the school record at the high school state individual championship, but the best time for this season. Senior Christian Giglio, swam a :49.49 time on the third leg, his personal best in the 100-yard freestyle.   The Yocius brothers -- junior Al and freshman Luke -- swam the first two legs. Mahoney also swam on the school record-setting medley relay that finished third in the Shore Conference championships in 1:44.27.

Al Yocius, Giglio and junior Ian Cook swam the other legs and he and Glglio also swam to individual school records as Central Regional finished a fifth place in the team standings, its best showing in recent years.

"I"m pretty happy about it," Mahoney said. "We had a really good year. It was a lot of fun."

Mahoney's efforts led the Golden Eagles to the Shore Conference B South championship for the first time in four years during the regular season, breaking Lacey's string of three straight division championships.

The Golden Eagles also qualified for the NJSIAA Group III Central Jersey sectionals, losing to Moorestown, 96-75.

A key loss in the 500 freestyle late in the meet set the tone for that outcome.

"This is one of those special teams that you'll always remember," Stout said.

As for Giglio, Stout said that the senior will be a "big loss" for next year. A large number of returnees are expected back on the young team.

Mahoney swam to a school record 1:44.15 in the 200 at the Shore Conference championships and won the 100 free in :46.84. Giglio set a school record in the 100 backstroke in :56.21, good for third place in that meet. Giglio, Mahoney and the Yocius brothers swam on the 4x400 relay that was fourth in 3:26.16. Giglio also swam in the 100 butterfly in :56.65 for tenth place.

Others graduating are seniors Kevin Landmesser, a captain, who had some big performances in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke and  Erich Polixa.

Sophomore Tom Hrabel can help for next season in the distance events.