Swimming on Aquajets a Stroke of Luck

The Livingston Aquajets had one of its strongest teams in years for the summer 2011 season, competing in Division 4 – the top division in the North Jersey Summer Swim League.

Being comprised only of Livingston residents makes the team exceptional as other teams include swimmers from surrounding towns. When the Aquajets win, they win as "Livingstonites" alone. The season highlights included defeating long-time rival New Providence at home and placing more than 30 swimmers in the league’s Meet of Champions.

For these young swimmers, "you never know where a town recreation team may lead you,” said Aquajets coach Kevin Mullaney.

For Mullaney, who began his swim career as a boy on the team, it has led all the way to coaching in the Big East, where he’s an assistant swim coach at Seton Hall University.

"The Livingston swim team is what gave me my start as a swimmer and I remember my first years on the Aquajets as being very rewarding, fun, and self esteem boosting,” he said.

Mullaney has been coaching in Livingston for the past eight years. “Swimming was great for me and I attempt to mirror the same experience for all of the Livingston swimmers with positive encouragement and networking with local club teams,” he said. “My goal is for as many of them as possible to go on to swim in high school and college.”

Kevin Jung has been the assistant coach for five seasons. He also grew up swimming on the Aquajets and has been a major asset to the team. He was a national level swimmer for both Livingston High School and the Montclair YMCA.

Jung consistently coaches and trains the swimmers. The day before the Meet of Champions found him spending time individually assisting swimmers with their dive techniques, repeating the process over and over with measured voice and positive energy. He recently graduated from Union College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, where he swam all four years.

Nancy Yang and Eeshin Chang of the 15/18 group also spent a great deal of their summer logging almost full-time hours as volunteer coaches, becoming great role models and leaders as well as strong contributors in and out of the water. 

This past week each of the four divisions in the North Jersey Summer Swim League held a Divisional Meet where the coaches from all 20 teams ranked the swim times for each event. 

The top 16 times then moved on to the Meet of Champions held in New Providence. Thirty-three Livingston swimmers qualified for the meet and the following took home gold medals: Adithi Jayaraman for girls 8 and under breastroke, Melody Chen for girls 8 and under backstroke, and the boys 12 and under medley relay team of Jacob Salzman, Jeff Xu, Allen Li, and Sean Tan. 

The Aquajets proudly display their record-breaking swim times on a board near the lap pool, which was paid for through various fundraisers including the parents' bake sale at each home meet. The following records were broken this year:

FREESTYLE
Melody Chen: 8 and Under girls 25 meter freestyle (16.53),        

Nancy Yang: 15-18 girls 50 meter freestyle (29.25)                 

BACKSTROKE 
Melody Chen: GIRLS 8 and Under 25 meter backstroke (19.67)  

BREASTROKE
Alec Yang: 13-14 boys 50 meter breaststroke: (34.17)
Grace Xu: GIRLS 9-10 25 meter breaststroke (19.97)

Jeffrey Lee: 11-12 boys 50 meter breaststroke (39.34) 

BUTTERFLY 
Brittany Sun: GIRLS 9-10 25 meter butterfly (16.43)               

Maura Mullaney: 15-18 girls 50 meter butterfly (32.38)            

RELAY 
Girls 12 & under 100 meter freestyle relay: Audrey Kim, Victoria Li, Vivian Xia, Grace Xu (1:03.98)  

The season concluded with a party and awards ceremony. Aquajets and their families gathered for pizza and deserts followed by the coaches presentations of awards for the following categories:  

GIRLS:                                                                                       

8 and Under:
MVP: Melody Chen
Most Improved: Alana Spitzers and Amy Li
Iron Man: Isabella Costanza
Hardest Worker: Adithi Jayaraman

9/10:
MVP: Grace Xu and Brittany Sun
Most Improved: Erin Eagen
Iron Man: Keerthi Jayaraman
Hardest Worker: Shannon O'Connor

11/12:
MVP: Audrey Kim
Most Improved: Jilinne Angbetic
Iron Man: Ariana Khalaj
Hardest Worker: Sasha Weber

13/14:
MVP: Claire Mason
Iron Man: Danielle Peterson
Hardest Worker: Mackenzie Warren

15/18:
MVP: Maura Mullaney
Iron Man: Nancy Yang
Hardest Worker: Nicole Falus

BOYS:
8 and Under:
MVP: Brian Weber
Most Improved: Spencer Konecky
Iron Man: Andrew Chen
Hardest Worker: Matthew Warren

9/10: 
MVP: Jeff Xu
Most Improved: Dylan Belluardo
Iron Man: Jacob Salzman
Hardest Worker: Thomas Meles

11/12:
MVP: Jeffrey Lee
Most Improved: Patrick Yim
Iron Man: Sean Tan and Kevin Chen
Hardest Worker: Sean Risch

13/14:
MVP: Kevin Fong
Most Improved: Alec Meacham
Iron Man: Alec Yang
Hardest Worker: Ethan Dunne and Trevor Wood

15/18:
MVP: Ilya Vasilyeva
Hardest Worker: Austin Fleischer

FRED FRIESS AWARD: Jan Yburan  

Jan Yburan graduated from the team last year but came back for almost every practice and meet to help coach. His return and dedication to volunteer hours represents the special connection that Aquajets swimmers share with the team. While Jan graduated, he is still a leader of the team and we was recognized with the coveted Friess award which is given to an older swimmer who is an excellent role model and leader.