Ocean City High School Boys Swim Team Learns Playoff Fate

The Ocean City High School boys swim team will have to overcome the odds to win an NJSIAA South Jersey Group B championship.

The Red Raiders earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament on Thursday, according to nj.com. Ocean City will host No. 8 Kingsway in the first round on Feb. 2.

Although it begins the tournament with a home meet, the odds become greater the longer Ocean City remains in contention, thanks to an eight-team playoff field that rewards the top two teams with a double bye.

This means that if Ocean City wins, it travels to face No. 4 Gloucester Tech in the second round on Feb. 5. Gloucester Tech received a first-round bye.

Not only that, but the winner of that meet will then face No. 1 Mainland, which receives a double bye into the semifinals, on Feb. 8.

The championship meet at Gloucester Tech is on Feb. 10.

Clearview is the No. 2 overall seed, and also receives a double bye.

Its side of the bracket begins on Feb. 2 when No. 6 Haddon Township hosts No. 7 Cherry Hill West. The winner of that visits No. 3 Shawnee on Feb. 5, with Clearview hosting the winner of that meet on Feb. 8.

Ocean City was 6-4 this season.