SP-F Boys Swimming Crushes Summit To Win First Sectional Title Since 2003

PERTH AMBOY -- Seven years after winning their last state sectional title, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys swimming team left no doubt which team was the best in North II, Public B.

The Raiders were never threatened as they rolled to a 95-75 win over Summit in the sectional final Friday at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood simply outclassed the Hilltoppers, sweeping the first eight events and picking up more than enough points to make up for a late Summit run over the final three events.

"We did everything well today," said Scotch Plains-Fanwood coach Jess Hulnik. "Was anyone particularly outstanding today? No. But everyone swam well."

The Napolitano twins, Dan and Mike, scored points in bunches for the Raiders, who advance to the state Public B championship tournament next week. Both brothers won two individual meets and two relays.

Joe Dunn (100 freestyle) and Greg Baliko (200 individual medley) also picked up individual wins, in addition to their roles in two relay victories.

Dunn was key to helping Scotch Plains-Fanwood take an early lead. He began his leg of the 200 medley relay trailing Summit's top team by 0.4 seconds. Dunn erased that deficit by the time he reached the other side of the pool, and pulled ahead by 0.26 seconds by the time he reached the finish.

Early lead in hand, Scotch Plains-Fanwood's depth proved to be decisive.

Dan Napolitano and Baliko won the 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley, respectively, by four seconds each. Ryan Gajdzisz and Mike Rizzo picked up third-place points in those two events to spring the Raiders to a 29-17 lead.

Mike Napolitano delivered a crucial blow with back-to-back wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. In the latter race, the junior turned on the jets over the final 50 yards, turning a dead heat into a relatively easy victory.

"The 50 free worked out very nicely for us," Hulnik said. "We picked up second and fourth there, which was big."

His win, along with high placements from Dunn, Mike Henkels and Keith Monteiro, stretched the Raiders' lead to a nearly insurmountable 58-36.

Summit picked up a pair of victories in the 100 backstroke and 100 breastroke, giving Hulnick something to work on for the Public B championship meets.

"We have to be better in the next round," Hulnik said. "We swam very well for the first two-thirds of the meet."

With the meet firmly in hand, Dan Napolitano closed out Scotch Plains-Fanwood's first sectional swimming championship since 2003 in style.

In the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, Napolitano trailed Summit's anchor by a half a length at the final turn.

Over the final 25 yards, Napolitano made that up and then some, touching the wall a full second ahead of the second-place finisher.

"I really thought we were going to take that last relay," said Summit coach David Pease. "But they put the nail in our coffin and stole that one. Good teams do that, and I tip my hat to them."

Friday's victory marked Scotch Plains-Fanwood's second victory over Summit this season, including a 97-63 regular-season triumph back on Jan. 7.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood 95, Summit 75

200 Medley Relay:Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Mike Henkels, Greg Baliko, Mike Napolitano, Joe Dunn), 1:43.84
200 Freestyle:Dan Napolitano, Scotch Plains-Fanwood (1:50.21)
200 Individual Medley:Baliko, Scotch Plains-Fanwood (2:06.79)
50 Freestyle:Mike Napolitano, Scotch Plains-Fanwood (23.29)
100 Butterfly:Mike Napolitano, Scotch Plains-Fanwood (54.79)
100 Freestyle:Dunn, Scotch Plains-Fanwood (51.71)
500 Freestyle:Dan Napolitano, Scotch Plains-Fanwood (5:06.41)
200 Freestyle Relay:Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Baliko, Mike Rizzo, Dan Napolitano, Dunn)
100 Backstroke:Kirby Voigtman, Summit (56.39)
100 Breastroke:Kevin Ng, Summit (1:04.00)
400 Freestyle Relay:Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Mike Napolitano, Mike Henkels, Ryan Gajdzisz, Dan Napolitano), 3:32.29