SP-F Swimmers Going Strong After Win Against Summit

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High boys and girls swimming teams are preparing for a tough stretch of dual meets that leads to the Union County Tournament at the end of the month and eventually state team and individual championships.

The teams kept on track Thursday by sweeping Summit.

The Raider boys improved their record to 6-0 with a 97-73 win, while the girls upped their record to 6-1 with a 94-76 win over the Hilltoppers at the Summit YMCA.

Sophomore Greg Baliko led the boys winning the 100 (51.50) and 200 (1.52.88) freestyles and pitching in with legs on the first-place 200 medley and 200 freestyle teams. Junior Dan Napolitano won the 50 free (23.20) and 500 (5:01.34) and swam on the 200 medley and 200 freestyle teams. Sophomore Joe Dunn and junior Mike Napolitano were the others who swam legs on the relay teams. Dunn also won the 200 IM in 2:10.54.

The boys are ranked in the top five in the state by at least one state-wide poll.

Summit, which was 5-0 coming into the meet, was ranked 12^th.

“We were really happy with the way we swam," said coach Jessica Hulnick, in her 15^th year as head coach of the team. “Summit was a lot deeper this year. It was a nice matchup."

The Summit girls had lost just once in six meets before meeting the Raiders.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood senior Kelsey Rossi kept her outstanding going with wins in the 50 (25.59) and the 100 butterfly (1.05.40), senior Becca Dunn won the 200 IM in 2.21.22 and sophomore Caitlin English took the 100 backstroke in 1:03.87. Steph Baliko won the breast in 1:11.24. Balko, Dunn were joined by Jody Thompson and Hannah Markey in taking the 200 freestyle in 1:49.71 and the 200 medley relay team of English, Rossi, Dunn and Baliko went 1:56.20 to win that event.

“Summit had depth and had some excellent swimmers up top," Hulnick said. ”We’re starting to get over the bumps and bruises. The aim is to be faster as the season goes on. I’m pleased at the direction we’re headed."

The boys’ highlight has been a dual meet win over Westfield last month, while the girls’ loss was to the Blue Devils. Next up is a 18^th-ranked Morristown team Tuesday in Morristown, followed a week from Tuesday with another big meet at the state’s top-ranked team Pingry.

“They should be two very, very tough meets," Hulnick said.

The Union County Championships are set for Rutgers University Jan. 30.