Considering the competition, the South Brunswick High School boys swimming team's second-place finish in the Greater Middlesex Conference championships was a heck of an accomplishment.
St. Joe's won the event with 495.5 points. This was the thirty-third straight year St. Joe's has won the GMC.
South Brunswick finished with 302 points, which was second best of the 13 teams that scored points.
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"The boys did an outstanding job yesterday and really rose to the challenge," South Brunswick Coach John Harding said. "They broke six school records."
South Brunswick managed a win in the 200 free relay. Calvin Chiu, Tyler Blackburn, Ryan Finch and Andrew Kudwitt combined for the win with a time of 1:31.42. That was one of the school records.
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"They won the two hundred free relay and it was the first relay win in school history for the boys," Harding said. "They did great."
South Brunswick also had outstanding showings in the other relay events. The 400 free relay team placed second in a time of 3:31.89. The 200 medley relay team placed third with a time of 1:42.32.
"The two hundred medley relay team of Calvin Chiu, Lincoln Harris, Ryan Finch and Andrew Kudwitt (set a school record)," Harding noted.
In addition to their part in the winning 200 free relay, Tyler Blackburn, Andrew Kudwitt and Calvin Chiu all earned medals in individual events.
Tyler Blackburn was second in both the 200 free (1:47.69) and 500 free (4:54.97). Blackburn was the defending GMC champion in the 500 free. It took a tremendous effort by St. Joe's Ethan Louie to defeat him in the 500 free. Louis swam a 4:51.12. Blackburn set a South Brunswick school record in the race. Blackburn also set a school record in the 200 free.
Andrew Kudwitt placed fourth in both the 50 free (22.86) and 100 free (49.50). His time in the 100 free is a new school record.
Calvin Chiu was second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.89. Chiu was was the defending GMC champion in the 100 backstroke. This was one of the those time's when Chiu was at his best and just was up against a tremendous opponent. Chiu's time was a new school record. St. Joe's Aleks Burzynski just happened to swim a time of 54.47.
Lincoln Harris was third in the 500 free (5:01.70).
"I am very proud of all them," Harding said. "It was a total team effort, anchored by my top boys."
South Brunswick will take part in the state tournament on Feb. 11. The Meet of Champions will be held on March 5-6 at Gloucester County Institute of Technology.
"The team is looking forward to the state tournament," Harding said.
Even more medals and school records could be waiting.
