Swim Teams Capture County Championships

The Westfield boys and girls did what was expected of them Saturday at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center at Rutgers in Piscataway. But don't think either team took it for granted that grabbing another Union County Championship would be easy.

Both teams used great depth in knocking off runner-up Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

The Blue Devil boys won their 11^th straight county title and 53^rd in 54 years, while the girls won an 18^th straight county title.

Westfield's boys, beaten in a dual meet last month by Scotch Plains-Fanwood, beat the Raiders 442-411 ½ for the title.

"We needed a full team effort and we got it,'' said boys head coach Jeff Knight. "We placed in the top three of every event except for the 500 and that was one of the fastest races I've seen in years in that event.''

The tempo was immediately set in the first event. Senior Matt Meserole opened with a 24.50 backstroke that sparked a meet-record 1:38.66, breaking the Blue Devils' own mark of 1:39.75 set in 1978. Jack Lorentzen (27.65 breaststroke), Larry Zhang (24.19 butterfly) and Mike Oster (22.32 freestyle) combined to make it happen.

"Matt's a fantastic swimmer and a great leader and set the tone in the medley,'' said Knight, who raved about the facility. "That backstroke set the tone.''

Meserole successfully defended his county titles in the 100 freestyle (40.08) and 100 backstroke (53.17). Lorentzen won the 50 freestyle in 22.55. Nick Boyle was fourth and Tim Walsh was sixth. Knight was especially happy with that event.

"The guys came in and got us some key points there,'' Knight said.

Boyle, Lorentzen, Walsh and Meserole went 1:29.75 to win the 200 freestyle relay. That was the team's fifth victory.

"It speaks to the depth of our team, and that's the key to a good team,'' said Knight.
All 13 of the Blue Devils boys scored points.

"The guys worked to a common goal, that's what makes it happen,'' Knight said.

"Swimming is a very individual sport, but it's also about other guys counting on you -- that brings out the best,'' he said. "They put every last bit into it.''

The Blue Devils graduated nine swimmers last June out of 30, including their star Chris DeLaFuente. "That's a pretty big hit when you lose just about the third of your team, but these guys have stepped up,'' he said.

The Blue Devils have been a work in progress, the coach said.

"We aim to peak now and into February,'' he said. ""We learned a lot about ourselves. But I was very confident going in and it showed. Every kid had a quality swim.''

The girls beat Scotch Plains-Fanwood 418-354.

Like the boys, the Blue Devil girls showed just how much they have. Becky DeLaFuente was the only individual winner, taking the 500 freestyle in 5:07.83 and led off the meet record setting 400 freestyle team that went 3:34.86, breaking the Westfield mark set last year of 3:40.8. DeLaFuente, Anna Fetter, Meredith Smith and Suzanne Lemberg set the mark. Smith was also second in the 200 freestyle and Fetter was runner-up in the 200 IM. DeLaFuente was second in the 100 butterfly and Lemberg was runner-up in the 100 freestyle. The Blue Devils also took second in the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.

The Westfield boys finish the regular-season dual meet schedule Tuesday at 2:30 with a meet against Christian Brothers Academy at 2:30 at the Westfield Y.