Alright, this has been a few days in the works. I wanted one final swimming post before I really got going with softball. In case you missed my full Year-in-Review, full with quotes of the year, here it is.
And here’s my final post of the 2012-13 swimming season. It’s a list of some (very) early predictions and thoughts on what to expect next season. The list is in no particular order. Some are serious, some are fun. This will wrap up the 2012-13 swimming here on Aces.Â
1. Tom Viscardi‘s statewide proposal to add a ‘C’ division to the public school state tournament eventually passes. It makes too much sense not to, and once schools around the state get word of it, I think it will pick up momentum. Viscardi wasn’t sure if it would be decided on March 27, but that’s when the NJSIAA will first take a closer look at it.
2. Immaculate Heart wins its 15th straight Bergen County title and seventh straight state title in even more dominating fashion than this year. Twitter explodes in excitement and #7thHeaven becomes the hashtag of choice and eventual headline in newspaper. I know the Blue Eagles never get complacent and they’re going to be even better than they were this year. They have a stacked Class of 2014, headed by Sara Nestrowitz, Emilia Weihenig and Michelle Kim. All three end up signing with Division I schools.
3. Bergen Catholic repeats as Bergen County champion and wins a sectional title next season before falling to CBA in the state final. Josh Sembrano, Liam Kelly, John Om, Sebastian Lopez, Rob Farrell and Ralph Cannarozzi continue re-writing the BC records books. And John Om continues being frustrated at the Varsity Aces Twitter for blowing up his timeline with information he is not interested in (sorry, John). Bergen’s 200 medley relay team places in the top three at the State Meet of Champions. Jason Schlereth buys custom-made red and blue shirt, to be able to support both BC and IHA at same time (why has this not happened yet?).
4. Wayne Valley’s Meaghan O’Donnell sets meet records in another two events at the Passaic County Championship, but Wayne Hills’ Sam Kauffman breaks one of O’Donnell’s previously-set records, probably in the 100 backstroke. With 8-time SMOC gold medalist Colleen Callahan of Atlantic City now out of the way, O’Donnell wins state title in 100 breast stroke. D1 schools start heavily recruiting O’Donnell.
5. The Wayne Hills girls win their fifth straight Passaic County title and Big North championship, edging out Clifton (a team that’s gonna be pretty good next year) in both. Mike Shale celebrates county title with massive cannonball. I finally learn to tell the difference between Gabi and Emma Cancel. Sam Kauffman lands on first team All-North Jersey. Everyone misses Ilana Kleinfeld.
6. Former Demarest coach Mike Ives comes back to next year’s Bergen Meet of Champions and heckles good friend Tom Viscardi from the stands/pool deck. Despite losing bigtime talent to graduation (that’s you Caitlin Grady, Katie Ogden, Maggie McElwain and Marissa Lauber), the Highlands girls finish runner-up again at the Bergen Meet of Champions. Madeline Wolf repeats as 200 freestyle champion and emerges as serious Swimmer of the Year contender. Caitlyn Bach has huge year. Madison Cullinan becomes a first team All-North Jersey candidate. Highlands beats Mountain Lakes in sectional final for third year in a row. A nail-biter… 86-84. Tom Viscardi touches out Gary Bach in celebratory 25 freestyle. Highlands maintains its rep as top Twitter team in county (though IHA is a close second).
7. Passaic Tech’s Toniann Feigel has breakout year, winning at least one event at the Passaic County Championships. Fair Lawn’s Annmarie Picinich has All-North Jersey type of season, wins the 50 freestyle at Bergen Meet of Champions in a mild upset. Ramapo’s Lena DiPrizito repeats as 200 IM and 100 breast stroke county champion. Demarest’s Christina Paspalas wins 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke at BMOC, setting a meet record in at least one of them. Paspalas puts herself in contention to repeat as Swimmer of the Year with pair of top four finishes at SMOC, including an upset win in the 100 back over Westfield’s Caroline Baldwin.
8. I finally meet Tenafly’s Sophie Tallier. She wins the 500 freestyle again at the Bergen Meet of Champions, qualifies for championship heat in the 500 at the State Meet of Champions and ends up taking fifth. Tallier shows up for All-North Jersey photo session this time.
8. Ramapo’s Brendan Woo wins the 50 and 100 freestyles at the Bergen Meet of Champions for the third straight year, re-breaking the meet records in both. Bergen Catholic’s Josh Sembrano repeats as 100 backstroke county champion (Jason Arthur, who has a big year, takes second) and sister Kim Sembrano earns a pair of top three finishes at BMOC. Both Sembranos show up on first team All-North Jersey. Northern Highlands’ Max Distler maintains his “stud status†(Viscardi’s words) and puts himself in the All-North Jersey discussion.
9. Paramus Catholic’s John Nunez makes serious run at Boys Swimmer of the Year, winning a pair of events at the Bergen Meet of Champions and repeating as state champion in 500 freestyle. Nunez goes 4:27 in the 500, three seconds off the state meet record, then guarantees a three-peat and state record his senior year (wait, I think he actually did this already). Coach Ralph Manno loses his voice for days while cheering Nunez on at the SMOC.
10. IHA’s Charissa Venice shows me what all the fuss is about regarding her supposedly hilarious baby talk/face. Valerie Lauer wins contest to go on date with Ricky Berens. Emily Horne makes the Dean’s list at Georgetown. Sara Nestrowitz makes me Rainbow Cake for Bergen Meet of Champions, where she has her usual impressive day. Kelly Czochanski places inside top three in a pair of individual events at BMOC, while also being part of winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Jill Calocino wanders around Felix Festa talking to everyone… also takes second in the 500 free. Megan Twiss and Kathryn DeSernia emerge as two of IHA’s top swimmers. Everyone misses Hailey Vogt. IHA loses to Westfield for third year in a row… but makes it closer than the 20-point loss it had this season.
11. River Dell/Westwood girls win a Big North division title. Chris Armen puts himself in the running for Coach of the Year. Ridgewood boys win league title and the girls team give Northern Highlands a scare. Keith Cook also put himself in the Coach of the Year conversation. In life after Terry Li (and Mike Ives), Demarest boys win league title for second straight year and reach sectional semifinals. Leonia/Palisades Park boys wins their third straight NJIC championship, led by star Alejandro Hernandez. Hasbrouck Heights girls upset Rutherford to win NJIC girls title.
Got your own predictions? Post ‘em in the comments section.
That’s it for this year. See you all next season.