IHA, Bosco save best for the end

Feb 1, 2010
IHA, Bosco save best for the end
 
Sunday, January 31, 2010
BY DARREN COOPER
The Record
STAFF WRITER
 
WAYNE — The common ingredient for Don Bosco and Immaculate Heart on Saturday was that each finished strong.

WAYNE — The common ingredient for Don Bosco and Immaculate Heart on Saturday was that each finished strong.

Kayla McAvoy surged ahead in the final 10 yards of the 100 breast stroke to cement an 11-event sweep for the Blue Eagles, and Lou Gabriele came through with a big win in the same event for Bosco as each squad claimed Division B titles at the first NJTCC swimming championships at Passaic Tech.

On the heels of its Passaic County championship, Wayne Hills swept the Division A boys and girls titles.

An overwhelming favorite, IHA finished with 478 points, almost 200 more than second-place Ridgewood. Senior Chloe Conjares won the 50 and 100 freestyle for IHA, while junior Danielle Romain won the 200 and 500 freestyle.

McAvoy may have been the biggest surprise of the meet for the Blue Eagles. She trailed Clifton’s Sarah Melnik heading into the final turn of the breast stroke, but the sophomore perfectly timed her last stroke to win by .34 seconds.

"I saw her on the last wall and I just put my head down and touched," said the Wyckoff resident. "I guess it was fast enough. I knew it would be a tough race and I gave it my all."

The Blue Eagles face one of their strongest challenges of the season Tuesday against Westfield, and McAvoy said her team will have to be ready.

"We really need those second- and third-place points and for our freshmen to step up and everyone to swim their best," she said. "I think we have the best depth that we have had and it really showed today."

The boys competition between Don Bosco and Ridgewood was close, just as it was at last Sunday’s Bergen Meet of Champions. After Ridgewood senior Austin Taylor won the 100 backstroke in 53.35, the Maroons led by two points in the team standings.

"I got a little nervous when the score was so close," said Don Bosco coach Anne Langan. "But then we turned it around."

The Ironmen were loaded in the the breast stroke and the 400 freestyle relay — the last two events. Gabriele won the breast stroke in 1:02.54, Nathan Singer was fourth and David Arnold sixth.

Ridgewood got a measure of revenge, winning the 400 freestyle relay, but Don Bosco finished second and third in that race to win by 18 points.

Kayla McAvoy surged ahead in the final 10 yards of the 100 breast stroke to cement an 11-event sweep for the Blue Eagles, and Lou Gabriele came through with a big win in the same event for Bosco as each squad claimed Division B titles at the first NJTCC swimming championships at Passaic Tech.

On the heels of its Passaic County championship, Wayne Hills swept the Division A boys and girls titles.

An overwhelming favorite, IHA finished with 478 points, almost 200 more than second-place Ridgewood. Senior Chloe Conjares won the 50 and 100 freestyle for IHA, while junior Danielle Romain won the 200 and 500 freestyle.

McAvoy may have been the biggest surprise of the meet for the Blue Eagles. She trailed Clifton’s Sarah Melnik heading into the final turn of the breast stroke, but the sophomore perfectly timed her last stroke to win by .34 seconds.

"I saw her on the last wall and I just put my head down and touched," said the Wyckoff resident. "I guess it was fast enough. I knew it would be a tough race and I gave it my all."

The Blue Eagles face one of their strongest challenges of the season Tuesday against Westfield, and McAvoy said her team will have to be ready.

"We really need those second- and third-place points and for our freshmen to step up and everyone to swim their best," she said. "I think we have the best depth that we have had and it really showed today."

The boys competition between Don Bosco and Ridgewood was close, just as it was at last Sunday’s Bergen Meet of Champions. After Ridgewood senior Austin Taylor won the 100 backstroke in 53.35, the Maroons led by two points in the team standings.

"I got a little nervous when the score was so close," said Don Bosco coach Anne Langan. "But then we turned it around."

The Ironmen were loaded in the the breast stroke and the 400 freestyle relay — the last two events. Gabriele won the breast stroke in 1:02.54, Nathan Singer was fourth and David Arnold sixth.

Ridgewood got a measure of revenge, winning the 400 freestyle relay, but Don Bosco finished second and third in that race to win by 18 points.