MONTCLAIR, NJ – The Montclair High School girls swim team snapped a seven-year losing streak against perennial Essex County powerhouse Caldwell on Monday, Dec. 4, coming from behind in the last three events to pull out a thrilling 92-78 victory.
The girls’ win was the highlight of a week in which both the girls and boys teams picked up two more victories, over Caldwell and Verona, to remain undefeated this season. Led by Coach Ed Koenigsfest, both teams are now 4-0.
In the Caldwell meet, the girls were led by freshman Devon Muldoon, who won the 200 IM and 100 back, and anchored the winning relays in the 200 medley and 400 free. Junior Kathrynna Demetillo won the 100 butterfly, and sophomore Maya Crawford the 50 free, and both were on the first-place relay teams. Freshman Gaea Caro was also on the 200 medley team, while sophomore Mia Padberg was on the 400 free team.
But the turning point came in the 100 back, with Muldoon, freshman Millie Steffe and senior Amy Chen coming in first, second and fourth, respectively, and turning a two-point deficit into six-point lead. The lead widened to eight after Caro, senior Jordan Caro, and senior AJ Crandall finished second, third, and fourth in the 100 breast.
The Montclair boys had an easier win, 103-67, over an improved Caldwell team. Individual winners included freshman Alex Petroff (200 free), freshman Jarrett Driever (200 IM), freshman Mizell McEachin (100 free), junior Bailey Morgenlander (500 free), and sophomore Tommy White (100 back.) The quartet of Petroff, Driever, White and McEachin won the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, while junior Garrett Chow, freshman Sumner Smith, freshman Caleb Foung, and senior Steven Iovine teamed up to win the 200 free relay.
For Caldwell, the top performers, with two wins apiece, were Elizabeth Murray for the girls (200 free and 500 free) and Perry Mescia for the boys (50 free and 100 fly).
In the meet against Verona (12/7), which is fielding a team this year for the first time, the Montclair girls won 126-39, while the boys won 128-37.
Among the winners for Montclair was Muldoon (200 IM and 100 back); Crawford (50 free and 100 free); Steffe (200 free); and Gaea Caro (100 breast). All three relays also prevailed, including the 200 free team of junior Louisa Skerry; Gaea Caro; freshman Katia Petroff; and freshman Olivia Moore.
The Montclair boys won every event except for the 500 free, which was captured by Verona freshman Killian Blitz. Among the top Montclair performers were White (100 fly and 100 back); sophomore Roman Miklaszewski (200 free); Driever (200 IM); Iovine (50 free); McEachin (100 free); and Foung (100 breast).
JD Chow, an assistant coach for Montclair who was a former star breaststroker for Montclair High School and Bates College, said: “Even though the season has just started, we’ve already gotten a great picture of the depth that both the men’s and women’s teams have to offer this year. With some great swims on the men’s side, and with the women pulling out an incredible victory over a major powerhouse like Caldwell, we’re really looking forward to what the rest of the season has in store for us.”
The next MHS meet will be held on Monday afternoon, dec. 11, against West Orange at the Rutgers-Newark Golden Dome.
Montclair HS girls swim team tops county power Caldwell for first time in seven years added by Editor on
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