Steinert wins in first round to set up rematch with WW-PS
HAMILTON » This could be one heck of a rematch.
And the stakes will be a lot higher.
Despite swimming without one of its key performers, the fifthseeded Steinert boys swimming team took a 104-66 victory over eighth-seeded Colts Neck in an NJSIAA Group B Central first-round meet Tuesday. The contest was switched to Hamilton West at the last minute due to a water temperature problem at Steinert.
The win advances the Spartans to a Friday quarterfinal at fourthseeded West Windsor-Plainsboro South. The Pirates won the first meeting, 86-84, on Dec. 19 by winning the 4x400 relay.
“It’s nice; this will be a meet going into it, where we’re not gonna know the outcome already,” Steinert coach Jen Smith said. “Most meets you can kind of number it out. This will be one that will be a nail-biter.”
The coach realizes a lot has changed since the initial meeting on Dec. 19, so she wasn’t immediately able to handicap the key races.
“I’d have to look at their times,” Smith said. “The breaststroke should go our way, the distance events with Felipe (Bargo) we should be OK there. Other than that, who knows?”
The Spartans were the heavy favorite against Colts Neck but those odds took a hit when Christian Devine had to miss the meet with the flu. Smith quickly had to jumble her lineup and informed the swimmers where they would be relocated during the bus ride to West.
“We knew it would affect us in some way because he’s a huge part of our lineup,” Alan Sun said. “Our coach had to mix a couple things up, switch around some guys. But in the end I think it worked out.”
It sure did, thanks in a big part to Sun. He and fellow junior Felipe Bargo were both four-time winners. The two, along with Dylan McGettigan, were part of the winning 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams. Kyle Calamia rounded out the 200 MR, while Gavin Shin completed the 200 free relay.
Sun also won the 200 IM and 100 back, while Bargo took first in the 200 and 400 free. Colts Neck actually won five events, but Steinert’s depth played a big part in the victory. Spencer Oliver finished second twice, while Calamia, McGettigan, Shin, Scott Ackerson and Jordan Hill all had second-place finishes along with two relays.
The Spartans also had plenty of thirds, fourths and fifths, as Andrew Norton, Peter Garlisi, Chris Dunfee, Joe Berg, Ryan Merrick, Matt Hall and Christian Limato all scored points to make up for Devine’s absence.
“A lot of guys stepped up,” Bargo said. “Christian’s like a really big part of our team but we have replacements. We can get people in that aren’t as good, but are still really good.”
Everyone will need to be at their best against the Pirates, who were missing a few swimmers in the first meeting.”
“I believe we have a chance,” Sun said. “Last time we raced them we only lost by two points and I believe our guys are fully capable of getting over that hill. We’ll see.”
Follow Rich Fisher on twitter @ fish4scores 200 medley relay: Steinert (Bargo, Sun, Calamia, McGettigan) 2:04.35
200 free: Bargo (S) 2:11.75
200 IM: Sun (S) 2:36.29
50 free: Howard (CN) 27.27
100 fly: Cheung (CN) 1:235
100 free: Howard (CN) 59.56
400 free: Bargo (S) 4:46.46
200 free relay: Steinert (Shin, Sun, McGettigan, Bargo) 1:52.12
100 back: Sun (Steinert) 1:13.26
100 breast: A. Hou (CN) 1:20.68
400 free relay: Colts Neck (R. Hou, Howard, Cao, A. Hou) 4:16.69