High school swim teams prepare for big season
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Shana Rodgers, a junior, recently broke the Brick Memorial girls record in the 500-yard freestyle in 6:13, as lowered times by every swimmer is the goal of coach Todd Estelle and the other three swim coaches in the township.

"The 500 is one of our better events; we're very competitive there," said Estelle. "I swam the 500 in high school and college and I think she can go under six minutes."

As for the team, Estelle said, "Every meet, we're consistent to get more best times. We get anywhere from 23 to 36 best times each meet."

Brick Township coach Dana Heckman agrees.

"It's been a tough season so far with so many girls sick — three or four every meet," Heckman said. "But for the most part, we're getting a lot of best times."

Although both teams each dropped its first four dual meets, Heckman pointed out her swimmers swam anywhere from 14 to 18 best times in each meet.

What helps some swimmers is their participation in swimming clinics in the spring and fall either at the Ocean County YMCA or at the Blue Wave Fitness Center.

"They did a nice job with that this year," said Estelle. "We push it. It seems the more they do the (clinics), the better they become."

But Heckman said at Brick Township "only a few did clinics. I hoped more would. But by their seeing results, maybe more will do it in the future."

Rodgers is just one second shy of qualifying for the Shore Conference championships in early February entering Christmas week while senior Stephanie Rolmano, one of Brick Memorial's tri-captains, qualified in the breaststroke and junior Sonya Pearce, the fastest sprint freestyler at Brick Memorial, qualified in both sprints again this year. Daniella Kieffer, another senior tri-captain along with Karrine Caola, also swims the breaststroke well. Cassandra DiLorenzo, a junior, is the second fastest sprinter on the team behind Pearce and also is very effective on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the medley relay.

Estelle said junior Jessica Urciuoli has been "surprising" and can swim many events. Junior Kara Rusoff is solid in the backstroke.

"We also have some freshmen coming on strong. All of the girls are doing a nice job," said Estelle.

Heckman loses Corey Serafin off last year's team as well as Caitlin Hand and Olivia Elliot but welcomes back Kaitlyn Huizing, a sophomore who qualified for Shore Conference in five events, including both sprint freestyles and both distance freestyles and the backstroke. Freshman Mikayla Serafin, Corey's sister, qualified for Shore Conference in the individual medley while sophomore Jessica Joseph is close to qualifying in the breaststroke and 50 free.

Five seniors carry much of the load, including Kaitlyn Fratterman in the distance freestyles, Sarah Burton in the individual medley and butterfly, Lauren Schmitz in the backstroke and butterfly and Francesca Cameron in many different events. Carol Ann Carlson is back on the roster after sitting out her junior year and also is a versatile swimmer. Distance freestyler Kaitlyn Fishera and freshman backstroker Sydney Lowenstein also are contributors.

Brick Township's boys, meanwhile, are shooting for good things this year with 10 seniors on the roster.

"The IM should do well and all stroke events — butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke," said coach Barbara Floyd. "But most of the swimmers can swim anything, which is why it is so important."

Senior distance freestyler Mike Bange is co-captain along with junior Matt Essington. Senior John McQuilken also excels in distance freestyles and Josh Lyons swims the butterfly. Senior Travis Spier and sophomores Nick Essington and Tyler Huizing complete the nucleus.

As for Brick Township's boys, 10 seniors make up a team that coach Barbara Floyd said is "swimming faster than last year" as nine swimmers qualified for the Shore Conference championships even though the team has dropped its first five dual meets.

"That's better than in the past and they can qualify in a couple of more events," said Floyd.

The coach said that one swimmer that remark refers to is sophomore Tyler Huizing who already has qualified in six events, including the 100, 200 and 500 freestyles and the backstroke, breaststroke and individual medley.

"He doesn't have a weak event," said Floyd of Huizing. "He's very versatile. That is our strongest point."

Junior Matt Essington has qualified for a return to the Shore Conference meet in four events that include the IM, 50 and 100 freestyles and the backstroke while his brother, Nick, a sophomore, will compete in the two distance freestyles.

"He's the biggest surprise," said Floyd of the younger Essington. "Last year, I said he had potential but he was an average swimmer but then in our first meet this year, I said, 'Where did he come from?' His times are remarkably better than last year."

Also returning to the Shore Conference championships is senior Travis Spier in the IM, butterfly and breaststroke. John Mc- Quilken, a senior who is adept at swimming the distance freestyles, made the Shore Conference meet in the 200 free and in the backstroke. Senior Josh Lyon made it in the butterfly as expected while the others include Nick LeGrow in the 50 freestyle, Brandon Gardner in the butterfly and Evan Jensen in the breaststroke. Senior captain Mike Bange, who is best in the distance freestyles, rounds out the team.

"In the IM we should do well and in all stroke events the butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke," said Floyd, who feels the team is thin in the sprint freestyles.

She said Toms River North, which narrowly beat Brick Township when the two teams met earlier in December in the season opener, looms large as does Brick Memorial. Both teams also are laden with seniors like Brick Township has.