Boys Swim Team Falls to Bridgewater in State Sectional Meet

Westfield High School's boys swimming team came up painfully short Thursday night.

A 1-2 finish by Bridgewater-Raritan's Matt Kendall and Victor Luo in the 100 breaststroke gave the Panthers a late-meet lead they wouldn't relinquish, and the Panthers went on to take a 86-84 North Jersey, Section 2, Public A title win at the Raritan Bay YMCA in Perth Amboy.

Westfield is the two-time state champion.

"Bridgewater is a fantastic team and our guys swam their hearts out," said Westfield head coach Jeff Knight. "It came down to a few close races, and when it finishes up 86-84 it's a point here and a point there and that's really what happened. I'm proud of our guys for the effort they put in, and kudos goes to Bridgewater for their effort."

Bridgewater-Raritan and Westfield have dominated this section for the past 10 years. Usually, the result is in doubt to the very end. This one followed the same script.

The No. 2-seeded Blue Devils, winners of the past three sectional titles — all triumphs over the No. 1-seeded Panthers — looked like they were headed for four straight when theyu took a 71-69 lead with two events left.

Westfield needed a 1-3 finish in the 400 freestyle relay, and the Blue Devils' team of Nick Boyle, Michael Oster, Matt Daniel and Matt Meserole (3:17.11) placed first by over two seconds. But the Panthers took third in the event led a by senior co-captain Justin Miller. That relay team won by close to four seconds to seal the verdict.

Westfield won five events. Westfield senior Matt Meserole won the 100 freestyle (48.96) and backstroke (55.76) in addition to anchoring the winning relay teams: the 200 medley and 400 free. Meserole was joined by Larry Zhang, Nick Boyle and Tim Walsh on the 200 IM team that won in 1:38.56. Boyle, Mike Oster, Matt Daniel and Meserole went 3:17.11 to win the 400 freestyle relay. Walsh won the 50 free in 22.75.

The Blue Devils finished the team season with a 10-5 record.