Boys Swimming Beats Summit, Coach Knight Upbeat About County Meet

The post-season is closing in on the Westfield High School boys and girls swimming teams.

Of course, before that, there's the little issue of the boys defending the Blue Devils'
legendary streak at the Union County Championships.   

Westfield, which beat Summit 93-77 Tuesday to improve to 9-3, will go after its 10th straight county title Saturday and 52nd in the last 53 years. The girls, who carry an 11-0 dual meet record, will be going after their 18th straight title.   

The boys championships get underway at about 12:30 Saturday at the Rutgers Aquatic Center, located in the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center on the Busch Campus in Piscataway. The girls' championships will follow.   

"I think it's going to be a toss-up between us and Scotch Plains (Fanwood),'' said
Westfield boys coach Jeff Knight, whose team has also won two straight state Public "A'' titles. "We both have a chance of winning it.''   

The boys warmed up with a 93-77 win Tuesday over Summit. Westfield senior Matt Meserole won the 200 freestyle (1.51.91), 100 fly (54.24) and opened the first-place 200 medley and anchored the first-place 400 freestyle. Junior Jack Lorentzen won the 50 and 100 freestyles and swam on the 200 medley and anchored the 200 freestyle, which won in 1:33.79. Senior Mike Oster won the 200 IM in 2:08.94 Senior Larry Zhang swam legs on the 200 medley and 200 freestyle teams.   

All of those swimmers will have to play key roles if Westfield is to avenge a early-season dual meet loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood.   

"Defending is on the guys' minds,'' said Knight, adding that 13 Blue Devils will compete.

"We can only do what we can do. In a (championship) meet there are a lot of factors. All you can do is swim your best.''   

Points will be awarded to the top 16 in each event.   

"The county meet is the type of meet where there are no throwaway events,'' he said.   

Tri-captains Kyle Higgins, Emily Budnick and Suzanne Lemberg will be out to help deliver another county title for the girls along with Meredith Smith.