Westfield Girls Swimming Captures State Championship

A series of first place finishes by West Windsor South did not stop the Westfield High School girls swim team from waging a strong battle to tie the Mercer County team for the girls swimming public a state championship Sunday afternoon.

Girls Swimming Head Coach Brooke Smith said teamwork is the main reason for the team's capturing of the state championship. Smith points to the constant second, third and fourth place finishes by WHS swimmers in racking up the needed points to tie West Windsor South 85-85 to share the championship.

"If they had not stepped up and done what they did, the score would not be close," Smith said of her team.

Westfield captured first place in only three events during the meet at The College of New Jersey. Suzanne Lemberg took first in the 100 meter freestyle, Becky De La Fuente took first in the 500 meter freestyle and the 400 meter freestyle relay team consisting of Lemberg, De La Fuente, Meredith Smith and Anne Fetter took first. West Windsor dominated the first place slot in the eight events in the meet.

"The fact that we knew if we didn't finish first we had to finish two, three and four," Smith said of the team's strategy against the strong West Windsor South team.

The championship was greeted by a welcome home parade for the team last night. Gathering in the Bally parking lot just a stone's throw from the town line in Clark, the bus carrying the team paraded through town with swimmers cheering through the windows and residents coming out of their homes to cheer on the state champs.

Led by the police and fire department, along with the rescue squad, the parade brought about over 30 cars containing parents and friends of the Westfield swimmers. Blaring car horns, the parade crossed the rail bridge into town and proceeded up Central Avenue before making a left on North Avenue in the downtown. The parade moved into the downtown business district making a right on East Broad Street before heading back on to Central Avenue near the Rialto. Many came out of restaurants to cheer on the team. The parade went back to the south side and up Park Street and on to Dorian Road, finishing up at the high school after 20 minutes.

The parade has become something of a swimming tradition in Westfield. In 2008, the girls swim team had a similar parade following their last state championship.

At the high school, WHS swimmers were greated by cheering crowds before a brief ceremony in the school cafeteria. Led by Board of Education President Ginny Leiz, who represented Mayor Andy Skibitsky, the ceremony had swimmers thanking the crowd for their support and loud cheers echoing through the halls of WHS. The swimmers were also presented with a banner listing their state championships, with 2010 already stenciled in alongside 2007.

"It's an exciting day for Westfield," Leiz said after the ceremony. "State champions are a thrilling experience for our kids. We couldn't be more proud."

Smith said the team met Saturday night to set goals for Sunday's meet and discuss strategy for capturing the state crown. She said the meeting helped prove the team's success and bring the team into position to tie West Windsor South to set a 17-1-1 record and be the co-state champions.

"The girls did amazing today," Smith said. "Every single one of them surpassed their goal times. I am really proud of them."

Westfield Times for State Championship Meet

200 Medley Relay

• Second Place - 1:51.27
• Third Place - 1:55.81
• Fifth Place  - 2:05.12

200 Freestyle

• Second Place: Mere Smith - 1:55.10
• Fourth Place: Kelsey Ullcon - 2:00.65
• Fifth Place: Maeve Maloney - 2:00.69

200 Individual Medley

• Second Place: Becky De La Fuente - 2:09.64
• Third Place: Anna Fetter - 2:10.47
• Fifth Place: Kylie Bangs - 2:17.20

50 Freestyle

• Second Place: Suzamme Lemberg - 24.19
• Third Place: Meg Kelveney - 25:15
• Fourth Place: Emily Budnick - 25.24

100 Butterfly

• Second Place: Anna Fetter - 59.53
• Third Place: Meredith Smith - 1:00.80
• Sixth Place: Elaine Anderson - 1:02.67

100 Freestyle

• First Place: Suzanne Lemberg - 52.54
• Fourth Place: Emily Budnick - 56.09
• Sixth Place: Loren Ball - 57.15

500 Freestyle

• First Place: Becky De La Fuente - 5:04.77
• Fourth Place: Kelsey Wilson - 5:28.65
• FIfth Place: Kyle Higgins - 5:38.61

200 Freestyle Relay

• Second Place - 1:39/26
• Third Place - 1:43.14
• Fifth Place  - 1:47.78

100 Backstroke

• Second Place : Jessica Cronin - 1:00.85
• Third Place: Kylie Bangs - 1:00.99
• Fourth Place: Ally Rose - 1:05.03

100 Breaststroke

• Third Place: Kate Heffaman - 1:11.71
• Fourth Place: Meg Myers - 1:11.84
• Sixth Place: Krysta Huber - 1:14.58

400 Freestyle Relay

• First Place - 3:33.90
• Third Place - 3:47.27
• Fifth Place  - 4:15.02

Editor's Note: Vadim Rud and Josh Solomon contributed to this report.