EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – After three straight wins to start the 2021-22 season, the Mustang boys swim team fell to Egg Harbor Township 95-75 Thursday, Dec. 16, at EHT.
It was the second win in a row for the Eagles.
Mainland coach Brian Booth is still putting the puzzle pieces together on which swimmers will swim in which events.
“We’re low in numbers, but we’re a work in progress,” he said at Thursday’s meet. “We’re trying to get better each week and I’m looking for that perfect lineup for when we have great meets.
“I like what our boys are doing. They’re working hard and have good attitudes. Hopefully it pays off at the end of the season,” he said.
Last year the season started late and was short because of COVID-19 protocols.
“The abbreviated season was fun in its own right, to have a short little sprint like that, but it’s nice to put the work back in and get a full season in for the kids,” Booth said. “The abbreviated season wasn’t a great thing for them. “
Seniors are going to be leading his team this year including Ryan Brown, Blaise Valentino and Alex Generosi, along with Charlie Milhous and Carson Vasser. Vasser is a basketball player who switched over to swimming this season. “He’s done really well,” Booth said.
Among his juniors are Mason Bushay, Evan Falk and Zach Vasser. “They have been a solid foundation for our team for their three years,” he said.
Before running into EHT, the Mustangs started with a 112-54 win over Lower Cape May Regional, a 110-60 victory over Kingsway and an 81-12 victory at Millville.
Booth said he’ll see how the team improves over the course of the season as the bigger meets will include the Cape-Atlantic League meet and the the South Jersey Coaches Invitational in January.
“Obviously I would love to win as many things as I can but we’re going to wait and see where we fall when it comes down the road,” he said. “We’ll continue to work hard and get better.”
EHT 95
Mainland 75
The Mustangs were able to win five events against the Eagles, but EHT won the other six and its depth helped carry the day.
Kevin Lin, Will Nguyen, Ethan Do and Michael Wojcheckowicz won the opening 200-meter medley relay in a time of 1 minute, 54.08 seconds. Mainland’s Mason Bushay, Matt Giannantonio, Carson Vasser and Ryan Brown were second and teammates Alex Savov, Karim Aksenov, Alex Generosi and Blaise Valentino were third.
Eagles Dylan DeWitt (2:00.02) and Charles Schriener finished 1-2 in the 200 freestyle with teammate Corey Lin in fourth. Zach Vasser and Evan Falk were third and fifth for Mainland.
Do won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:19.6 with Nguyen third, as Giannantonio and Generosi were second and fourth for Mainland.
Lin (25.15) and Wojcheckowicz finished 1-2 for the Eagles in the 50 freestyle with Dan Ireland fifth. Mustangs Carson Vasser and Ryan Brown were third and fourth for Mainland.
Bushay won the 100 butterfly in 59.57 seconds and teammates Savov and Dan Trocey were fourth and fifth to win to outscore EHT in the event. Do and Charlie Seiverd were second and third for EHT.
Wojcheckowicz (56.87) and Lin finished 1-2 in the 100 freestyle for the Eagles while Carson Vasser, Ryan Brown and Valentino were third, fourth and fifth.
After six events, the Eagles led, 58-36.
DeWitt won the 400 freestyle in 4:11.80 for EHT, but Mustangs Zach Vasser, Evan Falk and Chris Pozza were second, third and fourth to outscore the Eagles 9-7 in the event.
EHT took first and third in the 200 freestyle relay to increase the team’s lead to 75-49.
Lin, Schreiner, Do and Wojcheckowicz won in 1:44.36 and teammates Seiverd, Nguyen, Lin and DeWitt were third. Mustangs Giannantonio, Carson Vasser, Falk and Brown were second.
Bushay won his second individual event of the meet in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.59 seconds with Savov third. Eagles Seiverd, Ireland and Lin were second, fourth and fifth.
Giannantonio took the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.78 with Aksenov and Generosi fourth and fifth. Schriener and Nguyen and second and third.
The Mustangs won the final event of the day, the 400 freestyle relay with Zach Vasser, Falk, Savov and Bush in 3:50.21. Eagles DeWitt, Lin, Seiverd and Schriener were second.
The final meet score was 95-75.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
