LINWOOD — Mainland Regional boys swim coach Brian Booth knows the Cape-Atlantic League is going to be competitive this year, but believes his Mustangs should be in a good place by the time the sectional tournament rolls around.
He’s also happy because after a year with a small team, the Mustangs have gained strength in numbers.
“We were really small last year size-wise. We only had about 16, 17 kids,” Booth said. “We’re up to 28 kids this year, which is a coach’s dream that you get that many kids in.
“My returning kids I’m very pleased with. We have a lot of new kids who are very raw to swimming and it’s going to be a project for some of them to get them to be good contributors to our team, but they come every day and they work hard and I’m excited about what they’re doing.
“We’re improving, which is nice to see. When we swam last week (against Millville), we had some kids swimming some times that were where they were at the end of last year. If we can start there and improve on it, I’d be a happy coach,” he said.
His Mustangs topped Atlantic City 101-66 last week and beat Millville’s co-ed team the week before.
Booth said his three senior captains — Mason Bushay, Zach Vassar and Evan Falk — are swimmers he has relied on for multiple seasons.
“They’re still going to be my guys. When push comes to shove, they’re going to be right in there,” he said.
Among a handful of other new swimmers expected to step up for the Mustangs are freshmen Justin Yon and Liam Kennedy.
“They have done good jobs for us so far this year,” he said.
Eyeing the season, Booth said, “We sit every year and say, ‘let’s be realistic and let’s try to win the league first. And then see where we fall in the playoffs.’
“Our league is really tough this year. St. Augustine, Egg Harbor Township, Ocean City, they’re going to be tough meets for us to get by,” he said.
“The goals may change a little bit in terms of conference stuff. We’ll take a look later in the year where we fall playoff-wise for South Jersey. I think we’re going to be in a good spot,” Booth said. “What I’ve seen so far from the classifications I think Ocean City, being the defending (South Jersey) champion, is still going to be up there. Hopefully we can sneak underneath that and see where we fall.”
MRHS 101, AC 66
Vikings Jason Lieu, John Sahl, James Haney and Kyle Graybill won the opening 200-meter medley relay in 1:59.74. Mustangs Evan Falk, Justin Yon, Mason Bushay and Liam Kennedy were second and teammates Ryan Kennedy, Karim Aksenov, Dan Tracey and Joe Russo were third.
200 freestyle – Vikings Haney (2:01.29) and Josh Weinstock were first and fifth and Mustangs Brian Falk, Sam Smith and Chris Pozza were second, third and fourth.
200 individual medley – Vikings John Sahl (2:10.34) and Jimmy Walsh were first and fourth. Mustangs Yon and Aksenov were second and third.
50 freestyle – Mustangs Bushay (24.68), Liam Kennedy and Russo were first, third and fifth. Vikings Graybill and Jake Downing were second and fourth.
100 butterfly – Bushay (1:59.99) and Mustang teammates Tracey and Ryan Kennedy were first, third and fourth. Vikings Lieu and Blaise Kurtz were second and fifth.
100 freestyle – Mustangs Evan Falk (1:57.43), Barnhart and Tyler Wimberg were first, third and fifth. Vikings Graybill and Downing were second and fourth.
400 freestyle – Vikings Haney (4:19.29) and Kurtz were first and fourth. Mustangs Brian Falk, Pozza and Jack Roscoe were second, third and fifth.
200 freestyle relay – Vikings Sahl, Lieu, Graybill and James Haney (1:46.11) were first. Mustangs Yon, Tracey, Aksenov and Brian Falk were second and teammates Ryan Kennedy, Russo, Wimberg and Pozza were third.
100 backstroke – Liam Kennedy (1:08.77) was first and Mustang teammates Sam Smith and Emil Draka were third and fourth. Vikings Lieu and John Bolthuis were second and fifth.
100 breaststroke – Mustangs Yon (1:13.79), Evan Falk and Aksenov were first, third and fourth. Vikings Sahl and Aaron Simpson were second and fifth.
400 freestyle relay – Bushay, Liam Kennedy, Brain Falk and Evan Falk (4:10.68) were first and teammates Russo, Ryan Kennedy, Pozza and Tracey were second. Vikings John Weinstock, Aaron Simpson, Brendan Cahill and Jimmy Walsh were third.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
