They ran into ‘a bit of buzzsaw’ with unbeaten Shawnee in Public B finals
SEWELL — The undefeated Shawnee High School girls swim team ended Mainland Regional’s season Thursday evening, beating the Mustangs 96-74 to capture the 2023 South Jersey Public B sectional title.
The Mustangs came in as the defending champion after winning the 2022 title, its first in eight years, but as coach Brian Booth put it, they ran into a “a bit of a buzzsaw.”
Mainland (9-2, 7-0 Cape-Atlantic League) had a few bright spots in the meet at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology, winning the 200-meter relay and 400-meter relay and senior Laci Denn taking the 200 freestyle. The Renegades won all of the other events.
“Yes, we came up against a little bit of a buzzsaw today in Shawnee,” Booth said. “They had a little more speed than we did, but I’m proud how we battled. We didn’t give up and won some relays at the end and had some really nice individual swims by some girls.
“I think overall as a team I’m happy with where we are and I told the girls to be happy with what we did this season,” the coach added. “We’re one of two teams standing here right now. Take that as a bonus. We’ll miss our senior girls and we’re going to keep looking to improve.”
The four seniors on the team — Summer Cassidy, Samantha Camey, Monica Iordanov and Denn — said they’re going to miss the friendships they’ve made and said the bumpy ride this season, that included a change in coaches midway through, helped them bond.
“It was definitely a very tough, interesting season, but I think we learned a lot as a team and came together,” Cassidy said. “Even though we lost today, we’re trying to make it as positive as we can because it’s our last meet and our seniors’ last meet.”
Cassidy said the camaraderie has been the best part of her four years on the team, “having these girls to lean on if anything went wrong. It’s been a really good experience with everyone together.”
Camey said she believed the team, which lost only once all season before the South Jersey finals, did really well.
“We had a few unexpected changes this year, but the girls really pulled it together every single meet. Everyone did their hardest. It was really good.
“It was nice to be with everyone the last year,” she added. “I’ve made the best friendships I’ve had on this team and I’m going to miss it.”
Iordanov, who was on the Mustangs’ two winning relays, said the best parts of her time with the Mustang swimmers were “the memories we made and the bond we created as a team. I’ve learned a lot from the girls. Everyone worked super hard to motivate me to be my best every day.
“All of our ups and downs really brought us together as a team,” she said.
“I feel like my senior year was my best year by far out of all four years,” Denn said. “I’m really proud of myself. I’m really proud of my team. I’ve said that so many times but I’m so proud of them. I just love them so much. They’re like my second family.
“When I go to college I’m hoping to make new friends and make them my family members as well,” she noted. Given that she’ll be swimming for Colorado State University in Pueblo, half a country away, that makes sense.
Shawnee 96
Mainland 74
Shawnee’s Emma Hare, Kalena Gatesman, Camryn Tilger and Diana DeMarco won the opening 200 medley relay in a time of 1:51.15 and also took third place. Mainland’s Cassidy, Bonnie Peng, Aixell Perez and Leah Nirenberg were second in 1:54.13.
Denn won her event in 1:56.74 with teammates Monica Iordanov and Shannon Sharkey fourth and fifth. Shawnee’s Ellie Walsh and Hare were second and third.
Tilger (2:06.87) and Darrah Shuff finished 1-2 in the 200 individual medley. Mustangs Claudia Booth, Cassidy and Ryann Lowry were third, fourth and fifth.
DeMarco took the 50 freestyle in a time of 24.2 seconds, just ahead of Mainland’s Alivia Wainwright, who finished second in 24.45. Nirenberg was fourth for the Mustangs.
After the first four events, the Renegades led 37-25.
Tilger (57.06 seconds) and Gracie Peterson were first and second for Shawnee in the 100 butterfly. Mainland’s Lowry, Isabella Iordanov and Natalie DiBartolo were third, fourth and fifth.
Renegade Summer Sky Bontrager won the 100 freestyle in 53.08 seconds. Wainright was close behind in second (53.91) with Booth and Monica Iordanov third and fourth.
Shuff won the 400 freestyle in 5:10.65 with teammates Walsh and Alaina Allbaugh-Heinz third and fourth. Denn was second and Sharkey fifth for Mainland.
Mustangs Monica Iordanov, Booth, Nirenberg and Wainwright won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:41 with teammates Lowry, DiBartolo, Perez and Denn third. Shawnee’s Gatesman, Shuff, Bontrager and DeMarco were second.
Hare (59.45) won the 100 backstroke with teammates Emily Andryca and Allie Sullivan third and fourth. Cassidy (1:01.1) was second for Mainland and Samantha Camey fifth.
Shawnee’s Allbaugh-Heinz (1:09.17) and Gatesman finished 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke. Peng, Megan Pruitt and Isabella Iordanov were third, fourth and fifth.
Denn, Booth, Monica Iordanov and Wainwright won the final event of the evening meet in 3:41.04 with fellow Mustangs Lowry, Perez, Nirenberg and Cassidy third. Shawnee’s Bontrager, Hare, Shuff and Tilger were second.
Shawnee (11-0) now heads into the state semifinals this week.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
