LINWOOD — The Mainland Regional boys swim team may be headed to a rematch against Ocean City in sectionals with the two teams at the top of the South Jersey Group B Power Points.
The Mustangs made short work of Vineland High School on Jan. 15, improving their record to 5-2 with a 119.5-50.5 win. With a 119-51 victory over Absegami on Jan. 17, the Mustangs improved to 6-2 headed into their final two meets of the season.
The were facing Cedar Creek on Tuesday, after the Sentinel sports section went to press, and then traveling to Egg Harbor Township at 4 p.m. Thursday.
“We feel we’re in a good spot. We’re all chasing Ocean City right now. It looks like they’re the team to beat right now,” head coach Brian Booth said. “Once we get to the playoffs, we’ll put our nose down and continue to work hard and see what we can do.”
As of the end of last week, Ocean City (8-2) was atop the Power Point rankings at 2,824 with Mainland (6-2) second at 2,603.67 and Shawnee (5-2) a close third at 2,547.
“We’re still trying to learn a couple things. We have Liam (Kennedy) back from his injuries, but we have other issues that we’re dealing with for other people,” Booth said. “It might not be until the end of the year when we have a full team together, our best lineup together, but we’re going to keep plugging away and working hard and hopefully things pan out for us in the end.”
EHT is in Group A in South Jersey so the Eagles won’t be in the same playoff race, but Booth said it will be a good test heading into sectionals.
“It will be a good meet to see where we stand. We’ll put a good lineup against a really good team and see how well we can do,” he said.
MRHS 119.5, Vineland 50.5
The Mustangs won every race against the Fighting Clan, often taking 1-2 finishes against Vineland, which fell to 1-5 on the season.
Alex Savov, Justin Yon, Liam Kennedy and Robert Nirenberg teamed up in the opening 200-meter medley relay for Mainland’s first win with a time of 1:55.53. Teammates Parker Sherwood, Marek Meyers, Dan Tracey and David Simpson were third.
Brian Falk (2:02.91) and Tristan Meyers finished 1-2 in the 200 freestyle with Chris Pozza fifth.
Mainland swept the 200 individual medley, led by Nirenberg, who finished in 2:26.14. Yon was less than a second behind in second place with Sherwood third.
Kennedy (24.71 seconds), Tracey and Simpson went 1-2-4 in the 50 meters, before the break, during which the Mustangs honored their seniors.
Savov came back after the break to win the 100 butterfly in 1:02 with Marek Meyers second and Simpson third.
Kennedy and Tracey went 1-2 in the 100 freestyle. Kennedy’s winning time was 54.97 seconds.
Falk (4:29.19) and Tristan Meyers finished 1-2 in the 400 freestyle with Pozza fourth.
Kennedy, Tracey, Simpson and Falk teamed up to win the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:47.32.
Savov and Sherwood were first and second, respectively, in the 100 backstroke, with Savov clocking a winning time of 1:02.69.
It was Yon and Nirenberg going 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke with Marek Meyers fifth. Yon’s time was 1:12.84.
The Mustangs put the punctuation mark on the meet with another 1-2 finish in the 400 freestyle.
Savov, Nirenberg, Yon and Falk won in 3:57.86. Teammates Chris Pozza, Dominick Generosi, Andrew Pozza and Brad Sinclair were second.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
