OCEAN CITY — The Red Raider girls swim team “shook off the rust,” opening the season Dec. 5 with a 98-72 win over Vineland.
“I thought it was an awesome start,” head coach Ian Keyser said. “I was a little hesitant going in. We only started practice last Monday, so we’re 10 days into the season with Thanksgiving in between. I said we’d shake some rust off but we did more than that.”
“We had some great starts, great times, picking up right where we left off with some girls, which is awesome to see. I think it’s a great springboard to the rest of the season.”
Last season the girls finished with an 8-4 record, landing the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Group B sectional tournament, where they lost to eventual winner Shawnee in the semifinals.
“We’re bringing a huge group back. I think we have 11, 12 seniors, so have a senior-heavy team that is hungry after last year with the way we lost to Shawnee. They came here and beat us here at home. I think that left a little sour taste in their mouth. I think they’re motivated and hungry for this year,” Keyser said.
He has a lot of talented swimmers on the roster.
Abby Hays won two events in the Vineland meet and “is an all-around stud. She is one of our best returning swimmers. She qualified for the Meet of Champions in the 100 breast. She is only looking better. She is committed to Loyola University in Maryland, so she’ll be swimming there next year,” Keyser said.
Another senior, Rachel Stauffer, returns after tearing her ACL on the first day of last season.
“She’s back this year and looked great. She won the 100 back and was second in the 100 fly (against Vineland). She’s someone we’re excited to have back. She hawked down that last girl in the (400 freestyle) relay to get the win. She’s a great teammate, great effort, great person.”
He also pointed out Ryan Cooke, who won the 50 and 100 freestyle, and fellow senior Mia Buonadonna.
Among the younger swimmers Keyser mentioned were sophomore Holly Aiken and freshman Kate Elder, who were both on the winning 400 freestyle relay.
Aiken, he said, came on strong for the Raiders last season and Elder fills in some needs for the team in the distance events.
“She was a good pickup to have and started on a great note today,” he said, noting she also placed second in the 200 and 400 freestyle events.
Keyser said the team’s ultimate goal is to win a South Jersey title.
“We were the second seed last year. We had our sights on that and Shawnee unfortunately upended us,” he said. “I think there is some great competition in Group B. I think it is one of the deepest groups, but we have a great squad and some lofty goals.”
OCHS 98, Vineland 72
The Raiders opened the Vineland meet at the Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center with a win in the 200-meter medley relay. Stauffer, Hays, Aiken and Cooke won in 2:06.27. Vineland’s Leah Macho, Lena Smith, Ana Smith and Angelina Saltar were second and teammates Illiana Figueroa, Gabby Brown, Ariana Frangakis and Rebekah Bermudez were third.
Vinelands Olivia Masucci won the 200 freestyle in 2:14.07 with Ocean City’s Elder and Hope Robbins second and third.
Leading 16-14, Ocean City put some distance between the teams in the next two events.
Hays (2:31.25), Aiken and Grace Hays went 1-2-3 in the 200 individual medley and Cooke (28.45 seconds) and Buonadonna were first and second in the 50 freestyle with Vineland’s Olivia Elliott third, giving the raiders a 40-22 advantage.
The Fighting Clan bounced back in the 100 butterfly with Ava Smith (1:07.35) and Lena Smith finishing first and third. Stauffer was third for Ocean City.
Cooke won the 100 freestyle in 1:04.8 with Vineland’s Macho and Olivia Elliott second and third.
Vineland’s Elliott came right back and won the 400 freestyle in 4:43.73, with Ocean City’s Elder and Grace Hays second and third, narrowing Ocean City’s lead to 62-48.
The Raiders pulled away again with a first and third in the 200 freestyle relay.
Ocean City’s Hays, Brynn Gallagher, Buonadonna and Cooke won in 1:58.29 with teammates Hope Robbins, Coryn Driscoll, Katie Pierce and Elder third. Vineland’s Elliott, Angelina Saltar, Figueroa and Masucci were second.
Stauffer won the 100 backstroke in 1:09.44 for the Raiders with Vineland’s Smith and Macho second and third and Hays won the 100 breaststroke in 1:17.6 with Vineland’s Smith and Brown second and third.
The Raiders wrapped the meet by winning the 400 relay in 4:21.69 behind Aiken, Elder, Gallagher and Stauffer. Vineland’s Masucci, Figueroa, Lena Smith and Ava Smith were second.
Ocean City was hosting Egg Harbor Township on Tuesday afternoon after the Sentinel sports section went to press. The Raiders host Southern at 4:30 p.m. Friday and travel to Mainland for a 4 p.m. meet Dec. 17.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
