After making the playoffs last season, both the girl and boy swimming Chiefs are hoping for a good season. Coached by Mr. Trivino and Mrs. Coogan Russell, the Chiefs started their season with the annual Midnight Madness by traveling to the Caldwell Community Center and getting in the pool at exactly 12:01 AM on October 17. “It’s always a great start to the season,” according to girl’s co-captain Corinne Cannavale. She also believes it’s a great team bonding event.
After an 8-5 season last year, the girls are led into this year’s campaign by senior co-captains Cara Housel and Cannavale. Last season, the girls qualified for the state playoffs having to swim against top seed Kinnelon, a meet in which they lost. Trivino described the team by having “an influx of young freshmen talent and returning veterans.” Some veterans returning are co-captain Housel, senior Katie Duca, and juniors Julia Housel and Paige Mitstifer. Trivino strongly believes that these girls “will surely put pressure on the conference and will compete for a county title.”
The boys’ team looks to improve on their 5-8 record and playoff season from the previous year. Last year, the Chiefs made the playoffs with a losing record because the playoffs are based on power points. In the playoffs, the boys lost to third seed Chatham in the first round. The captains for this year’s team are Jon Krippahne and Bobby King. Even with the loss of co-captains Travis Aion and Jackson Salter, the boys still have a great deal of talent with their captains and juniors Dave Burton and Danny McCarthy. Burton and McCarthy are returning members from the record setting 200-medley relay last year. The boys “look to be competitive and gather individual honors at the Essex County meet,” according to Trivino.
The girls started off their season with a meet against conference opponent Mount Saint Dominic on November 5. The girls ended up on the losing end by a score of 119-50. The boys had their first meet on November 6 against Seton Hall Prep. The boys, also, suffered a loss with a 127-40 defeat. The Chiefs will look to learn from these defeats and improve upon them on their way to a successful season.
