Phil Anastasia: Patterson sees friendly rivals

Leigh Anne Patterson is a senior swimmer for Cherry Hill West. She holds three school records.

Question: What's your favorite event?

Answer: The 200 freestyle. It's an all-out sprint. You have to give it everything you have.

Q: What's the best thing about the Cherry Hill West girls' swim team?

A: The relationships we all have. We all swim in different summer swim clubs and we've been competing against each other for years. But we all come together on this team and support each other.

Q: How would you describe the rivalry with Cherry Hill East?

A: It's interesting. We're friends with a lot of those girls but we want to beat them so bad and they want to beat us so bad. It's an interesting rivalry.

Q: What's it like swimming for such a high-profile club team as the Jersey Wahoos?

A: It's very intense. We really work hard in practices and there's a lot of competition. But it's made me such a better swimmer.

Q: What club do you swim for in the summer?

A: Erlton.

Q: What are your college plans?

A: I'm not sure yet. Maybe Villanova. But I haven't decided on that.

Q: Any plans for your major?

A: Elementary education. I've always like working with little kids. I'd like to make that a career.

Q: What's your favorite subject in school?

A: English.

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Pizza.

Q: What's your favorite TV show?

A: I love watching the Food Network.

Q: What's it like swimming for Cherry Hill West coach Scott Sweeten?

A: It's been a great experience. He's so organized. He always let us know what's going on and he keeps us focused.

Q: How far can the Lions go this season?

A: We can go really far. We've got some good swimmers and our freshman class is going to help us. We're looking to make it all the way to the state finals.

1. Thumbs up to Collingswood wrestling.

Led by Will Heinel (160 pounds) and Vince Simone (171), Collingswood won its own tournament Saturday against a strong field that included Washington Township and Timber Creek.

2. Bad luck for Rancocas Valley basketball star Mike Bersch. The senior swingman suffered a shoulder injury that could keep him out of the lineup for the defending Group 4 state champions until late January or early February, if not longer.

3. It was Mustang Saturday in hoops. Triton sprung a pair of upsets against Colonial Conference powers as the girls beat Haddon Township and the boys stunned West Deptford.

1. Shawnee boys play Holy Spirit tonight at 7:15 p.m.

. . . in the George Betz bracket of the Boardwalk Basketball Classic in the Wildwood Convention Center.

2. Nice girls' basketball matchup . . . in the first round of a holiday tournament at Eastern at 3 p.m. Tuesday: Bishop Eustace vs. Willingboro.

3. Haddonfield visits Paulsboro . . . for what should be an intense Colonial Conference wrestling match Saturday night at 7. Lots of bad blood from last season, and Haddonfield is now coached by Paulsboro graduate Pete DiPol.

1. Eastern wrestling:

Camden Catholic's Taylor Walsh said last week that the Vikings remind him of one of those stacked travel teams.

2. Bishop Eustace ice hockey: No. 1 in the state and then some. The Crusaders already have beaten Pa. power La Salle, as well as a prep team from Canada.

3. Washington Township girls' basketball: Senior guard Alyse Maiden had seven assists in an impressive win Saturday against Sacred Heart.

4. Camden Catholic boys' basketball: Tough loss Saturday to Communications Tech of Philadelphia.

5. Eastern girls' basketball: Junior center Genevieve Okoro is a rebounding machine.

6. Rancocas Valley boys' basketball: Defending Group 4 state champions will struggle for 4-to-6 weeks without star swingman Mike Bersch, who has a shoulder injury.

7. Camden Catholic wrestling: If the upper weights continue to develop, watch this team.

Under consideration: Delsea wrestling, St. Augustine boys' basketball, Camden Catholic girls' basketball, Haddonfield girls' swimming, St. Augustine boys' swimming.