Haddonfield girls swim to crown
Saving their best effort for February, they won eight of 11 events in beating Moorestown.
December is nice. January is OK, too.
The Haddonfield girls' swim team likes the competition in its dual meet season, the big clashes with powerful opponents such as Cherry Hill East, Cherry Hill West, and Bishop Eustace.
But it's all about February for a team with its sights set on tournament success.
Haddonfield took care of business again last night, capturing the South Public B championship with a 95-75 victory over Moorestown at GCIT.
"We preach February," Haddonfield coach Bob Querubin said. "Starting back in November, we talk about swimming our best at this time of the year. We love our dual meets. We love competing against those Group 4 schools [Cherry Hill East and West] and Bishop Eustace.
"But we're always pointing toward this time of the year."
Top-seeded Haddonfield won eight of 11 events and used its remarkable depth to pull away from second-seeded Moorestown.
Junior Emma Carpenter and freshman Emily Rollo each won two events for the Bulldogs, while junior Paige Aruda won one event and placed second in another.
Carpenter won the 200 individual medley (2:11.45) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.65). Rollo won the 100 butterfly (1:02.72) and the 100 backstroke (1:01.38). Aruda won the 500 freestyle (5:18.69) and surged through the final 25 meters to take second to Carpenter in the 200 IM.
"Paige probably had her best meet," Querubin said. "She came out of nowhere and passed two girls to take second in the IM."
Carpenter said Haddonfield's depth was the key to the victory.
"It was a great meet because just about everybody swam their best times," Carpenter said. "We've got so many girls. It's not like we have two or three girls. We spread out through the lanes and everybody shares in it."
Haddonfield 95,
Moorestown 75
200 Medley Relay: Haddonfield (Emily Rollo, Emma Carpenter, Paige Aruda, Julie Sheehan), 1:53.72; 200 freestyle: Stephanie Yaszemski, M, 1:59.56; 200 IM: Carpenter, H, 2:11.45; 50 freestyle: Sam Trivinia, M, 31.31; 100 butterfly: Rollo, H, 1:02.72; 100 freestyle: Alex Lincoln, H, 57.05; 500 freestyle: Aruda, H, 5:18.69; 100 backstroke: Rollo, H, 1:01.38; 100 breaststroke: Carpenter, H, 1:08.65; 400 freestyle relay: Moorestown (Yaszemski, Emily Lubin, Greta Schneider, Meghan Miceli), 3:48.74.