Eustace girls fall in state swim finals

There was not much more the Bishop Eustace girls' swim team could have done against Immaculate Heart on Saturday in the NJSIAA State Non-Public A finals at The College of New Jersey Aquatic Center.

Eustace swam many individual personal bests, but couldn't overcome the depth of Immaculate Heart, which captured its fourth consecutive state title, 108-62.

It was the 16th state crown for the Blue Eagles and the third straight loss in the finals for Eustace, including the previous two years in Non-Public B.

"They were just a stronger team than we were," Crusaders coach Mike Parker said. "Our girls swam great, and I couldn't have asked for more. We had 17 personal-best times in 24 of the individual swims."

The meet began on a positive note for the Crusaders, when Paige Dunham, Kelsey Koos, Kaitlin Richter, and Annie McCotter won the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 49.54 seconds, giving Eustace its only lead, 8-6.

McCotter, Richter, Koos, and Mary Kate Davis each won an individual event.

McCotter took the 50 freestyle and was third in the 100 freestyle. Richter was first in the 100 butterfly and third in the backstroke. Koos finished first in the 100 breaststroke and third in the 50 freestyle, and Davis won the 500 freestyle after taking second in the 200 freestyle.

"Mary Kate dropped three seconds off her best time in the 500 free, and Kelsey dropped 41/2 seconds off her best high school time in the breaststroke," Parker said. "The girls did an outstanding job today. I'm proud of them."

With only one senior scoring, Parker found some solace in the fact that virtually the entire team will return next season.

"We're young, and I think we'll be competitive next year," Parker said with a smile.

In the boys' Non-Public B final, Holy Spirit's Nick Stewart won the 50 freestyle as the Spartans lost to Pingry, 120-50.

Mount St. Mary Academy won the girls' Non-Public B title, 100-70, over Mount St. Dominic, and Christian Brothers took its second straight boys' Non-Public A crown over St. Joseph-Metuchen, 92-78.

The results

Immaculate Heart 108, Bishop Eustace 62

200 medley relay: Bishop Eustace (Paige Dunham, Kelsey Koos, Kaitlin Richter, Annie McCotter), 1:49.54; 200 freestyle: Danielle Romain, IH, 1:54.06; 200 ind. medley: Casey Fazio, IH, 2:10.03; 50 freestyle: Annie McCotter, BE, 24.32; 100 butterfly: Kaitlin Ritcher, BE, 58.89; 100 freestyle: Sara Nestrowitz, IH, 53.53; 500 freestyle: Mary Kate Davis, BE, 5:05.65; 200 free relay: Immaculate Heart, 1:41.95; 100 backstroke: Danielle Romain, IH, 57.25; 100 breaststroke: Kelsey Koos, BE, 1:07.79; 400 free relay: Immaculate Heart, 3:40.92.

Pingry 120, Holy Spirit 50

200 medley relay: Pingry, 1:40.67; 200 freestyle: James Ross, Pingry, 1:45.45; 200 ind. medley: Alex Mango, Pingry, 2:01.87; 50 freestyle: Nick Stewart, Holy Spirit, 21.58; 100 butterfly Will LaCosta, Pingry, 54.38; 100 freestyle: Nic Fink, Pingry, 46.31; 500 freestyle: Dorian Allen, Pingry, 5:09.35; 200 free relay: Pingry, 1:31.07; 100 backstroke: Greg Koziol, Pingry, :57.65; 100 breaststroke: Nic Fink, Pingry, 1:03.43; 400 free relay: Pingry, 3:23.95.