The Mainland Regional High School boys swim team triumphed at the South Jersey Invitational, capturing their first team title since 2020. With a strong performance on January 20, 2024, the Mustangs scored a total of 314 points, outpacing Haddonfield, which finished with 288 points, along with Delran, marking a significant milestone in their season.
Up to this point, the Mustangs have enjoyed a successful season, boasting a record of 7-1 in dual meets and standing as the projected No. 1 seed in South, Group B. Despite a narrow defeat to St. Augustine earlier in December, the team’s confidence surged with their latest victory. Senior swimmer Liam Kennedy expressed the team’s sentiment, stating, “Winning this meet gives us a lot of confidence going into the Cape Atlantic League Championships and the South Jersey sectional tournament.”
Kennedy’s individual performance was a highlight of the day. After finishing third in the 50 freestyle at last year’s event, he earned four medals in the latest competition. He decisively won the 100 freestyle with a time of 47.16 seconds, a significant improvement from his fourth-place finish in the same event last winter. Additionally, he secured second place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.53 seconds, and played a crucial role in leading his team to victories in both the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.
Coach Brian Booth praised Kennedy’s return to form, noting the challenges he faced transitioning from a demanding football season. “He’s finally getting back into some better swimming shape. I’m excited to see where we can still get to, but today was a great meet for him,” Booth remarked.
While Kennedy was the sole swimmer to medal in individual events, the team’s relay performances were instrumental in their overall score. The quartet of Sam Smith, Justin Yon, Liam Kennedy, and Robert Nirenberg clinched victory in the 200 medley relay, finishing in 1:40.47, which contributed a vital 40 points to the team total. In the 400 freestyle relay, the team of Brian Falk, Tristian Meyers, Sam Smith, and Kennedy clocked in at 3:18.27, also securing a spot at the Meet of Champions by meeting the qualifying standard.
Booth highlighted the competitive nature of the meet, stating, “We knew all along it was going to be a close meet. I kept pumping up the boys towards the end, saying that we need to finish strong.” The team’s depth was further showcased by strong finishes in individual events, such as Tristian Meyers placing fifth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:50.89 and Falk finishing sixth in the same event at 4:53.10.
Falk also contributed crucial points in the 200 freestyle, securing fifth place with a time of 1:48.25, while Meyers followed closely in seventh with 1:50.79. Kennedy’s contributions were echoed throughout the team, as Sam Smith earned a fifth-place finish in the butterfly with a time of 56.90 seconds and added a sixth-place effort in the backstroke. Robert Nirenberg rounded out the scoring with a fifth-place finish in the breaststroke at 1:01.69.
Booth acknowledged the importance of every team member’s performance, remarking, “All of our depth that we showed today… we wouldn’t be as good of a team if we didn’t have those kids.” The Mainland Mustangs now look forward to the upcoming Cape Atlantic League Championships and the South Jersey sectional tournament, buoyed by their recent success and the confidence gained from this victory.
As the season progresses, the Mustangs aim to build on their strong foundation, with the possibility of securing another sectional title within reach.
