Willow Grove, Lacking Top Swimmers, Dismantled by Highland

After thunder and lightning postponed the Willow Grove and Highland swim clubs' annual grudge match last week, the teams faced each other Monday night at Willow Grove. But unlike previous summers, the swim meet this year was not closely contested. With Willow Grove's six best swimmers missing from the roster, instead on their way to the YMCA Summer National Championships in Maryland, Highland won in convincing fashion, 303-224.

"It was great that all of our kids swam really well," Highland head coach Bill Reichle said. "Our younger kids really battled, so that it was basically an even meet going into the older kid's races, where we knew we had the upper hand. Everything just fell into place. Even our relays had a great night."

Highland's Kelsey Rossi, won the girls 15-18-year old individual medley, as well as freestyle, breaststroke and medley relay events.

"It was great to be able to contribute to the team effort," she said, "We all just do our part knowing that if we do our best it will pay off with a win." Rossi graduated Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in June, and will swim at Cornell University in the fall.

Long before the meet, the overall results seemed inevitable, swimmers said. The two squads have remained evenly matched for more than a decade, trading hair's-breadth wins and losses.

"If it were not for the fact that we were missing the vast majority of our 15-18-year-old swimmers – this is not to say that we would have won if our best six swimmers were not at YMCA Nationals in Maryland – but it certainly would have made for a close meet," Willow Grove swimmer Jason Schaub said.

Despite the loss, Willow Grove head coach Christine Marino remained in high spirits.

"Losing to Highland is tough to swallow," she said, "but all of the kids had a lot of fun, and that's what matters.

"We understood that the [Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA] swimmers have other competitions, so the fact that they could not swim in this meet does not bother us," she said. "What is most important is that the kids who are here competing can have fun and learn how to compete while still being friends with your competitors, as many of the kids on both sides of this rivalry are."

This meet was the last of the summer for both clubs. Highland finished the season undefeated, five wins and no ties. Willow Grove finished the summer 3-2. Both Highland and Willow Grove will compete in the league championships this weekend at Willow Grove.