Middletown High School South accomplished a lot in the 2017-18 girls’ swimming season.
The Eagles won the Shore Conference’s B North Division, the Monmouth County championship and the Shore Conference title. The Shore Conference crown was the first for the program since 1995.
Middletown South did not just win. It dominated.
Coach Denise Skinner’s team went 8-0 in B North meets, took the Monmouth County championship by 84 points over runner-up Trinity Hall and triumphed in the Shore Conference championship by 72.5 points over second-place Donovan Catholic High School.
After the 2017-18 season, Skinner lost only three key swimmers to graduation. The Eagles could be just as successful in 2018-19, perhaps even more successful.
Middletown South is already 1-0 on the young season. It beat Manalapan High School, 124-46, in a road meet on Dec. 4. The Eagles will host Freehold Township High School, at the Raritan Bay YMCA in Perth Amboy, on Dec. 20, in their last meet before the new year.
Their season resumes after the winter break on Jan. 2 versus Red Bank Catholic High School, at RBC’s home pool at Monmouth University.
“We have a lot of depth back,” Skinner said. “I hope to reclaim the Monmouth County title and the Shore Conference title.”
The NJSIAA Public B championship was the only title that eluded the Eagles last winter. With a year of high level experience behind them, the Eagles hope to take that next step this year.
“We should have a really good chance in the state round,” Skinner said.
Middletown South returns 22 varsity swimmers from 2017-18, but there are 10 who make the Eagles a title contender. They are all so good that Skinner could not even rank them. The coach said they are equal.
“They are all the best,” Skinner said. “They are versatile. I can put them in anything and they’ll place. They are dedicated and love swimming.”
All 10 Eagles swimmers may be versatile, but some do specialize in certain events.
Skylar Shafritz is elite in breaststroke and backstroke events. McKenna Johnson holds the Middletown South school record in the backstroke.
Rachel Hannah and Caroline McGann are lightning fast sprinters. Molly Applegate is Skinner’s go-to distance swimmer.
The other five Eagles in that top 10 group provide energy and proficiency in various events.
Maddi Piasecki “exudes a lot of enthusiasm about the sport and that carries over into her races,” Skinner said.
Taylor Marjamaa is “just a phenomenal athlete and swimmer,” Skinner added.
Victoria Ireland and Morgan Fuerbacher are phenomenal athletes and powerhouse swimmers who give Skinner options in fly races, breaststroke events and individual medleys.
Isabella Destounis will literally swim any event for the Eagles, from an individual medley to a fly race.
“She has a wonderful spirit and great personality,” Skinner said. “She always has a smile on even when I put her in events she doesn’t like.”
It’s a talented, accomplished group with the potential to accomplish even more this year. But even after a convincing season opening victory, Skinner is nervous. That’s just her nature as a coach.
“I really look to be optimistic, but I get very nervous as the season approaches,” she said, laughing. “But I think we’ll win a lot.”
