The new Verona High School swim team had a small reprieve just before the last week of school: The opportunity to practice for the whole week, without any meets. In the final week before the break, with races against Livingston and Mount Saint Dominic Academy, they kept up their drive and motivation for good showings in both meets.
In Tuesday’s meet against Livingston, Killian Blitz placed second in the 500-yard Freestyle, clocking in at 5:17.66 and the 400 Freestyle relay team of Andrew Hunt, Justin Kobernick, Killian Blitz and Will Sheehan placed first in their final event of the evening.
For the girls team, the big win of the meet was Kelly Nulty in the 100 Free with a time of 1:00.90. The team had two second place finishes with Jamie Hoimark in the 100 Breast with a time of 1:23.68, and Nulty in the 200 IM with a time of 2:31.94. In the final event for the girls, the 400 Freestyle relay team of Jenna Gabbe, Harmonie Chang, Jamie Hoimark and Kelly Nulty placed second. The boys lost 18-75 and the girls lost 20-74.
Thursday’s meet against Mount Saint Dominic Academy was just for the girls, but with plenty of support and cheering from their male teammates.
Nulty had a strong showing in the meet with a win in the 50 Freestyle (26.48) and another win in the 100 Butterfly (1:04). Hoimark took second in the 200 Freestyle (2:22) and Chang also placed second in the 200IM (2:40). Once again, the 400 Freestyle relay team of Gabbe, Chang, Hoimark and Nulty placed second.
The final score for the girls ended in a loss of 48 to 106, but with continued successes in individual races and finding the right combination in the relays, the VHS swim team is building momentum. The season will continue in January with more meets against Columbia, Newark Academy and West Orange to name a few. The full schedule can be found here.
