Rumson girls swimming toward another title

What can the Rumson-Fair Haven High School girls’ swim team do for an encore? Last year, Coach Ian Forman’s squad went 15-0 and captured the state Public School B championship by defeating Moorestown in the finals.

As a result of the team’s success last year, Forman said his goals for this season are quite specific.

"No team from the Shore has ever won two consecutive state titles," he said. "So that’s what we’re shooting for."

Rumson, which is currently 3-0 after beating Monmouth Regional by a 135-34 tally, will have quite a few swimmers from last year’s crew to help the repeating effort.

"We lost three seniors from last year and one junior who decided not to come back," Forman said. "But we are bringing back a lot of seniors and some younger swimmers."

Among the 12th-graders on the 40-girl roster, Kate Lawes, a captain, will swim middle distance events, while Lindsay Conover will do distance.

Ashley Bissett, another captain, also swims distances, with Bryanne Matthews (individual medley and breaststroke) and Maryn Norton (butterfly and backstroke), also serving as team captains.

Forman has three juniors who should figure prominently this winter, including butterfly swimmer Lindsay Weiner, Robin Coggins, who swims the butterfly and the sprints, and Sara Moser-Cohen, who competes in the sprints and the middle distances.

The sophomore class is well represented among the varsity starters. Trudy Wojciehowski swims the butterfly and the sprints, Johanna Kjesbu is featured in the breaststroke and Samantha Hoffmann is a backstroker.

Others from the ranks of 10th-graders are Carlie Matthews (individual medley and breaststroke), Stephanie LoPresti (breaststroke) and Stephanie Knapp, who also swims the breaststroke.

"We also have some freshman who will be swimming for us," said Forman, who is assisted by former Rumson swimmer Vivi Tomaine. "Kate Sinopoli is competing in the sprints, along with Emesha Chamez."

In Tuesday’s meet with Monmouth, the Bulldogs got strong efforts from a number of swimmers in different events en route to the 135-34 victory. In fact, Rumson swimmers finished first in each of the events.

In the 200 medley relay, the team of Bissett, Kjesbo, Weiner and Moser-Cohen took the event in 2:21.8. Conover took the 200 freestyle (2:34) and the 100 butterfly (1:14.2), while Brianne Matthews won the 50 freestyle (:29) and was part of the 200 freestyle relay winning team, along with Lawes, Coggins and Weiner.

Carlie Matthews won the 200 individual medley (2:48.2), and was part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team with Wojciehowski, Norton and Kjesbu. Wojciehowski also took the 500 freestyle (6:12.8), while Bissett took the 100 breaststroke (1:25) and Moser-Cohen took the 100 freestyle (1:07.5).

Rumson will take a break for the holidays, then start the New Year off with a couple of dual meets before turning to the counties, which take place January 13-14.