By DAVID WEINBERG
For CapeAtlanticLive.com
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Middle Township High School’s swimming team overcame some unexpected adversity to beat a familiar rival Monday.
The Panthers were missing some swimmers due to a flu outbreak and some personal absences. But their top swimmers came through with key wins and others stepped up to earn points in various events.
That depth was enough to carry sixth-seeded Middle to a 92-77 victory over seventh-seeded rival Cape May Tech in the first round of the South Group C playoffs.
“Our kids really came up big today,” Middle coach Melissa Jastremski said. “Give credit to Cape May Tech, too. Both teams worked really hard to get to this point.”
The two teams enjoy a special rivalry.
Both programs hold practices and home meets at Cape May County Special Services pool and there is a mutual respect among the swimmers and coaches.
Jastremski and Cape May Tech coach Dawn Dudley have been friends for years, dating back to their days as teammates at Wildwood Catholic.
Jastremski is a 1999 Wildwood Catholic graduate while Dudley is a 2002 alumnus.
KALYN BARON: Won two events for Cape May Tech
“It’s a bummer to lose, but all our kids swam extremely well,” Dudley said. “We made some adjustments in our lineup since last time (a 106-64 Middle win on January 21) and everybody did well.”
The Hawks (4-4-1) looked capable of pulling off an upset early in the meet. Kalyn Baron won the 200-yard freestyle, then J.T. Matthews took first in the 50 freestyle to give them a 33-29 lead.
Middle’s Kenny Martin helped put the Panthers ahead 40-37 with a victory in the 100 butterfly, then Liam Brennan delivered the most exciting win, surging over the last 25 yards to edge Matthews in the 100 freestyle.
Martin (100 free, 100 breaststroke) and Colin Russell (200 individual medley, 100 backstroke) won two individual events apiece for the Panthers and each contributed to a pair of relay wins.
Baron (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle) was a double winner for Cape May Tech.
With the win, Middle (4-4) advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinals against third-seeded Cedar Creek (1-4-1). The Pirates’ lone victory was a 105-65 win over Middle on December 19.
“It will be tough, but you always have a shot in swimming,” Jastremski said. “You never know what can happen.”
(Video clip courtesy Jeanne Donohue, MTHS athletics)
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