By Bill Alden

As it hosted WW/P-North last Thursday, the Princeton High boys’ swimming team sensed that it faced a big challenge.

“I knew that North was pretty good this year from scouting reports and hearsay from kids on our team,” said PHS head coach Carly Misiewicz. “In the beginning of the meet we were a little unsure of what was going to happen.”

The Little Tigers made things happen, battling the Northern Knights throughout the meet on the way to a narrow 90-80 defeat.

PHS turned the competition into a nailbiter with a dominant performance in the 50 freestyle.

“For us, I think the real turning point was the 50 free,” said Misiewicz, whose team is now 2-2 and will look to get back on the winning track when it hosts Steinert on December 14 and then swims at Robbinsville on December 19.

“For Dan Barberis to go first, freshman Will Murray to get second, and Logan Eastburn, who is new to the team this year, to get fifth, that was huge. That was a big point winner there.”

Misiewicz is looking for senior star Barberis to pile up a lot of points for the Little Tigers this winter.

“I have high expectations for him; that is the first time he has been under 23 all year,” said Misiewicz. “Each week he is getting a little bit faster. We try to put him in different things but he is a true sprinter.”

The Tennant brothers, junior Oliver and freshman Owen, give Misiewicz a lot of different options.

“They are both very versatile swimmers,” said Misiewicz. “I can put Oliver in the 200 free, the individual medley, and any sprint event. It is the same thing with Owen, butterfly, breaststroke, and sprints as well. They are both pretty solid all the way around.”

The squad boasts some other solid swimmers in Jeshurun Reyen, Charlie Yandrisevits, and Calvin Ristad.

“Jeshurun is someone who has been tremendous for us,” said Misiewicz.

“Charlie came back; he swam against Notre Dame in the first meet for us and did phenomenal. Calvin quit club swimming, so he is with us full-time which is pretty nice. We can work on more of the technique and the little things.”

In the view of Misiewicz, the combination of the team’s work ethic and the intensity exhibited by the swimmers during competition bodes well for the rest of the season.

“We are just taking it meet by meet and event by event; that has been our focus from the beginning,” said Misiewicz.

“We may not be super strong, but our back half and everything else there is where we are pretty solid. They are always saying during meets where are we at, what do we need to do, and that kind of stuff, so they are always super into it.”