FINAL LAP: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Sabine Ristad displays her freestyle form in a race last year. Last Thursday, senior star Ristad placed first in the 500-yard freestyle and third in the 200 free to help fourth-seeded PHS defeat fifth-seeded Red Bank Regional 103-67 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2, Group B sectional quarterfinals. The Tigers ended up falling 101-69 to to-seeded Chatham in the sectional semis last Monday to end the season with an 8-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public B state title in 2023 and making the final last year, the Princeton High girls’ swim team was fired up to start another postseason run when it hosted Red Bank Regional last Thursday in the North 2, Group B sectional quarterfinals.

“It is always exciting around tournament time, especially after the high that we had after winning counties,” said PHS first-year head coach Pat Remboski. “The girls were motivated and super excited to swim. We had the first round bye so we were eager to get into the water.”

The fourth-seeded Tigers ran into some rough water to open the meet, coming in third in the 200-yard medley relay to fall behind fifth-seeded Red Bank 12-2.

“It was a little bit concerning, being down 10 points in the first event but they bounced back and they believed in their training and the whole plan,” said Remboski. “It is a long meet, you can’t get stuck up on one event, you have to move on.”

PHS freshman star Jenna Barry got things moving, winning the 200-yard freestyle in the second event of the meet.

“Jenna has been amazing, she had an incredible finish in her events,” said Remboski of Barry, who also placed first in the 100 free. “She brings a lot of new energy to the team which is super helpful and the other girls are feeding off of it. It is a lot of pressure for a freshman. She did really well at counties and I think that has helped her as we move on. She swims in her big club meets. High school is a bit different animal and she has been handling it well.”

The Tigers ended up handling their business, pulling away to a 103-67 win over the Bucs.

“Red Bank was a really strong team, we said they were pretty comparable to us so getting through that meet is a big confidence boost,” said Remboski. “That type of stuff helps propel you, especially in tournament time. It builds confidence.”

In addition to Barry, junior Annie Flanagan helped propel PHS to the win, winning both the 50 free and 100 backstroke.

“Her 100 back finish was just incredible to watch, she has been awesome,” said Remboski. “You put her in any event and you can almost guarantee that she is going to win it for us. It has really been fun to have Annie this year.”

Remboski had fun watching junior Nia Zagar perform as she won the 100 breaststroke and took second in the 200 individual medley.

“Nia did amazing, she really stepped up in her events as well,” said Remboski. “We are super, super excited with her swims. The 100 breast really secured the win for us. I think the score was 83-57 and then she took first in the 100 breast to seal the deal. She is just a great teammate to have. She has a lot of energy and keeps it fun.”

Competing in her last home meet, senior star Sabine Ristad placed first in the 500 free and third in the 200 free.

“Sabine had a great meet,” said Remboski. “She is another one of our senior leaders who we can just count on to really step up and provide some important wins.”

Remboski credited his senior group — which includes Priya Bakshi, Elizabeth Chorba, Julia Godfrey, Ella Hernon, Lola Jimenez, Muen Li, Valentine Matthews, and Rachel McInerney in addition to Ristad — with having a great impact on the program.

“All of the seniors are leaders, they are going to be some really big shoes to fill,” said Remboski, who got a first place finish in the 200 IM and third-place in the 100 free from McInerney against Red Bank with Godfrey taking second in the 100 fly and third in the 500 free, Jimenez coming win fourth in the 100 fly, and Chorba taking fourth in the 500 free. “We are happy to have them, we are definitely sad to see them go so we are hoping to push the season as far as we can go.”

Unfortunately for the Tigers, their season came to an end last Monday night as they fell 101-69 to nemesis and top-seeded Chatham in the sectional semis.

“We love swimming against them, they have a great coach and a great team,” said Remboski, whose team faced Chatham in the last two state finals. “Their lineup is just super deep, which is the hardest part and their biggest strength. The girls are fired up. We had a tough loss against them in the state final last year. We have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder so we are going to go out there and swim our best and just have a good time.”