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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Diligence Paying Major Dividends For Powerful PHS Girls' Swim Team
By Bill Alden
Even though the Princeton High girls' swimming team came up short on the scoreboard against powerful WW/P-S last week, PHS head coach Greg Hand didn't view the effort as a defeat.
"That was a fantastic meet," said Hand, referring to his team's 89-81 loss to the Pirates who have now won 48 straight Colonial Valley Conference dual meets. "I think that meet and the Lawrence meet showed the nature of this team. It is so unified, so well-focused in training."
In the meet against WW/P-S, PHS got wins from Nina Rossi in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly and from Maddy Carroll in the 100 free. Rossi anchored the 400 free relay to victory. Kathleen Morrison piled up some valuable points as she took second in both the 200 free and the 500 free.
In Hand's view, it is his team's effort in practice that sets it apart. "Every session, no matter how hard, is a great experience," asserted Hand, whose team swamped Nottingham 123-47 last Thursday to improve to 8-1 on the season. "That's a rare thing where the practices are as good as the meets."
The diligence in training comes from the team's veterans. "This year's senior class is fulfilling the promise they showed as freshmen, the kind of character they bring as athletes," said Hand, whose senior class includes such stalwarts as Carroll, Hannah Gursky, Caroline Sholl, Emma Impink, Melissa Carduner, Brittany Fiorello, and Emily Frantzen.
"The real depth on this squad is depth of character. Everybody feels it. It's a positive environment in which the focus is on working hard rather than results."
PHS, though, is getting some special results from junior superstar Rossi, who has posted the top times in the CVC this season in the 200 IM, the 100 butterfly, and the 100 freestyle.
According to Hand, Rossi brings a depth of character to the team in addition to her startling talent. "She's down to earth, she's less affected by being good than any athlete I've ever seen," asserted Hand of Rossi, who has been named the top female swimmer at the last two Mercer County Championship meets.
"She wants to be the best she can be. She wants to swim at the highest level. She wants to go to a college where kids are faster than she is. She's not going to be bothered by whether somebody else out there is faster."
There aren't many swimmers out there, however, who have the competitive fire to stay with Rossi. "When she's in a race, she has a refuse-to-lose attitude," added Hand, whose team placed second last year in the state Public B tournament. "We talk about people who try hard, who finish races hard, but she takes it to an extra dimension."
Hand is hoping his team can reach an extra dimension when it competes in the county meet from February 3-5.
"On day one, we want to put as many kids as possible in a position to come back on Saturday," explained Hand, whose team hosts Trenton High on January 27 in its final tune-up before the counties. "We'll be happy with our best swims. If somebody scores more points, there is nothing we can do about it."
It is unlikely, however, that any team will get more out of its potential than PHS.
