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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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PHS Girls' Swimming Falls in State Title Meet; Smiles Mix With Tears in Wake of Magical Run
By Bill Alden
Melissa Carduner managed to smile through her tears last Saturday after the Princeton High girls' swim team fell in the championship meet of the state Public B tournament.
Although Carduner and her teammates were disappointed at having fallen 95-75 to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the meet held at The College of New Jersey, the positives of making it to a second straight state final far outweighed the numbers on the scoreboard.
"I think right now everybody has mixed emotions," said Carduner, a senior who swam the backstroke leg as the Little Tigers started off the championship meet by winning the 200 medley relay.
"We're all happy that we had such an amazing season, I think it is probably the best season that Princeton High girls' swimming has seen. It was really something special."
For Carduner, the most heartening aspect of the team's achievement was how it has risen from recent mediocrity to become a state power.
"When I was a freshman, we barely made the states," said Carduner, noting that PHS lost in the first round of the state tournament that season. "This year and last year, we were underdogs all through the states. We came out and made it here."
Carduner herself was a longshot to make it as she injured her knee playing soccer in both her junior and senior years. "I never thought I would come back last year and be as strong as I was," recalled Carduner.
"To be hurt again and come back a second year in a row and be able to swim at states is amazing. I think it's still hard pushing through. When I turn on the wall, I sometimes hear a crack or something. It's worth it when you get to this point."
In the view of PHS head coach Greg Hand, it was more than worth it to see the intensity that his team demonstrated in a losing cause.
"It was a great effort across the board," asserted Hand, who acknowledged that Scotch Plains-Fanwood had just a little too much talent for the Little Tigers to overcome.
"We ended with a huge team best in the 400 free relay. We started out with the second best time of the season in the winning medley relay. We had a season's best in the 200 free relay. We had some great individual swims throughout the meet. The kids competed with determination; we lost this one with dignity. I think this group feels like winners."
Individual standouts for Hand included junior superstar Nina Rossi, the winner of the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke, senior Maddy Carroll, the top finisher in the 100 butterfly, and Martha Ferguson, the winner of the 100 breaststroke.
Hand credited his group of seniors with propelling the Little Tigers to a second straight state final. "The whole run in the states is a demonstration of the leadership of the seniors," explained Hand, whose core of seniors included Carduner, Carroll, Hannah Gursky, Caroline Sholl, Emma Impink, Brittany Fiorello, and Emily Frantzen.
"We were ready for every meet. I think the best was called for every step of the way. They stayed sharp, they stayed focused. I think we gave our best everyday."
From Hand's vantage point, the seniors' impact went far deeper than inspiring teammates to swim faster times. "What was special was that these kids really looked out for each other and developed a sense of purpose," added Hand, whose team had cruised past Haddonfield 108-62 last Friday to advance to the state final. "They figured out great ways to make the team better than just an ordinary unit."
And in the process, the swimmers have learned some important lessons. "Some of these kids have had the rare opportunity to swim in two state finals," asserted Hand, whose team finished with a 13-2 final record.
"They'll remember it forever. It's high school athletics, these kids are learning every step of the way. There is no doubt that falling short is sometimes a learning experience too. The remarkable thing is doing what it takes to get here and giving a great effort at the end."
For Carduner and her teammates, giving all they had was reason enough to be proud. "I think that's the reason we're happy even though we lost," asserted Carduner. "Every person on this team knows they gave 100 percent, even 110 percent. There are no regrets."
