CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Cape May Tech dominated the meet, but the Lower Cape May Regional High School girls swimming team made its program debut Friday at the Cape May County Special Services pool.
Tech took first place in every race and won the meet 119-45. Lower Cape May, a former coed team and an overall program much older than Tech's, split into girls and boys teams this season. The Cape-Atlantic League National meet was the season opener for both teams
'It was nice to have our girls swimming against girls," said Brittany O'Donnell, the coach of the Lower Cape May boys and girls teams. "Preparing for it was a little nerve-wracking, but like I said to my assistant (Fran Zukawski), it was nice to see the girls swimming with people of similar ability."
Cape May Tech senior Hannah Wilcoxen won the 100-yard butterfly and the 500 freestyle and contributed to two relay wins. Miranda Fisher, another senior, took the 200 individual medley and the 100 freestyle. Freshman Lindsay Robbins won the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle.
Ruby Redmond, a Tech sophomore, added two relay wins and a victory in the 100 breaststroke. Savannah Bruno, a junior, won the 100 backstroke. Ally Brown, Madison Ruisch, Cameron Muir and Gabbi Eppright each added a relay win.
"We made a really good start," said Chelsey Barber, the Cape May Tech coach. "We lost only three seniors last year, and we picked up a lot of freshman with a lot of raw talent.
"It was nice to see Lower Cape May with a separate girls team. When I swam at Cape May Tech, I was a captain as a senior on our coed team in 2007-08, and we split into two teams the next year, so I missed being on the girls team. I know it's a big leap, and I'm glad Lower Cape May did it."
Lower's Christina Adams, a junior was second in the 50 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. Carlie Eckel, a senior, was second for the Caper Tigers in the 100 backstroke. Sophomore Sam Downes placed second in the 100 breaststroke.
"For our girls and boys teams, it's all about individual growth," O'Donnell said. "As long as you're getting faster, that's all we can ask.
"Mishell Sanchez, who swam for us last year as a senior, said she's wishes she could have been on the girls team. She was here to see her younger sister (sophomore Iris Sanchez) swim."
200 Medley Relay—CMT (Lindsay Robbins, Ruby Redmond, Hannah Wilcoxen, Ally Bowen) 2:19.95; 200 Freestyle—Robbins CMT 2:09.13; 200 IM—Miranda Fisher CMT 2:48.63; 50 Freestyle—Robbins CMT 27.0; 100 Butterfly—Wilcoxen CMT 1:21.81; 100 Freestyle—Fisher CMT 1:06.94; 500 Freestyle—Wilcoxen CMT 6:50.60; 200 Freestyle Relay—CMT (Fisher, Cameron Muir, Madison Ruisch, Redmond) 2:06.65; 100 Backstroke—Savannah Bruno CMT 1:23.18; 100 Breaststroke—Redmond CMT 1:25.0; 400 Freestyle Relay—CMT (Bruno, Gabbi Eppright, Wilcoxen, Robbins) 4:41.33.
Records—LCM 0-1; CMT 1-0.