With dual meets winding down after cutoff on Jan. 24, most of New Jersey’s top teams turned their focus to county and conference championship meets across the state.
So how did they fare? And which teams took advantage of the spotlight to rise in the rankings?
Check our girls swimming Top 20 below.
1-Chatham (8-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Chatham was idle this past week. The Cougars, who won their 17th consecutive Morris County title last weekend, earned the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group B sectional tournament, and will look to win their fourth consecutive sectional title.
Up next: NJSIAA North 2, Group B sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
2-Hillsborough (9-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Hillsborough snagged the second seed in North 2, Group A, as they’ll look to capture a sectional title in a loaded section. With a top-two seed, Hillsborough will advance directly to the sectional semifinals.
Up next: NJSIAA North 2, Group A sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
3-Shawnee (10-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
At 10-0, Shawnee just wrapped up arguably the greatest regular season in program history. They captured the South Jersey ‘A’ Invitational title on Saturday, led by Camryn Tilger winning the 100 butterfly (55.95) and taking second in the 100 backstroke (57.76). Freshman Samantha Gatesman finished second in the 50 freestyle (24.20) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (54.64). Shawnee earned the top seed in South, Group B sectional tournament.
Up next: NJSIAA South, Group B sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
4-Pingry (5-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Pingry captured its fourth consecutive Prep ‘B’ championship on Wednesday, with Maria Pontoriero, TingTing Luo, and Alexia Davies earning top three finishes in their respective events, while also getting event wins in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay.
Up next: Somerset County Championships, Jan. 31
5-Trinity Hall (7-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 6
Trinity Hall was idle this past week. They earned the No. 1 seed in the Non-Public, South sectional tournament.
Up next: Shore Conference Championships, Feb. 7
6-Westfield (10-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Westfield, who did not compete this past week, earned the No. 1 seed in the North 2, Group A sectional tournament bracket.
Up next: Union County Championships, Jan. 30
7-Our Lady Of Mercy (6-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 7
Our Lady of Mercy took second at the South Jersey ‘A’ Invitational, but came back to win its second straight Cape-Atlantic League title on Thursday.
Up next: Gloucester County Championships, Jan. 30
8-Bridgewater-Raritan (7-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 8
Bridgewater-Raritan, who earned a bye into the quarterfinal round, will begin its sectional title defense next week as the No. 3 seed in North 2, Group A. They ended the regular season on a high note, defeating No. 13 Passaic Tech 107-63.
Up next: Somerset County Championships, Jan. 31
9-Immaculate Heart
Last week’s ranking: No. 9
Immaculate Heart added to its storied legacy at the Bergen County Championships, claiming its 27th straight county title—the longest active winning streak in any county or conference championship in New Jersey girls swimming. They earned the No. 2 seed in Non-Public, North sectional tournament.
Up next: NJSIAA Non-Public, North sectional semifinals, Feb. 10
10-Haddonfield (7-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 10
Haddonfield took second overall at the South Jersey ‘B’ Invitational, spearheaded by two meet records by Olympic Trials finalist Audrey Derivaux in the butterfly (53.16) and breaststroke (1:02.52). Lia Cottrell added a victory in the 500 free and took second in the 200 free. Both swimmers helped Haddonfield win the 200 free and 400 free relays.
Up next: NJSIAA South, Group C sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
11-Cherry Hill East (7-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 11
Cherry Hill East closed out its regular season with a dominant 93-62 victory over Seneca on Wednesday. The Cougars, coming off a third-place finish at the South Jersey ‘A’ Invitational last weekend, enter the South, Group A tournament as the favorites to win the section.
Up next: NJSIAA South, Group A sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
12-Summit (8-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 12
Summit ended its regular season with a 97-73 victory over Cranford. Entering the sectional tournament as the No. 2 seed, Summit will look to advance to a sectional final for the fifth straight season.
Up next: NJSIAA North 2, Group B sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
13-Passaic Tech (8-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 13
Passaic Tech earned the top seed in North 1, Group A with an 3125.67 power point average, which was bolstered by earning 3241 power points in a 107-63 defeat to Bridgewater-Raritan last week Friday.
Up next: NJSIAA North 1, Group A sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
14-Newark Academy (8-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 14
As the No. 3 seed in Non-Public North, Newark Academy will likely have to get past Immaculate Heart to reach the sectional final. Still, they’re on track to enter that matchup unbeaten after a convincing 126-43 win over Mount St. Dominic on Thursday.
Up next: NJSIAA Non-Public, North sectional semifinals, Feb. 10
15-Moorestown (6-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 15
Elena Kavney was Moorestown’s top individual at the SJISA ‘A’ Invitational, as she placed third overall in the breaststroke (1:07.18). Moorestown girls swimming enters the postseason as the top seed in Central, Group B, and is looking to repeat.
Up next: NJSIAA Central, Group B sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
16-Randolph (5-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 16
Randolph girls swimming finished third overall at the Morris County Championships. The Rams’ 200 free and 400 free relays both placed third, while Sydney Wright added a third-place finish in the breaststroke (1:16.09). Randolph captured the top seed in the North 1, Group B sectional tournament.
Up next: NJSIAA North 1, Group B sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
17-Egg Harbor (4-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 17
Egg Harbor’s Ady Elko was named Swimmer of the Meet at Thursday’s Cape-Atlantic League Championships after capturing the 200 free (2:04.54) and 100 free (58.07). Egg Harbor will be the third seed in the South, Group A sectional tournament.
Up next: NJSIAA South, Group A sectional quarterfinals, Feb. 9
18-Morristown (6-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 18
Morristown took second place at the Morris County Championships and celebrated an individual champion, with Mariah Quad winning the 400 free in 4:31.82.
Up next: NJSIAA North 1, Group A sectional semifinals, Feb. 9
19-Red Bank Regional (6-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 19
Red Bank Regional was idle this past week. They’ll compete next week as the third seed in the North 2, Group B sectional tournament.
Up next: NJSIAA North 2, Group B sectional quarterfinals, Feb. 9
20-Notre Dame (8-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 20
Notre Dame capped off a dream regular season by capturing the Colonial Valley Conference title on Saturday. They were led by Bridget Lowery, who was named the meet’s MVP after winning the 400 free in 4:31.32 and the 200 IM 2:22.36. The Irish will be the No. 3 seed in Non-Public, South sectional tournament.
Up next: NJSIAA Non-Public, South sectional quarterfinals, Feb. 6
