Cherry Hill East Boys Swimming defeated Bridgewater-Raritan to achieve its second NJSIAA Public A State Title in three years. After a devastating loss last winter, East got its reprisal against Bridgewater-Raritan and displayed its dominance with a 110-60 victory. The triumph maintains the impressive stretch of eleven straight sectional titles and five straight appearances in the state final.

East controlled the entire meet, as the boys won nine of the 11 events. Although the entire team helped to ensure a victory, Jack Watson (‘19), Jackson Brookover (‘20), Alex Volin (‘20) and Anthony Cheng (‘19) won individual races. Watson finished his East career with first place in the 200-meter Individual Medley and the 100-meter Backstroke. Also, Cheng won the 100-meter Breaststroke. Brookover took first place in the 100-meter Butterfly and second place in the 100-meter Backstroke. Volin took first place in the 200-meter Freestyle and in the 500-meter freestyle.

Along with a myriad of individual awards, the Cougars demolished the relays. Watson, Spencer DuBois (‘20), Andrew Murphy (‘19) and Brookover won the 200-meter Medley Relay.  Also, Brookover, Charlie Hess (‘19), Bobby Irwin (‘20) and Mike Treglia (‘20) won the 200-meter Freestyle Relay. Throughout the meet, East took first, second and third in several races.

Panthers’ Trent Russano (‘21) finished first in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle races, bringing Bridgewater-Raritan its sole victories. However, Irwin and Treglia finished second and third each race, rendering his wins helpless in the score.

The meet started being competitive, as after the first break, East led by 10. However, after the win in the 200-meter Freestyle Relay, the Cougars led by 30 and the team achieved its ultimate goal. The pure joy of the swimmers demonstrated their hours of hard work and dedication they put into the sport.

Throughout the season, the Cougars were on their revenge tour decimating almost every team in their path, scoring more than 100 points in their 11 wins. Their single loss came by Non-Public A champion Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown, NJ. The team finished its season with an extraordinary victory against its rival who bested them a year ago.

A strong senior class completed their East swimming careers on Saturday, but with several outstanding juniors and underclassmen returning, the Boys’ Swimming team believe in their ability to go back-to-back next season.