Summit Boys Swimming Opens Season Looking to Return to NJSIAA Sectionals

The Summit Boys Swimming team opens up its 2010-11 campaign this afternoon with an eye on a return to the NJSIAA Sectional Championships in February.

The Hilltoppers, 11-4 last season, will face at 4 p.m. at the  in the City of Summit Swimming Championships.

Last season, second-seeded Summit lost to Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 75-95, in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 finals on Feb. 19. It was their second loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood over the season.

Summit also finished third at the Union County Championships last season at Rutgers on Jan. 30. The meet was one of the most successful meets ever for the boys program, as every swimmer scored team points. Summit finished with 320 points behind runner-up Scotch Plains-Fanwood and champion Westfield. 

"Expectations are high this season," said Summit head coach David Pease, who is in his 15th season and is looking for his fifth-straight double-win season and 10th overall. "The boys would like to make it back to the Sectionals and are looking forward to hosting county champ Westfield on Dec. 14 and will face Scotch Plains-Fanwood twice within a week on Jan. 11 and Jan. 18."

With the largest participation of swimmers (41) ever in the program, the Hilltoppers are led by eight seniors, including team captains Daniel Byers, who is the swimmer of the meet in today's matchup with Oratory, and Drew Nerby.

"Nerby and Byers are providing the team with enthusiastic leadership and both are looking forward to a great start to the dual meet season," added Pease. "The junior class is the strongest of our four classes. The sophomores will earn points for the squad and our freshmen class is the largest with 12."

The girls swim team also kicks off their season today and will face .

2010-11 Summit HS Boys Swimming Roster

Seniors (8): Daniel Byers*, David DeSantiago, Kevin Gomez, Reid McKenzie, Antanas Mockus, Drew Nerby*, James Rath, Andrew Schlenger.

Juniors (10): William Anderson, Matthew Bauer, Loring Bowen, Allyn Engle, Kyle Fries, Jack Haberl, Kyle Lyman, Stuart Railey, Cameron Simko, Robert Zhang.

Sophomores (11): Will Beckett, William Benn, Matt Casagrande, Matthew Celona, Chris Chen, Jimmy Currie, Kevin Fries, Luca Guadagno, Michael Peck, Eric Przedpelski, Alex Thomson.

Freshmen (12): Jordan Aaron, Andrew Aguilera, Andrew Boak, Thomas Disibio, Tim Kostolansky, Khory Kotowski, Tyler Macdoanld, Ryan Price, Matthew Richson, Jack Schaefer, Ryan Sebastian, Andrew Thieck.

* - Captains