New pool a boon to MHS North, South swim teams

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff With an upgraded facility and an increase in pool time, there is much excitement at both Middletown high schools as their respective swim teams prepare for the upcoming season.

Middletown High School North and South swimmers perform warm-up laps during a shared practice at the Raritan Bay YMCA in Perth Amboy on Nov. 20. Below right: Sophomore Scott Boyce warms up in the pool, a new practice venue for both teams. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff After years of practicing in Asbury Park and limited pool time, both schools are moving up the parkway to the Raritan Bay Area YMCA. The modern facility is on New Brunswick Avenue in Perth Amboy.

"We're very excited about the move; it's a very nice pool, and we'll be able to practice five days a week," said Ken Sedlak, who coaches the Middletown High School North swim team. "We're confident that it's going to be a good year."

Once a powerful program, Middletown North has struggled in recent years, but this year there are 30 girls and 18 boys in the program, an increase Sedlak attributes to the new pool.

The numbers are also up at Middletown South, coach Denise DeOliveira said. Sixtyseven swimmers showed up for tryouts, including several upperclassmen who had not tried out for swimming before.

"The new pool has definitely created more interest in the program," DeOliveira said. "Several of our kids told me that they came out because of the new facility. We had more than 90 kids at our first meeting, and 67 came out for the team. It's great for both high school teams and Middletown swimming in general."

Last year the two teams practiced two to three times per week. At Raritan Bay, the two teams will share the pool for five two-hour practice sessions each week.

"It's really a great situation," DeOliveira said. "It gives the swimmers a chance to build camaraderie and to learn from each other."

Sedlak noted that his talented group of seniors, which includes Megan Massa, Mia Genovese, Alex Ajello and Dave Schweitzer, will have a chance to shine at the new facility. The North roster also includes juniors Justine Grilli, Crystal Murray, Jillian Kirk and Michael Wheaton, and promising freshman Robert Drobish.

The coach believes the move to Raritan Bay will play a key role in helping to rebuild the program.

The same holds true for Middletown South, whose boys team went 2-7 a year ago. But with Charlie Arliss, Kevin Clifton, junior Brian Heidt and sophomore Patrick Weir in the lineup, improvement is expected.

Meanwhile, the Eagles girls posted a 6-3 mark and made their presence felt in the Shore Conference's Class B North division. Among the returnees are Jacqueline Sufficool and her sister, sophomore Catherine Sufficool, and a trio of juniors: Megan Foran, Alexa Sacerdote and Catherine O'Kane. Last winter Foran set a pair of team records: 1:57.03 in the 200- meter freestyle and 5:12.55 in the 500-meter freestyle.

"We really have to thank the school administrations and the Board of Education for making this happen," said Sedlak, now in his 14th season at the Middletown North helm. "This is a great opportunity for the kids. It allows the coaches to spend more time working with them, and our new pool even has a weight room. We're very pleased."

DeOliveira concurred. "The new pool makes our programs more appealing, and we're already attracting more swimmers," she said. "I think we'll see even more next year, and that's a good thing. It's a great experience to participate; they'll learn a lot and have some fun, too."