SWIMMING

Seton Hall Prep bests Morristown on final relay

Jane Havsy
@dailyrecordspts

MORRISTOWN - The score was tied. Everyone on the pool deck at Morristown High School knew what that meant.

The final event, the 400-meter freestyle relay, was going to decide the dual meet between the undefeated Colonials and Seton Hall Prep. Pirates coach Randy Schweitzer called the four swimmers together and said: "Winner takes all. It's up to you boys now." Then the quartet of Morris County residents — senior Ian D'Souza, sophomore Matthew Michaels, senior Brandon Wang and junior Colby Dixon — "got together and laid it all on the line," according to Dixon.

As the crowd both on deck and in the bleachers rose to its feet cheering, Seton Hall Prep finished two strokes ahead and defeated Morristown, 88-82.

"It's probably the best-feeling win I've had in three years," said Dixon, a Madison resident. "They took first in more events than we did, but it's good to see the younger swimmers step up in this meet. We won a lot of events 2-3-4. It's a real team victory."

Morristown won eight of the 11 events on Wednesday, breaking a trio of school records. Wang, a Montville resident, had both of Seton Hall Prep's individual victories. He broke the Pirates' record in the 200-meter IM, which had been set by former U.S. Olympian Ron Karnaugh in 1984.

A victory in the 200 free relay had given Morristown an eight-point lead, but Wang and Dixon went 1-2 in the backstroke to bring Seton Hall Prep within two. Colonials senior Matt Critchley won the breaststroke, the fourth win he'd been part of on Wednesday, but Dominic Palumbo and Greg Spicka — both Morris Plains residents — took second and third to set up the tie.

"I've never heard the pool get that loud before," said Morristown sophomore Justin Viotto, who won the 200 and 400 free and was part of the final relay. "Everyone got really loud before I started off. That's when I started to get nervous."

The Colonials opened the meet with a school record in the medley relay (1:48.86), then Viotto claimed the 200 free with a personal-best 2:00.08. Sophomore Owen Breslin won the 50 free — a 1-2 finish with junior Derek He — and broke Critchley's school record in the 100 free (54.1). Critchley and sophomore Tommy Cromie went 1-2 in the butterfly, as both broke the school record.

"Everyone was really excited, really motivated," Wang said. "We wanted to get out there and win. It's huge."

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/

Seton Hall Prep 88, Morristown 82

Medley relay: Morristown (Michael Macchia, Matt Critchley, Tommy Cromie, Owen Breslin) 1:46.86; 200 freestyle: Justin Viotto (M) 2:00.08; 200 IM: Brandon Wang (SHP) 2:10.09; 50 freestyle: Breslin (M) 24.34; 100 butterfly: Critchley (M) 58.49; 100 freestyle: Breslin (M) 54.1; 400 freestyle: Viotto (M) 4:16.89; 200 free relay: Morristown (Breslin, Macchia, Derek He, Critchley) 1:41.59; 100 backstroke: Wang (SHP) 59.65; 100 breaststroke: Critchley (M) 1:08.96; 400 free relay: Seton Hall Prep (Ian D'Souza, Matthew Michaels, Wang, Colby Dixon) 3:48.48.

Site of meet: Morristown High School. Distances in meters. Team records: Seton Hall Prep 6-0, Morristown 7-1.