Trinity Hall defeats Villa Walsh, makes history

EWING - Even before the Trinity Hall swim team picked up its NJSIAA Non-Public B trophy, the girls had something much more important to do. They scooped up head coach Alyssa Morreale and tossed her, fully clothed, over the railing and into the diving well at The College of New Jersey's pool.

Erin O'Malley wasn't far behind, with a little help from the Monarchs.

Then, one by one, the girls jumped in, shouting and cheering their 100-70 victory over Villa Walsh of Morris Township. It is the first state title in any sport for Trinity Hall in Middletown, which was created just three years ago and has no senior class yet.

It's so great," said junior Caroline Gmelich of Rumson, who won the individual medley and backstroke and was part of two first-place Monarchs relays.

"It's an awesome feeling, to know nobody else has done this."

Led by Gmelich and juniors Isabel Pabon and Malia Wolf, Trinity Hall was dominant on Saturday. Wolf and Pabon went 1-2 in the 200 free, and Wolf led a Monarchs 1-2-3 sweep of the butterfly.

Junior Rebecca Morel was first in breaststroke and part of Villa Walsh's first-place 200 free relay. Senior Carolyn Silverman won the 50 free and was part of a 2-3-4 Vikings finish with freshman Maribel Rice and senior Claire Wilson in backstroke.

"It's really cool just to get here," Morel said. "There are only five meets (on Saturday), so there are only 10 teams who got this far. That makes it very special."

This was Villa Walsh's first trip to the state championship meet since defeating St. Elizabeth to win Non-Public B in 2006.

"We were confident in four years, we'd be here and win a state championship," said Wolf, an Ocean resident. "The fact that we completed that goal in three years it's amazing. I can say I'm one of the first people to graduate from this school, and one of the first to win a state championship, I'll never forget it."

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

Trinity Hall 100, Villa Walsh 70
Medley relay: 1. Trinity Hall (Caroline Gmelich, Lauren Joyce, Malia Wolf, Lily Scott) 1:45.22; 2. Villa Walsh (Maribel Rice, Rebecca Morel, Carolyn Silverman, Blair Boyle) 1:53.85; 3. Trinity Hall (Erin McHeffey, Abby Marcin, Mackenzie Knox, Ava Lynch) 2:06.11; 4. Villa Walsh (Claire Wilson, Cagney Boyle, Clare Cahir, Emma Davis) 2:098.79; 5. Villa Walsh (Molly Penders, Erin Hendry, Nicole Naunton, Stephanie Naunton) 2:48.01.

200 freestyle: 1. Malia Wolf (TH) 1:56.6; 2. Isabelle Pabon (TH) 1:57.35; 3. Alison Pigott (VW) 2:00.85; 4. Louise McCrone (TH) 2:11.59; 5. Lily Vesce (VW) 2:13; 6. Anne Goss (VW) 2:21.94

200 IM: 1. Caroline Gmelich (TH) 2:07.97; 2. Rebecca Morel (VW) 2:09.21; 3. Lauren Joyce (TH) 2:0-9.23; 4. Cagney Boyle (VW) 2:26.44; 5. Mackenzie Knox (TH) 2:36; 6. Clare Cahir (VW) 2:55.95.

50 freestyle: 1. Carolyn Silverman (VW) 25.64; 2. Lily Scott (TH) 25.94; 3. Ava Lynch (TH) 26.56; 4. Claire Wilson (VW) 28.43; 5. Grace Modderman (TH) 29.96; 6. Emma Davis (VW) 32.99

100 butterfly: 1. Malia Wolf (TH) 59.14; 2. Ava Lynch (TH) 1:04.77; 3. Mackenzie Knox (TH) 1:10.31; 4. Lily Vesce (VW) 1:11.1; 5. Clare Cahir (VW) 1:17.58; 6. Nicole Naunton (VW) 1:46.78.

100 freestyle: 1. Lily Scott (TH) 56.16; 2. Blair Boyle (VW) 56.24; 3. Maribel Rice (VW) 58.26; 4. Abby Marcin (TH) 1:02.97; 5. Diana Bilotta (TH) 1:07.04; 6. Emma Davis (VW) 1:13.95

500 freestyle: 1. Isabelle Pabon (TH) 5:16.87; 2. Alison Pigott (VW) 5:32.36; 3. Louise McCrone (TH) 5:58.07; 4. Erin McHeffey (TH) 6:11.43; 5. Anne Goss (VW) 7:12.12; 6. Ana Wolkenstein (VW) 7:27.52.

200 free relay: 1. Villa Walsh (Rebecca Morel, Lily Vesce, Alison Pigott, Blair Boyle) 1:46.84; 2. Trinity Hall (Lily Scott, Ava Lynch, Abby Marcin, Isabelle Pabon) 1:48.48; 3. Trinity Hall (Mackenzie Knox, Grace Modderman, Diana Bilotta, Louise McCrone) 1:58.5; 4. Villa Walsh (Molly Penders, Clare Cahir, Emma Davis, Anne Goss) 2:11.93; 5. Villa Walsh (Erin Hendry, Stephanie Nauton, Nicole Nauton, Ana Wolkenstein) 2:27.4.

100 backstroke: 1. Caroline Gmelich (TH) 56.7; 2. Carolyn Silverman (VW) 57.99; 3. Maribel Rice (VW) 1:04.8; 4. Claire Wilson (VW) 1:08.47; 5. Erin McHeffey (TH) 1:16.56; 6. Diana Bilotta (TH) 1:23.52

100 breaststroke: 1. Rebecca Morel (VW) 1:07.89; 2. Lauren Joyce (TH) 1:08.33; 3. Cagney Boyle (VW) 1:15; 4. Abby Marcin (TH) 1:20.18; 5. Erin Hendry (VW) 1:40.11.

400 free relay: 1. Trinity Hall (Malia Wolf, Isabelle Pabon, Lauren Joyce, Caroline Gmelich) 3:43.42; 2. Villa Walsh (Blair Boyle, Alison Pigott, Maribel Rice, Carolyn Silverman) 3:56.95; 3. Villa Walsh (Lily Vesce, Anne Goss, Claire Wilson, Cagney Boyle) 4:15.35; 4. Trinity Hall (Louise McCrone, Diana Bilotta, Grace Modderman, Erin McHeffey) 4:29.29.

Site of meet: The College of New Jersey. Distances in yards.  Team records: Trinity Hall 8-3, Villa Walsh 7-7.