“We were an underdog coming into Division A, but we worked hard and went undefeated.”
Coming into the 2017 summer swimming season, the Pomona Swim Club was looking to be competitive in Division A of the Tri-County Swim League.
After winning Division B in 2016, Head Coach Danielle Willard knew the team was going to be an underdog in the top division.
With the likes of four-time consecutive champs Wedgewood, Wenonah, Deerbrook, Green-Fields and Pheasant Run to compete with, Pomona knew it would be a tough go-around.
On Sunday, Aug 6, Pomona capped off a perfect season winning the 2017 Tri-County Championship in Wenonah. It was the Cinnaminson Swim Club’s first-ever Tri-County title, and its best finish since a second-place finish in 1967.
“It’s amazing,” Willard said. “The kids worked hard all summer and put in tons of work. We wanted to make an impact this season, and we did it in the best way possible.”
Some 162 swimmers made up the team’s roster, ranging between the ages of 5 to 18. Thirty-six teams participated in the Tri-County final, which is the conclusion of the summer swimming season.
While other teams may have been resting the week prior to the Tri-County final, Pomona was winning the Burlington County tournament and adding more hardware to the trophy case.
“We were an underdog coming into Group A, and knew we would face some tough competition,” Willard said. “The kids made sure to work hard during practices, and it showed all season long.”
Willard has been head coach of the team for four years but isn’t a stranger to Pomona Swim Club. The Cinnaminson native who lives in Delran was a member of the swim club as a child. Her kids swim there, while her relatives’ kids swim there also.
“It’s a giant family to be honest,” Willard said. “Everyone seems to know one another s, even when swimmers graduate, their siblings join the program. It’s a never-ending cycle.”
At Tri-County, the team earned 726 team points through 66 events. It edged Wedgewood by nine points for the title, the same point difference as the team’s previous meeting in Week 1 of the regular season.
Following the victory over Wedgewood in the regular season, Pomona defeated Wenonah 308.5–245.5. In its other three regular season victories, Pomona won by a margin of 70 points or more. It earned 408 more points this season than its Tri-County Division opponents.
What’s next for the Tri-County champs? To enjoy the remainder of summer then get back to training to defend their crown.
“We improved along the way this season, and we hope to do the same in 2018,” Willard said. “A lot of our kids swim during the winter in different leagues, then return in the summer, so the work ethic should remain the same.”
For more information regarding the Pomona Swim Club, visit http://pomonaswimclub.org.
