The Quakers will have to contend with a deep field of teams in their new section as they strive to win another title.
The 2017–18 season presents a new challenge for the Moorestown High School boys swimming team.
After competing in Central Jersey Group B the last three seasons, the Quakers were moved to South Jersey Group B this year. This puts Moorestown in the same section as Mainland Regional High School, the two-time defending Group B state champions.
“We know it’s going to be a lot tougher,” head coach Jeff DeNick said. “The defending state champions are from the South region. That’s really the biggest obstacle. The other teams beneath them are pretty good, too, and we might see them in the first or second round.”
Moorestown is hungry to end Mainland’s championship run this season. Last year, the Quakers saw a streak of five consecutive sectional titles end when they lost to West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South in the Central Jersey Group B sectional final. This year, Moorestown is hoping to get back on top.
“We’re definitely more motivated,” senior Tommy Schurer said. “I’d take these guys pretty much over any other team in the state. We’re definitely very confident right now.”
DeNick said the section change has given the team a little more urgency. Moorestown has amped up its training this year to prepare for the stretch run in February.
“We’ve been training a little bit harder in the beginning of the year just knowing we’ve got three months to be ready for sectionals,” DeNick said. “I think it will just push us harder.”
Aside from striving for better times in each dual meet, some of the Quakers have been swimming in a variety of events to gain versatility. DeNick said he likes to mix up the lineup in each dual meet so the team will have a bunch of different options for the postseason.
“I never start the same lineup twice,” DeNick said. “Some teams will do that more often, but I don’t.”
“It definitely keeps us on our toes,” Schurer said about swimming different events.
The Quakers are able to mix and match with their lineup thanks to the team’s depth. Schurer, senior Reid Greer and junior Joshua Fong are all 2017 NJSIAA Meet of Champions qualifiers who return this year. DeNick said there are also numerous young swimmers who have stepped up early in the year, giving the team depth it hasn’t had in recent seasons.
“This is probably one of the deeper teams we’ve had,” DeNick said. “Maybe not one of the fastest teams, but definitely one of the deepest teams. A couple of guys have stepped up to contribute. Our freshman class is really strong, they’re still developing. The future looks bright.”
The Quakers have a challenging schedule late in the regular season. They will swim against a strong Rancocas Valley Regional High School team twice in a 12-day space in mid-January. Moorestown also has a non-conference meet against Egg Harbor Township High School on Jan. 17.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us,” DeNick said about the Egg Harbor meet. “They’re probably going to be contending for a championship in South A, probably against Cherry Hill East. So it’ll be a good test for us either way, whether we win or lose.”
Schurer believes the key to the team’s success will be building momentum in the regular season so the team is hitting on all cylinders for the playoffs.
“We can’t look forward to a meet against Mainland,” Schurer said. “We have to look forward to whatever meet is coming up.”
The Quakers entered the month of January with a perfect 3–0 record. Moorestown won all of its December meets by at least 90 points.
