Both the Ridge and Watchung Hills swimming programs could have used a win going into their meet on Tuesday in order to prepare for this weekend’s conference meet. In the end, each program got one.
The Red Devils’ boys bested the Warriors by a 103.5-66.5 margin, while the girls lost a tough meet to Watchung Hills, 100-70.
“We knew it was going to be close, so we were happy,” said Ridge head coach Melanie Dupuis. “We don’t have many close meets, so we were anticipating it to be pretty good.”
The boys won a lion’s share of the events on Tuesday against the Warriors. Winners included Matt Glockenmeier, who finished first in four events including the 200 Medley Relay, the 200 IM, the 500 Freestyle and the 400 Freestyle Relay.
Bradley Wachenfeld also posted four victories on the day, including impressive individual times in the 100-meter Freestyle (55.60) and 100-meter Backstroke (59.44).
“The boys did as well as we thought they would do,” said Dupuis. “It was a good day for the boys, but really just a set-up for Saturday. The meet between the girls was also very close. We both lost a large senior class (last year).”
Despite losing the meet in the end, the girls’ performance featured plenty of highlights from many of Ridge’s top swimmers. Sophomore Brianna Thompson, who finished third in the 100-meter Fly, also won the 200-meter Freestyle with a time of 2:08.86.
Thompson made a point to keep pace with the people swimming next to her, which proved to be a formula for success.
“I felt pretty good and raced the people next to me,” said Thompson.
Thompson’s teammate Kate Bradley also helped the Red Devils by finishing first in the 100-meter Breaststroke for Ridge . With those two swimmers leading the way, the Ridge girls were not without impressive performances, but will need to elevate their game at Saturday’s conference meet.
“As a team, I felt like we did pretty good, but we need to get everyone together and swim,” said Thompson. “We just need to make sure everyone cheers for everyone and that we are supportive of each other.”
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Before that happens, though, Ridge will head to the Hillsborough YMCA on Thursday to take on the Raiders of Hillsborough High School. That meet is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
