Montclair High School competed in the 2017 Essex County/Super Essex Conference Swimming Championships at the Raritan Bay YMCA in Perth Amboy on January 16. The Mounties had a great meet, with many best times recorded, including three Meet of Champions cuts. The Mountie boys finished in third place and the girls finished in seventh place. Eight boys and nine girls contributed to the team point totals. They were: seniors Kai Michaud, Makai Charles and Duncan Richmond, juniors Steven Iovine and Thatcher Smith and freshmen Justin Ellis, Roman Miklaszewski and Tommy White for the boys and seniors Samantha Corredor and Stephanie Fox, juniors Jordan Caro and Amy Chen, sophomores Kathrynna Demetillo, Maya Crawford and Louisa Skerry and freshmen Mia Padberg and Josephine Myung for the girls.

MHS Boys and Girls Swimming County Championship Team. Photo: Izumi Hara
MHS Boys and Girls Swimming County Championship Team. Photo: Izumi Hara

Standouts in the individual events included Michaud, who took first place in the 500 free and second place in the 200 free, both with times qualifying Michaud for the NJ Meet of Champions; Charles, who placed second in the 100 breast and 3rd in the 200 IM; Smith, who placed third in the 100 back and 4th in the 100 free; Iovine who placed 4th in the 50 free; Ellis who took 5th in the 100 breast; and Demetillo who took 5th in the 100 back. Over three quarters of the MHS point earners posted one or more personal best times.

MHS Boys Swimming Captains Makai Charles (L) and Kai Michaud (R), both seniors, with the third place trophy at the 2017 Essex County/Super Essex Conference Swimming Championships. The two boys scored nearly 55 points between the two of them and another 50 together as part of the relay teams. Photo: Jess Michaud
MHS Boys Swimming Captains Makai Charles (L) and Kai Michaud (R), both seniors, with the third place trophy at the 2017 Essex County/Super Essex Conference Swimming Championships. The two boys scored nearly 55 points between the two of them and another 50 together as part of the relay teams. Photo: Jess Michaud

The Mounties had outstanding swims in both the boys and girls 400 free relays. The boys dropped 9.5 seconds beating Millburn out of second place by 4 seconds. The impressive time improvement earned the Mountie boys a berth at the NJ Meet of Champions. The Mountie girls dropped more than 7 seconds in the 400 free relay, finishing sixth.

Coach Ed Koenigsfest said “I couldn’t be prouder of what our swimmers have accomplished so far this year. We are looking forward to the NJSIAA championships and so thrilled to be going to the Meet of Champions with a county champion and the boys 400 free relay team.”

400 Free relay teams
Boys: Kai Michaud, Makai Charles, Justin Ellis and Thatcher Smith
Girls: Mia Padberg, Samantha Corredor, Maya Crawford and Kathrynna Demetillo