Montclair Kimberley Academy girls swimming squad ousted in Non Public B semifinals
Montclair Kimberley girls swimming coach Gretchen Ievers knew it was going to be a tough road in the Non Public Group B semifinals recently.
The third-seeded Cougars, who would be facing second seed Newark Academy, had already gone up against them twice during the season, including in the Prep B state meet. Montclair Kimberley dropped a 106-64 dual meet on Jan. 24. Then, on Feb. 8 at the Prep B championships at Pennington, Newark Academy won the title with 300 points, while MKA came in third with 153 points.
The third time wasn’t the charm, as the Cougars would be ousted by Newark Academy from the state tournament with a 99-71 verdict at Neptune High School on Feb. 20.
"Considering Newark Academy placed first at Preps and we placed third, I knew going into our meet against them it would be very difficult to pull out a win," Ievers said. "We swam our fastest lineup. Our girls swam their best, and some even produced best times. I’m so proud of their efforts."
Ievers, whose team finished sixth in the Essex County girls swimming meet on Jan. 18, has plenty to look forward to next season, as the Cougars will lose only one senior to graduation, Lindsay Driever, who was one of their top swimmers.
In the state meet against Newark Academy, MKA junior Hannah Ewing took home two firsts, in the 50 freestyle (26.85) and the 500 freestyle (5:26.78). For Ewing, the 50 freestyle was a personal best.
The only other first-place finish came from Driever, who had a 2:05.45 time in the 200 freestyle. Despite coming in second in the 100 butterfly, Driever registered a personal best with a time of 1:02.30 and the team best this season in the event, a mark previously held by freshman Sasha Steele. Steele swam the top time for Montclair Kimberley in the 200 individual medley, with a time of 2:22.40.
Sophomore Marin Ievers, the coach’s daughter, came in second in the 100 backstroke (1:06.61), while junior Tyne Davis registered a personal mark in the backstroke with a time of 1:10.69.
To get to the Non Public B semifinals, the Cougars took care of sixth-seeded Morristown-Beard, 102-48, on Feb. 14. Montclair Kimberley took nine out of the 11 events, failing to win only the 400 freestyle relay and the 200 freestyle.
Individually, Steele, Ewing and Ievers collected first-place finishes against Morristown-Beard. Steele took first in the 200 individual medley (2:26.48) and 100 freestyle (59.06). Ewing collected firsts in the 50 freestyle (27.45) and 500 freestyle (5:25.11), while Ievers touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly (1:18.66) and 100 backstroke (1:08.02). Marin Wheeler took the 100 breaststroke (1:25:62), and the Cougars also won the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay events.
Montclair Kimberley v Newark Academy Non Public B semifinal, Feb. 20
200 Medley Relay
2. Marin Ievers, Maren Wheeler, Lindsay Driever, Sasha Steele, 2:03.22
4. Tyna Davis, Natalie Ewing, Lena Forysiak, Rachel Huang, 2:19.71
200 Freestyle
1. Lindsay Driever, 2:05.45
5. Lena Forysiak, 2:35.74
6. Natalie Ewing, 2:43.84
200 Individual Medley
2. Sasha Steele, 2:22.40
4. Maren Wheeler, 2:33.13
5. Tyna Davis, 2:36.23
50 Freestyle
1. Hannah Ewing, 26.85
4. Phoebe Hirsh, 28.84
5. Rachel Huang, 35.11
100 Butterfly
2. Lindsay Driever, 1:02.30
4. Lena Forysiak, 1:17.15
100 Freestyle
2. Sasha Steele, 58.21
4. Serena Nguyen, 1:15.50
5. Alexa Clayton, 1:15.60
500 Freestyle
1.Hannah Ewing, 5:26.78
3. Marin Ievers, 5:49.50
200 Freestyle Relay
2. Maren Wheeler, Phoebe Hirsh, Hannah Ewing, Sasha Steele, 1:53.39
4. Alexa Clayton, Rachel Huang, Serena Nguyen, Natalie Ewing, 2:19.30
100 Backstroke
2. Marin Ievers, 1:06.61
3. Tyna Davis, 1:10.69
4. Phoebe Hirsh, 1:12.77
100 Breastroke
2. Maren Wheeler, 1:20.51
5. Serena Nguyen, 1:33.44
6. Natalie Ewing, 1:42.02
400 Freestyle Relay
2. Hannah Ewing, Marin Ievers, Phoebe Hirsh, Lindsay Driever, 4:09.98
4. Lena Forysiak, Alexa Clayton, Tyna Davis, Serena Nguyen, 4:54.78
Montclair Kimberley v Morristown-Beard, Non Public B quarterfinals, Feb. 14
200 Medley Relay
1. Marin Ievers, Maren Wheeler, Lindsay Driever, Sasha Steele, 2:08.34
2. Tyna Davis Serena Nguyen, Lena Forysiak, Rachel Huang, 2:20.42
200 Freestyle
2. Lindsay Driever, 2:03.53
200 Individual Medley
1. Sasha Steele, 2:26.48
2. Maren Wheeler, 2:40.78
50 Freestyle
1. Hannah Ewing, 27.45
2. Phoebe Hirsh, 29.21
5. Rachel Hueng, 34.87
100 Butterfly
1. Marin Ievers, 1:18.66
100 Freestyle
1. Sasha Steele, 59.06
4. Serena Nguyen, 1:14.32
5. Alexa Clayton, 1:18.45
500 Freestyle
1. Hannah Ewing, 5:25.11
200 Freestyle Relay
1. Maren Wheeler, Hannah Ewing, Phoebe Hirsh, Sasha Steele, 1:55.89
3. Alexa Clayton, Rachel Huang, Serena Nguyen, Alexa Kahn, 2:15.58
100 backstroke
1. Marin Ievers, 1:08.02
2. Tyna Davis, 1:12.16
3. Phoebe Hirsh, 1:16.37
100 Breaststroke
1. Maren Wheeler, 1:25.62
3. Alexa Khan, 1:38.90
400 Freestyle Relay
2. Hannah Ewing, Marin Ievers, Phoebe Hirsh, Lindsay Driever, 4:19.59
4. Lena Forysiak, Alexa Clayton, Tyna Davis, Alexa Kahn, 4:51.35