In a remarkable display of talent and teamwork, the **Mainland High School** boys swim team secured their first South Jersey Invitational title since **2020**. The event, held in March 2023, saw Mainland score **314 points**, surpassing **Haddonfield** and **Delran**, which finished with **288 points** and **additional totals**, respectively. This victory solidifies Mainland’s strong season, as they currently stand at **7-1** in dual meets and are projected to be the **No. 1 seed** in South, Group B.
Senior swimmer **Liam Kennedy** played a pivotal role in the team’s success, winning the **100 freestyle** in **47.16 seconds** and finishing second in the **50 freestyle** with a time of **21.53 seconds**. Kennedy, who previously earned a third-place finish in the 50 free at last year’s meet, expressed the boost in confidence this victory provides for the team. “Coming out here is not easy, especially against a team like Haddonfield, who gave us a run for our money today,” he noted. “Winning this meet gives us a lot of confidence going into the Cape Atlantic League Championships and the South Jersey sectional tournament.”
Head coach **Brian Booth** acknowledged Kennedy’s performance, stating, “He’s finally getting back into some better swimming shape.” Kennedy’s transition from a challenging football season to swimming has been significant, and Booth is optimistic about the team’s potential moving forward.
Mainland’s relays contributed significantly to the team’s overall score. The **200 medley relay**, featuring Sam Smith, Justin Yon, Liam Kennedy, and Robert Nirenberg, finished first with a time of **1:40.47**, earning **40 crucial points**. Additionally, the **400 freestyle relay**, composed of Brian Falk, Tristian Meyers, Sam Smith, and Liam Kennedy, clinched first place with a time of **3:18.27**, qualifying for the Meet of Champions.
Booth emphasized the importance of finishing strong, particularly in the relays. “We told them there’s a chance that we could win this event, and it’s going to propel us to possibly winning the team title,” he remarked.
The team’s depth was further showcased through strong individual performances. Tristian Meyers and Brian Falk secured fifth and sixth places in the **500 freestyle**, with times of **4:50.89** and **4:53.10**, respectively. Falk also contributed to the scoring in the **200 freestyle**, finishing fifth with a time of **1:48.25**. “Just getting any points is huge for this type of meet,” Falk said, highlighting the collective effort that led to their success.
Other notable finishes included Sam Smith’s fifth-place effort in the **butterfly** (56.90) and Robert Nirenberg’s fifth-place finish in the **breaststroke** (1:01.69). Booth emphasized that the team’s overall depth was crucial, stating, “All of our depth that we showed today, we wouldn’t be as good of a team if we didn’t have those kids.”
As the season progresses, the Mainland boys swim team looks forward to upcoming competitions, carrying the momentum from this significant victory into the **Cape Atlantic League Championships** and the **South Jersey sectional tournament**. The team’s performance at the South Jersey Invitational not only marks a return to form but also sets the stage for what could be an exciting continuation of the season.
