Swimmer of the Year: Ally Kleinsorgen, Roxbury
The senior ended her high school career with impressive outings at the Morris County Championships and Meet of Champions this year.
After recording a pair of individual victories at last year's Morris County meet, Kleinsorgen came back this year determined to defend her titles and keep Roxbury in the spotlight. The senior not only replicated her wins in the 50-meter freestyle (26.61) and 100 backstroke (1:04.08), she also finished the events a second faster than she did in 2014.
"I'm glad that I was able to go out and represent Roxbury today and put the school in such a positive light," said Kleinsorgen, who will swim at Western Kentucky next year. "It meant a lot to me to be here for the last time and defend my titles. I was really happy that I could do it and I'm glad that I left the younger girls something to remember me by."
At the Meet of Champions, Kleinsorgen finished fifth in the 100-yard backstroke (57.22) and sixth in the 50 free (24.04).
Coach of the Year: Frank DiGiacomo, Chatham
Chatham took home its fifth straight state championship at the end of a season that DiGiacomo will never forget. In addition to another state title, DiGiacomo also got to celebrate the birth of his son, Mason Joseph, during Chatham's run this year.
With its win over No. 14 Haddonfield, in the Public C final, Chatham became only the fourth school in state history to win five straight girls swimming state championships. The Morris County school has been perfect during that dominant stretch, winning every single dual meet along the way.
"Before we went into the meet (against Haddonfield), I was looking at the state website to see some milestones for my girls to go for," said DiGiacomo after the Public C final. "The amount of teams who have won five is limited, it's really small. To join that club, just says a lot about the kids and a lot about the tradition that has been created here at Chatham. For the girls to achieve a milestone like this, I just can't believe it. This is unreal."
Team of the Year: Chatham
Despite being moved to the newly created Public C this year, Chatham kept up with its winning ways. Chatham won its seventh consecutive Morris County title and seventh straight sectional title this year. The Morris County squad was led by Alicia Iizuka, Nina Barrett, Emily Gorham, Amy Durren, Nicole Tingley, Jane Ewald and Margaret Harrigan throughout the year.
"It never gets old because each year you have a new group of swimmers who are ready to give you their all," said assistant C.J. McCabe, who led the team in the sectional final while DiGiacomo missed the meet to be with his newborn son. "It's amazing to see what they can do in the water and they are the ones who deserve all the credit because they put in so much work to keep this streak going."
Around the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference: Villa Walsh's combination of Carolyn Silverman, Rebecca Morel, Allison Morel and Caroline Feeney reset its own meet record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:01.88 at this year's Morris County Championships. That quartet also reset its record at the Prep Championships with a time of 1:48.38.
Villa Walsh went 5-3-1 this season and made it all the way to the Non-Public B semifinals. Rebecca Morel made waves at the Meet of Champions with a seventh-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.
Mountain Lakes won its second straight sectional title with a victory over Kinnelon (7-4) in the North Jersey, Section 1, Public C finals. Behind the performance of senior Erin Kiely, the Morris County school (11-2) only lost twice this season and both of those losses were against Top 20 competition. Kiely finished seventh in the 500 free at the Meet of Champions.
Morristown advanced to the North Jersey, Section 2, Public B final, where it to fell to Public B champion Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Maya Carragher broke a 27-year-old Morristown record in the 200-meter individual medley at the Morris County Championships. Sophie Thomsen broke the school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:07.98 in the sectional semifinals.
With Kleinsorgen leading the charge, Roxbury qualified for the North 2, Public B playoffs. Roxbury finished the year with a 10-2 record.
Mendham won eight dual meets this year, including a 97-73 victory over Millburn in the North 2, Public B quarterfinals. Mendham's season came to an end in the semifinals with a loss to Scotch Plains.
Sparta went 7-2 and made a run to the North Jersey, Section 1, Public B semifinals, where it fell to Wayne Hills. Sparta opened up its playoff slate with a victory over Newton/Lenape Valley.
Sparta's Alexis Faria finished seventh in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.14 at the Meet of Champions.
*All-Conference selections were made by the conference, not NJ.com.
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Top 10
1. Chatham
2. Mountain Lakes
3. Morristown
4. Roxbury
5. Mendham
6. Sparta
7. Newton/Lenape Valley
8. Kinnelon
9. Morris Knolls
10. High Point
