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Swimming

Annalise Webber of Morristown and Olivia Polemeni of Chatham congratulate one another after the 400 freestyle relay. The relay, which the Colonials won, enabled them to tie the Cougars for the 2019 title.

Colonials believe in "power of three"

MORRISTOWN _ The history lesson in the midst of the Morristown High School Girls Swim Team's pasta party on Friday night served two purposes - to enlighten and inspire. Colonials coach Donna Gelegonya had her swimmers' rapt attention, telling them of Morris County championships past. The last title Morristown won was in 2009 and was rapidly fading into the distance. The one before that was in 1999 before members of the current squad were born. Gelegonya is a steadfast believer in the "power of threes" and Morristown, obviously charged up, delivered, tying Chatham for a share of the 2019 crown…
Chatham captured its 10th consecutive MCT Girls Swimming Championship on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Cougars stretch streak to 10

MORRISTOWN _ Athletes get through tense situations in a multitude of ways. Prior to the 400-meter freestyle relay, the last event for the girls at the Morris County Swimming Championships, Chatham sophomore Hailey Harkins danced behind the blocks to calm her nerves. "Hailey's got nice dance moves," said Olivia Polemeni, who swam the last leg of the relay. Not long after, the entire Cougars contingent was dancing - and jumping - with joy after claiming their 10th consecutive title on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Morristown High School. Chatham amassed 273.5 points and second-place Morristown had 246. Mountain Lakes was third…
Chatham extended its winning streak to nine at the Morris County Swimming Championships.

Chatham deepens its legacy

MORRISTOWN _ Emily Gorham remembers being in sixth grade when her older sister, Jess, and Chatham claimed a third consecutive title at the Morris County Swimming Championships. Gorham sat in the balcony overlooking the pool at Morristown High School, dreaming of the day when she'd compete for the Cougars. "I couldn't wait to swim for Chatham," said Emily Gorham, now a Chatham senior. "I looked up to my sister and the other swimmers on the team so much." As it turns out, the younger Gorham, now a senior, has left her own mark on the prolific program. On Saturday, Jan. 28,…
Chatham won the Morris County Championships team crown for the eighth straight year.

Chatham reigns at championships

MORRISTOWN _ Mary Laurita had long admired Isabelle Cecere, who established a number of records while swimming for Mendham. Laurita, a junior, thought of Cecere, now at Cornell, after she broke her record in the 100 butterfly at the Morris County Swimming Championships on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Mendham finished fourth with 115 points.

Sixth championship for Cougars

MORRISTOWN _ For Chatham's Regan Kology and Shana McLaughlin, it wasn't just a matter of winning races. The two seniors, competing in the Morris County Swimming Championships for the last time, wanted to be certain they left a deep impression on their younger teammates.
Celia Frick of Mendham took first in the 200 IM and the breaststroke.

Five in a row for Cougars

MORRISTOWN _ Chatham's Regan Kology has made a habit of deflecting attention and praise. Kology doesn't swim for herself. She swims for her teammates because of what they do for her.  Their support and wild cheering propel her, not her exceptional talent and determination. 
St. Elizabeth swimmers cheer on teammate Ponsee Ibrahim in the 500 freestyle. Ibrahim came in third.

Panthers edge out Roxbury

CONVENT STATION _ Cara Cannilla wanted to inform her teammates on the St. Elizabeth swim team exactly what was needed when the Panthers' meet against Roxbury headed into the final event. Right before the 400 freestyle relay, Cannilla approached Mackenzie Collins, Maura Mullaney and Shannon Law-Clark and told them the outcome would be determined by this race. Cannilla had gotten her information from a very reliable source - coach Greg Yarnall.
St. Elizabeth finished 8-2 in the regular season and was 9-3 overall.

Panthers lose in Non-Public B

CLIFTON _ Tough. Very difficult. Certainly not impossible. That's how St. Elizabeth senior Melissa Feeney viewed the Panthers' Non-Public B semifinal swim meet against Mount St. Dominic on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Freshman Olivia Rogus, pictured competing in the 200-meter IM at the Morris County Swimming Championships, has been a key performer for Mendham this season.

Mendham moves into final

MORRISTOWN _ Mendham swim coach Karen McCourt did her best to resist. A pole and McCourt's tight grip weren't enough to keep the Minutemen from their final goal. McCourt succeeded in holding on - for awhile - then, with lots of help from her swimmers, she hit the water.
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