Kinnelon's Curreri wins at NJ swimming Meet of Champions; Morristown's Webber takes silver
SEWELL — After winning the NJSIAA Meet of Champions title in the individual medley, James Curreri joked he has "a little bit of a personality disorder." Standing on the blocks before a race, he's "Angry Jimmy," smacking his arms and chest and making as much noise as possible. But afterward, the Kinnelon senior is back to his usual genial self, congratulating opponents before they get out of the water.
Curreri touched first in 1:50.31, dropping almost two seconds from his prelim swim on Saturday. Mendham freshman Kenny Barnicle placed sixth.
"We all want a great race. It's painful as hell. We're all dead right now," said Curreri, who plans to swim at the University of Pennsylvania.
"I get in the zone. I'm one of the gentlest giants ever. But when it comes to something I want, I become a beast."
Curreri is the first Kinnelon champion since Luke Papendick, who won the 100-yard backstroke as a freshman in 2009, and the 100-yard freestyle in 2011 and 2012.
Complete boys results: NJSIAA boys swimming Meet of Champions finals
Girls results: NJSIAA girls swimming Meet of Champions finals
Curreri also swam backstroke on the Colts' sixth-place medley relay, followed by junior Max Connelly (breaststroke), senior Kevin McNamara (butterfly) and freestyle anchor Will Kilponen.
Curreri and Barnicle, teammates at the Greater Somerset County YMCA, flip-flopped positions in the backstroke final. Barnicle touched fifth in 50.52 seconds with Curreri sixth.
Chatham junior Ryan Snarr was third and McNamara seventh in the consolation butterfly final. McNamara also placed eighth in the 500 free consolation.
More medals for Morristown
Morristown senior Molly Webber wasn't disappointed to finish second twice at her final NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
Webber came in behind Catherine Meisner of Mount St. Mary, who set a meet record of 1:46.99 in the 200 freestyle. In the 500 free, Moorestown junior Maddie Waggoner led start to finish and won by three seconds.
"It was a really fun last meet for me," said Webber, who reports to West Point for basic training on June 27.
"I went in wanting to do my best, and I gave it all I had. Second place to those girls is not a bad thing. They're amazing."
Thrill of victory...?
After a tough Friday club practice and two days of weight training, Liam Lynk was already worn out before he dove into the pool at Gloucester County Institute of Technology.
The Mountain Lakes senior has longer-term goals. But he was determined to represent his high school one last time.
Lynk placed fifth in the 50 free in 21.45 on Saturday morning. He came back later and finished second in the breaststroke consolation, two spots ahead of Kittatinny senior Billy Ruddy.
"My expectations weren't very high, but it's still fun to race the kids," said Lynk, who plans to swim at McGill University in Montreal.
"I know all of them. I like racing people I race all year. It's a battle the whole year."
► The Kinnelon girls also made a statement at the Meet of Champions. The Colts' medley relay of junior Samantha Benzija, sophomore Zoe Davies, freshman Anna Kilponen and sophomore Charlotte McNamara won the consolation final in 1:48.17, the fifth fastest time of the day. Morris Knolls was a tenth of a second back, breaking the school record, and the Chatham girls were seventh.
Benzija finished second and Kilponen tied for sixth in the consolation butterfly final.
►The Morris Knolls girls ended the MOC on top. The Golden Eagles' quartet of Tara Wiarda, Bailey Rynkiewicz, Caroline Weldon and Sophia Yousuf won the consolation final of the 400 free relay in 3:34.57, the seventh-fastest time overall and a school record by four seconds.
► West Morris sophomore Taylor Weth won the breaststroke consolation final at her first Meet of Champions in 1:05.74, the seventh fastest time. Chatham sophomore Alison Barton was 28 hundredths of a second behind.
► The Chatham boys placed seventh in the 200 free relay, breaking the school record with a 1:28.4. Cougars freshman Charlie Kulp improved his school 200 free record to 1:43.78 while tying for third in the consolation final.
Mendham was second (1:37.47) and Chatham fifth in the boys medley relay consolation final. The Cougars also broke the school record while finishing fourth in the 400 free relay consolation final (3:14.09).
Chatham junior Flora Jeng led a trio of local swimmers in the 50 free consolation final. Jeng finished fifth, Kittatinny sophomore Clare Schwartz sixth, and Villa Walsh freshman Danielle Carter eighth.
Jeng finished fourth in the consolation 100 free (52.76), with Schwartz eighth. Carter won the consolation backstroke final in 57.35 – the seventh fastest time of the day and a school record – with Benzija seventh.
The Chatham girls were fifth in the 200 free relay (1:40.93).
► Newton senior Matt Freund lowered his own school record to 51.21 while finishing sixth in the butterfly. ... Kittatinny senior Billy Ruddy finished fourth in the breaststroke consolation.
Jane Havsy is a storyteller for the Daily Record and DailyRecord.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today.
Want to share your story with me?
Email: JHavsy@gannett.com Twitter: @dailyrecordspts
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Curreri wins NJSIAA swimming Meet of Champions, Webber takes silver
