Less than two weeks after crushing their Cape-Atlantic League rival Mainland Regional by 48 points in the regular-season finale, the Ocean City High School girls' swimming team found themselves in tie meet against the same team heading into the final event of the South Jersey Public B semifinals Monday at their home pool.
The 400-meter freestyle relay team of Rachel Chain, Erin Myers, Gabby Breazeale and Amanda Nunan captured the final event easily to deliver an 87-83 victory to the Red Raiders.
Ocean City advances to the South Jersey final against Haddonfield on Thursday at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell.
A talented Red Raider team has the potential to advance deep into state team competition. A victory in Thursday's South Jersey final would put them in a statewide semifinal.
Mainland standout Bridget Keough had missed the earlier dual meet and beat Ocean City senior captain Noel Styer by two one-hundredths of a second in the 50-meter freestyle.
Mainland finished one-two in the 100-meter freestyle to bring the Mustangs within four points of Ocean City.
Freshman Amanda Nunan won the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle events for Ocean City and anchored the final winning relay. Nunan led a 1-2-3 sweep of the 200 for Ocean City.
Trailing early in the race, freshman Aleva Parker took a key second place in the 100-meter breaststroke to prevent Mainland from taking a lead heading into the final event.
Ocean City remains undefeated at 12-0. Mainland ends its season at 11-2 with both losses coming at the hands of Ocean City.
Winners were as follows:
200 Medley Relay: Mainland — Megan Bralski, Kelly McGroarty, Rylie Devine and Samantha Boswell, 2:02.57
200 Freestlye: Ocean City — Amanda Nunan, 2:07.07
200 IM: Ocean City — Amber Glenn, 2:25.07
50 Freestyle: Mainland — Bridget Keough, 27.12
100 Butterfly: Ocean City — Gabby Breazeale, 1:07.o2
100 Freestyle: Mainland — Megan Bralski, 1:00.56
400 Freestyle: Ocean City — Amanda Nunan, 4:30.71
200 Free Relay: Ocean City — Aly Chain, Gabby Breazeale, Amanda Nunan, Noel Styer, 1:51.03
100 Backstroke: Mainland — Megan Bralski, 1:05.70
100 Breaststroke: Mainland — Kelly McGroarty, 1:17.72
400 Free Relay: Ocean City — Rachel Chain, Erin Myers, Gabby Breazeale, Amanda Nunan, 4:03.57
The Ocean City High School girls' varsity swim team celebrates a victory over Mainland Regional in the South Jersey Public B semifinal on Feb. 10, 2014.
Gabby Breazeale celebrates Ocean City's victory in the decisive 400-meter freestyle relay Monday against Mainland in the South Jersey semifinal.
Gabby Breazeale celebrates Ocean City's victory in the decisive 400-meter freestyle relay Monday against Mainland in the South Jersey semifinal.
