West girls cap run as champs

SCOTT ANDERSON/Courier-Post Cherry Hill West's Amanda Waldner swims to victory in the 200 IM in 2:12.75 at Monday's South Jersey Public A final at Rowan University. Waldner also won the 100 free. C.H. WEST 102 C.H. EAST 68 What: South Jersey Public A championship. Key performers: Allison Rolish and Amanda Waldner won two events each for West. Emily Bart, Cathy Howard and Maureen O'Neill each added a win for the Lions. Jessica Simunek won the 100 butterfly for East. Quote: "They're just much stronger in freestyle events," East coach Anita Ricci said. "Some of our girls went out and had best times tonight, so that's all I can really ask of them. But I think we were a little tired." SCOTT ANDERSON/Courier-Post Cherry Hill West's Allison Rolish swims the 200-meter freestyle at Monday's South Jersey Public A championship. Rolish won in 2:01.69.

Cherry Hill West High School coach Scott Sweeten was a little concerned about how his girls' swim team would react three days after its emotional win over perennial power Vineland in last Friday's South Jersey Division A semifinal.

But as the Lions boarded the bus for Monday's sectional final against rival Cherry Hill East, Sweeten's concerns turned into confidence as he looked at the quiet, focused faces of his swimmers.

And once inside the pool in Esbjornson Gym on the campus of Rowan University, the Lions' focus and confidence translated into victory.

Allison Rolish won the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke events, while Amanda Waldner added wins in both the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle as Cherry Hill West cruised to a 102-68 win over Cherry Hill East in the South Jersey Division A final.

West will face an opponent to be determined later in the state semifinal on Thursday.

"I was really afraid that we would have a letdown after the Vineland meet," Sweeten said. "I told the girls that they would regret this for the rest of their lives if they didn't come in with their "A' game tonight."

The Lions (11-1) proved to be on top of their game from the start, bolting to a 43-19 lead after winning the first four races. West finished 1-2-3 in both the 200 and 50 freestyle races.

Cherry Hill East coach Anita Ricci wasn't surprised by her team's early deficit.

"West really dominates us in freestyle events," Ricci said. "I knew they were going to go 1-2 in the events and sometimes they go 1-2-3, so I knew we were going to have to make it up in the other events. But we just don't have those freestylers."

Cougars freshman Jessica Simunek won the 100 butterfly, posting East's only win of the night as the Lions continued to have multiple swimmers place in later events.

The leadership of Waldner and Rolish, one of the Lions' keys this season, made sure West stayed on top.

"They just continued what they started against Vineland on Friday," Sweeten said. "Those two love this team so much that they don't do what they do because they want to see great numbers for themselves. They know that if they get the job done, they can single-handedly put us in such a great position to win."

Waldner and Rolish both admitted that their goal heading into the season was to beat Vineland, but they are focused and excited as the Lions continue their march in the playoffs.

"I think winning at states would be the icing on the cake to a great season," Waldner said. "Vineland is the best and we knew that we had to get through them if we had hopes of winning a state title. And now that we've done that, every win for us is icing on the cake."

Reach Andre Watson at (856) 486-2424 or jamwatson@courierpostonline.com