Swim Team Captures Skyland Conference Title; Coach Decker Named NJSIAA Coach of the Year

Congratulations are in order as the Mount Saint Mary Academy Swim team and Coach Megan Decker have made quite a splash in their accomplishments! The team captured the 2023 Skyland Conference Championship with a 1st Place designation on January 14. Coach Decker was named 2021-2022 State Coach of the Year by the NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association). 

“The girls were thrilled to win the Skyland Conference Championship again this year. They’ve been working hard and deserved every bit of this repeat title,” said Coach Decker. “It is an honor to receive the State Coach Award at the national level. The Mount swimmers make this award even more rewarding with their fun attitudes, positive outlook, dedication, and hard work year after year.” 

After the retirement of Kevin Mahoney from the Mount's swim program following the 2011-2012 season, Coach Decker took the reins and immediately continued the team's success, winning a state championship in her first season as head coach (2012-2013). Under her guidance for the last decade, the team has added two NJSIAA state championships, two NJISAA prep state championships, one Somerset County championship, three Skyland Conference championships, and two Skyland Conference division titles. Coach Decker was named NJ.com’s Girls Swimming Coach of the Year for the Lions’ 2021-2022 campaign that saw them compile a 10-1 record and a clean sweep in championship competition: NJSIAA state champions, NJISAA prep state champions, Somerset County champions, Skyland Conference champions, and Skyland Conference Raritan Division regular-season champions.

Competing in the January 14 meet were: Dani Carter (1^st 50 free/2^nd 100 free), Emily Castela, Olivia Chow (1^st 200 IM/2^nd 100 backstroke), Meghan Dwyer (7^th 200 free/8^th 100 fly), Haley Lamont, Sophia Latini (9^th 200 IM/2^nd 100 fly), Kayla Marion (7^th 100 fly), Livia Minaides (11^th 50 free/10^th 100 free), Sofiya Piede (personal best time/100 breaststroke), Catherine Ritter (2^nd 50 free/5^th 100 free), Zoe Tseng (6^th 500 free), and Annie Zwally (11^th 50 free)

 

The team also placed: 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay (Chow, Marion, Latini, Ritter); 1st in the 200 Free Relay (Latini, Marion, Dwyer, Carter); and 1st in the 400 Free Relay (Ritter, Chow, Dwyer, Carter)