Heartbreaker for 3-Year-Unbeaten Marlins

All good things come to an end. The Morris Plains Marlins swim team was dealt its first loss in three years, losing to Bernardsville 213-210.

Near the end of a thrilling swim meet Wednesday night at the Marlin's home pool, it appeared that the team had snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat one more time. The celebration began, but after the judges did a final review of each event, it was clear Bernardsville had put an end to the Marlin's winning ways.

But, not their spirits.

"These kids swan their hearts out," said assistant coach Corrine Cecala. "I have never seen them swim with more heart than they did today."

Her mom, coach Tina Cecala, said, "You should be proud of the way you all swam today." 

The Morris Plains Community Center pool was packed with fans and parents cheering for both sides. Among the Marlin's supporters were Mayor Frank J. Druetzler and councilman Joseph Cecala Jr.

Councilman George J. Coogan expressed how proud he was that his daughters Ellen and Amy had been a part of the "winning tradition" a few years back. They were on the Marlin's first County championship team. Clearly, the crowd was set for a clash of the titans. And these two teams did not disappoint the spectators!

Bernardsville seemed to start off strong during the early Freestyle events. However, as coach Tina Cecala later pointed out. "Things really seemed to turn around during the Butterfly events."

As the evening went on, suspense built and the cheers got more frenzied. One Bernardsville mother was so excited, she commented, "I can't take this! I'm going to wait the car!",

Then, the final events: the girls 100 Freestyle Relay and boys 100 Freestyle Relay.

Both teams and fans crowed the pool as the Marlin’s girls swam to victory during the 100 Freestyle Relay. The boys event came down to a brilliant near-photo finish, with the Bernardsville boys touching the wall just before the Morris Plains boys.   

After a brief meeting at the judges' table it seemed that the Morris Plains Marlins would go into their final meet of the year this Saturday still undefeated. The Marlins graciously thanked the visiting Bernardsville team with a rousting Marlin’s team cheer, and proceeded to crash the pool in celebration. All of the Marlins coaches “willingly” took place in the celebration after being checked for cell phones, then thrown into the pool by their jubilant team. It seemed like a storybook ending. Many of the fans left the Community Center Pool thinking the Morris Plains Marlins remained undefeated. 

Then, a further review by the judges changed everything, and the final score went in Bernardsville's favor.

The Marlins swim team seemed crushed by this loss, but not the coaches.  Each said they were proud of the effort put in by their swimmers. “The score doesn’t measure effort or heart,” coach Joe Cecala put it best.

There was still good news.

For the Marlins, three Morris Plains Community pool records were broken.  The girls 100 Freestyle Relay (step up) broke the old pool record (53.07 seconds) with a 52.68 second effort. The boys 100 Freestyle Relay (step up) also broke the old pool record (51.20 seconds) with a 51.08 finish. And, Bianca Karpinski was able to break the girls 13-14 50 Butterfly (29.35) with a 29.12 effort.    

The Marlins end their season this Saturday at the Stardust pool in Randolph. As one winning tradition ends, so another begins.