The Saint Augustine Preparatory School and Our Lady of Mercy Academy high school swimming teams certainly have their similarities when it comes to winning traditions.
Strength, power, chemistry and a lot of speed are generously spread among the lineups of both schools.
It was all on display Feb. 16 as both competed in the Non-Public South championships at the Neptune Aquatic Center. Saint Augustine Prep lifted the sectional championship trophy and punched its ticket to compete for a state title Feb. 22 at Rutgers University. Although OLMA’s season ended by a razor thin margin, both schools could hold their heads high on the long bus rides home to their respective schools.
In the morning session, Saint Augustine Prep continued its most dominant stretch in school history, as the three-time defending state champs won their 39th straight dual meet by clobbering Christian Brothers Academy 127.5-42.5 to win the South Jersey championship.
“I think we have our best team here in all my years swimming,” said senior Ben Stanker. “We’re all really close, and we’re a big family here. We have great potential to show the state what we are capable of doing.”
The Hermits (8-0) won 10 of the 11 races, including a one-two finish in two of the three relays. Saint Augustine also swept the 500 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, seizing the top three spots.
“We have a big senior class with a lot of depth swimmers that are reliable,” Stanker said. “But what’s been surprising is [that] we’ve had a lot of freshmen and sophomores show up who have been able to step into the outside lanes and compete with our top swimmers. Those third- and fourth-place finishes are big in a close meet.”
Luke Bickett (200 individual medley, 500 free), Alex Morrison (50 free, 100 breast) and Christian Shenk (200 free, 100 back) won two individual events apiece; Frank Ferzetti won the 100 free.
The Hermits will go for their 40th straight win in the state final against North Jersey winner Delbarton on Feb. 22. The winning streak dates back four years, so no current team member has ever lost a meet. The seniors want to keep it that way.
“It’s exciting,” said senior Jonah Alvarez. “I remember coming in as a freshman and knowing that we were going to have a great squad for a while, but I didn’t think it would last this long. We had swimmers who were not very fast their freshman year, really step up. We really developed as a team.”
“I think it would be amazing to seal the deal,” Alvarez said of the chance to go undefeated over a four-year span. “Four-for-four is crazy. It would be awesome to win it together.”
OLMA ends season with two ties in one meet
Our Lady of Mercy Academy has also become a perennial power, winning state championships in 2023 and 2025. Their showdown with Trinity Hall went down to the wire as expected, but the Villagers suffered an 87-83 loss in the most unexpected fashion. It included two ties among the 11 races — something almost unheard of in the sport.
“Two ties in a meet? I can’t remember the last time I had two ties in a season – or maybe my whole swimming life,” OLMA coach Stephen Tucker said. “But both teams swam awesome today. Credit Trinity Hall. They swam fantastic, and we’re just going to look back at it and be thankful that we got to this point of the season, and that we’re able to compete at the level that we did. It was their turn today, and we credit them.”
The two teams have met in the state semifinal the last three seasons. Trinity Hall won in 2024, and the Villagers got their revenge last year before beating Immaculate Heart Academy in the state championship last year.
The teams were tied 62-62 after eight events, but the Monarchs jumped ahead in a pivotal backstroke event with a one-two finish. The Villagers won the last two races but couldn’t overcome the eight-point deficit.
“Today, I’m just super proud of the girls,” OLMA senior Gia DiLeonardo said. “It wasn’t the outcome we wanted. We still put our hearts out in the pool and gave it everything we had. It was the best four years I could have ever experienced. Great coaches, great team, great girls. I couldn’t wish for another team.”
Oddly enough, DiLeonardo was involved in both ties during the meet. After winning the 50 free, DiLeonardo caught Trinity Hall’s Reese Biggie in the 100 free for a simultaneous tap on the wall. Then DiLeonardo was part of the 200 free relay that also ended up in a tie for first place.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” DiLeonardo said. “I was like, ‘What happened?’ It showed how close that meet was. We all wanted it really bad today.”
The Villagers won seven events including the other two relays. Rhiannon Stanker won the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, while Ella Cummins was also a double winner (200 free, 500 free). OLMA finished the season 7-1 and is 32-3-1 over the last four years.
“The girls know what’s at stake. They know what has to happen … but they don’t take it for granted,” Tucker said. “They appreciate the opportunity and being here together as a team and as a unit.”
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