Jersey Shore and Wellsboro have a healthy rivalry. Up to 2010, the black and orange were at the top of their game, winning several Bald Eagle Swim League (BESL) Championships and dual meets over Wellsboro. But for the past couple of years, it is now Jersey Shore that is trying to figure a way to regain form and topple Wellsboro in dual meets, Championships, and All-Stars.
Shore's Jamie Mason (swimmer on left) in dead heat with Loyalsock's Julia Arnold in the girls 15-and-under 100 meter butterfly |
Not only is there a team rivalry, but individual rivalries between the two clubs. The one to watch at the moment is between Jersey Shore's 12-and-under Sam Keegan and Wellsboro's Jillian Berguson in the 50 breaststroke. During the regular season, Berguson beat Keegan by 43/100s of a second. Keegan turned the tables and won by 22/100s at BESL Championships. The two got to settle the series at the BESL All-Stars where Berguson won by just 21/100s of a second. Keegan still captured a swimming title with a win in the 100 meter freestyle. Her 12-and-under teammates also captured All-Star titles with Emma Butzler in the 100 meter individual medley, Gabbie Moore in the 50 meter backstroke, and Kendra White a dual winner in the 50 meter freestyle and butterfly.
Shore's Meeghan Keegan captured two events in the 8-and-under 25 meter breaststroke and butterfly while 15-and-over Jamie Mason won the 100 meter freestyle. Keegan, along with Taylor Fleming, Gabbie Moore, Olivia Edler, and Mason easily won the girls 300 meter crescendo freestyle relay.
Jersey Shore's individual rivalries also exist closer to home. Lock Haven's 10-and-under Avery Mahoney and Shore's Isabelle Griswold have fought each other tight, to the finish line, in the 25 yard freestyle throughout the summer swim season. In the regular season match-up, Mahoney won by 64/100s of second but the time separation shrunk to 57/100s in their match-up in BESL Championships. Their third match-up of the summer season occurred at All-Stars where once again, Mahoney held off Griswold, but this time only by 39/100s of a second. Mahoney did go on to also win the 25 meter backstroke over Wellsboro's Caitlyn Callahan.
Jersey Shore's Olivia Bellomo coming off the turn in the girls 14-and-under 50 meter breaststroke. |