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Record Setters: Tri-County swimming champions www.southjerseysportsweekly.com

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AUG. 14-20, 2019

REAL JERSEY FC COLLECTS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Medford-based soccer team, runner-up in the national finals a year ago, beat a regional rival in this year’s title game

By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor

The secret of the success of the Medford-based 15U Real Jersey FC soccer team that traveled halfway across the country to claim a national championship?

It just might be the yoga.

Real Jersey FC coach Jon Kopytko

made arrangements for his team to have regular visits to Darling Yoga during the team’s weeklong stay in Overland Park, Kansas, last month.

Yoga instructor Victor Roberts kept the growing teenagers’ limbs in tip-top shape for the club’s biggest week of the season.

“This was a business trip,” Kopytko said when asked if the team of 14- and

15-year-olds did any team bonding or sightseeing in Kansas. “We met up with a great yoga instructor that helped with our recovery and stretching, and I think that paid significant dividends. I think our boys felt as fresh as they ever have going into that last game. (Roberts) was phenomenal. He told the boys what to eat, when to eat please see CHAMPIONS, page 3 Special to The Sun

The Medford-based 15U Real Jersey FC soccer team won it all in its third straight trip to nationals last month in Kansas. The team is made up of 19 kids from all across South Jersey, including Tyler Davidson, Andrew Kitch, Charles Kitch and Braden Short (Medford), Matthew Marino and Jakub Samelko (Cherry Hill), Luke Carey (Berlin), Felipe Fernandez (Mullica Hill), Cade McGrath (Moorestown), Miguel Graterol (Marlton), Noah Pollack (Tunersville), Nick Yushchak (Voorhees), Lincoln Ormsby (Maple Shade), Thomas Napoli and Joseph Cino (Linwood), Milton Jones (Glassboro), Angus Kenson (Riverton), Ryan Kuldanek (Tinton Falls) and Jonathan Leary (Haddon Heights).

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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — AUG. 14-20, 2019

Swimmers smash records at Tri-County Championships Green-Fields wins team award, seven records also fall during weekend event

By MATTHEW SHINKLE Staff Writer

In the midst of a hot summer weekend, hundreds of South Jersey swimmers competed at the 2019 Tri-County Swimming Championships at Green-Fields Swim Club in West Deptford in the quest for the Sue Flynn Championship Trophy.

After more than 100 races were over, seven Tri-County records were be broken, leaving

multiple athletes with plenty to celebrate.

Sunnybrook Swim Club’s Christina Levins broke two records on the final day of the championships, both as an individual, in the girls 15-18 50meter breaststroke, and in a relay event, in the girls 15-18 200-meter medley relay, alongside teammates Janey Galski, Katerina Poulathas and Catie Shawaryn.

Levins, about to enter her junior year, has been with Sunnybrook for the past three years, while also competing in the TriCounty Championships with other clubs for approximately the past 10 years.

Despite having competed for many years, she says she please see SWIM, page 4

MATTHEW SHINKLE/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Green-Fields Swim Club’s Peyton Ward, Jack Ruggieri, Nathan Jess and Nolan Jess, left to right, hold the Sue Flynn Championship Trophy after winning the team championship. The four won the weekend’s final race in the 15-18 boys medley 200-meter free relay.

AUG. 14-20, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY

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CHAMPIONS

it, to drink to refuel. ... I really feel continued from page 1 like it paid off for the boys.”

Two days after a recovery session at Darling Yoga, held on the only day off the team had during its stay in the last week of July, Real Jersey FC was crowned the 15U Boys national champions at the United States Youth Soccer National Championships.

After a scoreless first half, Moorestown’s Cade McGrath broke through the defense and out-maneuvered the goalkeeper on a breakaway to deliver what would stand as the game-winning goal. Real Jersey FC defeated PA Dominion (a team based in Montgomery County, Pa.), 2-0, in the championship game.

“I’m definitely not the easiest coach to play for,” Kopytko, a 2004 graduate of Eastern Regional High School, said with a laugh.

“All of the stuff they have to put up with me over the year, they take it on the chin. For them to persevere and be able to win a national championship through the course of all the ups and downs throughout the year, it was great to see. My first thought at the end, as the final whistle blew, was how proud I was of the boys and how much they earned it.”

The victory was significant for a couple of reasons for the 19 kids from all across South Jersey who make up Real Jersey FC’s roster.

For one, they had lost to PA Dominion in the finals at regionals, so payback on a bigger stage was sweet. This was also the team’s third straight trip to nationals; it finished in third place two years ago and was runner-up last summer.

Kopytko still remembers his words in the postgame huddle after that defeat.

“When we got together right after we lost, right after shaking hands, I told them I wanted them to remember this moment,” he said.

“I know it hurts, and I know it stings, but this is what will drive us and fuel us to get back here a year later.”

The experience of playing at nationals in each of the last two years was clearly crucial. Real Jersey FC knew what to expect and wouldn’t become overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. The yoga sessions surely helped, too. And then there was each player's determination to maximize their opportunity to make club history.

“It’s hard to think about it from the outside looking in, because a lot of people talk about the talent that we do have, which is true and earned, but my favorite thing about this team is the character,” Kopytko said.

“They’re really good kids, they’re funny kids. I’ve had them for three years now, and as you watch them and hear their conversations, sometimes you get caught in between being a coach and a big brother. I’m their coach, but at the end of the day with their personalities and their character it’s hard not to adore the boys.” ■

Host team Green-Fields Swim Club won the 2019 TriRonald Trampe of the Pomona Swim Team dives into the County Swimming championships with 905.5 points, with water.

Deer Brook Swimming (742) coming in second and Pomona Swim Club (657) finishing in third.

Willowdale Swim Club walks out during the Parade of Champions on day two of the championships.

Willowdale Swim Club's Sammy Yerkes compete during the girls 13-14 100-meter I.M. Yerkes would win the event win a final time of 1:06.75.

MATTHEW SHINKLE/South Jersey Sports Weekly

Hundreds of South Jersey swimmers from more than 30 teams competed in the 2019 Tri-County Swimming Championships Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and 4 at Green-Fields Swim Club. Multiple individuals broke existing records during the weekend.

Colin Seybold, Madeline Seybold and Caden Bindig of the Voorhees Swim Club hold the teams banner.

Sunnybrook Swim Club teammates Christina Levins, Janey Galski, Catie Shawaryn and Katerina Poulathas hold their certificates after breaking the girls 15-18 200-meter medley relay record.

Members of the Green-Fields Swim Club celebrate in Old Orchard swimmer Jack Behm (front) leads during the the pool after winning the 2019 Tri-County Swimming boys 12-and-under 100-meter I.M., while Nathan Schnell Championships. of Green-Fields Swim Club battles from behind.

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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — AUG. 7-13, 2019

SWIM

continued from page 2 was slightly nervous heading into the meet due to being the youngest age in her age group.

“I was definitely nervous since I’m at the bottom of the age group – knowing I have to go up against 18-year-olds,” said Levins. “But despite that, at the same time, we were pretty confident with our rankings going in.”

Levins said she was excited to break both records for multiple reasons.

“The relay team has me and a few other 15-year-olds that just moved up, but it was also exciting that we were able to break the record with a senior on the [relay] team for her last year with us,” said Levins. “And then individually, it was also really exciting to have broken the record so young, because hopefully I can just keep getting better.”

Meanwhile, Willowdale Swim Club’s Ryan Cortes also broke two meet records over the weekend. About to enter his freshman year at Cherry Hill East, Cortes has been with Willowdale for four seasons, having joined to find better competition and coaching.

Cortes went into the weekend looking forward to simply being able to compete the hardest he possibly could.

“I want to win, but I don’t expect anything specific from myself,” said Cortes. “What I do is what I do.”

Cortes broke the Tri-County record in the boys 13-14 100meter individual medley with a time of 1:01.17, which was a race he knew would be a definite challenge going in.

“Well, I knew the I.M. would be a good challenge because I had Cole Jennings (from Wenonah Swim Club) to race,” said Cortes. “I knew he was going to try to stick with me for the first 50 meters and try to beat me in the breaststroke, because that’s my least comfortable stroke and I’m not as efficient in it. My first 50 meters is my strongest; I knew I had to go out fast and then hold in the breaststroke and then go out in the freestyle to get that record. It was a hard record to get, I’m not going to

lie.”

Additionally, Cortes was a part of the Willowdale team to break the 13-14 200-meter free relay record, alongside teammates Alex Crumpton, Josh Seidman and Miller Whartenby, with Cortes anchoring the race for the team.

“That was a very, very close race as well,” said Cortes. “I swim better when we’re a little behind so I get a little of a rush.

My team definitely did their job and their part.”

Host Green-Fields Swim Club hoisted the Sue Flynn Championship Trophy at the end of the weekend, with a score 905.5 points, becoming the only club in Tri-County history to win the championship multiple times at its home club, doing so in 1992 as well. Deer Brook Swimming (742) and Pomona (657) followed behind in second and third place, respectively.

Head coach Nancy Curtis says the coaches engrained the possibility of winning the championship at home years ago.

“It had been in the back of my mind for about the last three years, because you have to commit to hosting a championship a couple years out, there’s a lot of planning that goes in to hosting the meet,” said Curtis. “At that point, remembering back to when we hosted the last time and winning it as well, it planted the seed that wouldn’t it be great if we could do that again?

“We talked to the kids at the beginning of the year and told them that this is a once-in-alifetime opportunity to swim in your own pool and Tri-County, so lets get as many kids qualified as we can,” said Curtis.

“We ended up qualifying 65 kids, which is a rather large number.”

Having been able to win the championship surrounded by current and former swimmers from the community, some of whom helped accomplish the same feat 27 years ago, was a surreal experience, according to Curtis.

“We have just such a wonderful team this year,” said Curtis. “Wonderful swimmers and wonderful parents, and it all just came together.” ■