The magical ride for the Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls’ swim team was capped with a state championship.
On Wednesday morning, February 25, the Bridgewater-Raritan girls’ team, ranked third in New Jersey, captured the Group A state championship with a convincing 102.5-67.5 victory over 10th-ranked Cherry Hill High School East.
The state championship was the sixth for the Bridgewater-Raritan girls’ swim program, and its first since 2019. Bridgewater-Raritan, coached by Chris Levin, ended this season with a 12-1 record.
In the same pool at the Neptune Aquatic Center and at the same time in the double dual on February 25, the top-ranked Bridgewater-Raritan boys’ team soared past fourth-ranked Hillsborough High School, 108-62, for the Group A state championship.
That result gave the Bridgewater-Raritan boys’ program its fifth state title and first since 2018.
Bridgewater-Raritan's girls’ state title route was fueled by its 86-85 victory over its Somerset County rival, Hillsborough High School, in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group A state sectional semifinal on February 9 in Hillsborough. Bridgewater-Raritan was ranked eighth, and Hillsborough was ranked No. 2 entering that showdown.
That victory was significant, as the only loss Bridgewater-Raritan had suffered all winter came against Hillsborough, 98-72, on January 13, also in Hillsborough. Hillsborough ended with a 9-1 record.
That victory ignited Bridgewater-Raritan, which then knocked out sixth-ranked and rival Westfield High School, 93.5-76.5, in the state sectional final on February 12 and then dominated No. 17 East Brunswick, 100-70, in the state semifinals on February 19.