Ocean City Boys Swim Team Knocks Out Woodstown in Playoff Opener

Ocean City High School sophomore Michael Fiscus enjoys a close, intense race, and that’s what he got during Thursday’s 100-meter butterfly against Woodstown’s Jake Kayati.

He edged Kayati by less than a second, and his win helped keep the Ocean City High School boys’ swim team’s enjoyable and successful season alive.

Fourth-seeded Ocean City knocked off No. 5 Woodstown, 109-61, in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group B playoffs the Ocean City Aquatics and Fitness Center.

Ocean City travels to top-seeded Mainland for a semifinal matchup on Monday.

Fiscus won the butterfly in 1:02.76, while Kayati finished in 1:02.87.

“I saw him all throughout the first 50 meters, and I knew if I went at my own pace, I would get ahead of him at the end,” Fiscus said. “More often than not, my races come down to the wire, and that’s what I love, when it’s neck-in-neck.”

Fiscus also won the 200 IM (2:23.39) and was part of the 400 freestyle relay winning team (4:07.24) along with Kevin Gill, AJ Mirallegro and Frank Brady.

Gill also won the 200 freestyle (2:08.70) and the 100 backstroke (1:10.15).

Pat Cusack also won a close race for the Red Raiders, edging the Wolverines’ Chase DiGregorio in the 100 breaststroke. Cusack finished in 1:20.99, while DiGregorio’s time was 1:21.31.

Andrw Gallagher edged a teammate in the 400 freestyle, finishing 4:58.45. His teammate Patrick Kistler recorded a 4:58.48.

Mirallegro, Tom Cusack, Gill and Brady edged their own teammates in the 200 freestyle relay, finishing in 1:45.89, compared with their teammates’ 1:45.96.

Close competition between teammates helped Ocean City pick up points in the second and third positions and run away with the victory.

Ocean City is 12-2 and won the Cape-Atlantic League National Division title this season. It was the Red Raiders’ first division title since 1994.

“This is a real good year for all the work they’ve put in,” Ocean City coach Shane McGrath said. “I couldn’t be more happy.”

The team missed the playoffs last season.

“This is incredible,” Fiscus said. “Everyone is swimming much faster this year. I expected us to do better this year, but I didn’t expect us to go this far. It’s a pleasant surprise.”

Ocean City returned five seniors this year, including Mirallegro, Brady, Colby McGuinan, Sam Durham and John Simonson.