The Hopewell Valley Central High School swim team set all three boys’ relay records this season, marking the first time in school history that all three relay records were broken in a single season. Two of the records had stood for eight years, while the third dated back to 2010
Breaking Records
Hopewell’s relay teams set new records in all three relay events:
- 200-yard medley relay – Bryson Himmelheber, sophomore; Niall Brogan, sophomore; Tyler Mac, senior; Joseph Castadot, sophomore – 1:40.64
- 200-yard freestyle relay – Joseph Castadot, sophomore; Bryson Himmelheber, sophomore; Niall Brogan, sophomore; Tyler Mac, senior – 1:31.60
- 400-yard freestyle relay – Tyler Mac, senior; Bryson Himmelheber, sophomore; Colin Subhan, junior; Joseph Castadot, sophomore – 3:20.24
Many of the relay members have been swimming together since elementary school with the Barracudas Swim Team at the Hopewell Tennis and Swim Center. They also train with club programs like the Hamilton Area YMCA and Whitewaters Swimming.
A Season to Remember
“As coaches, it means a lot to our program breaking all three relay records in one season. It is really a group effort from all three coaches in getting these kids ready and bought into the program’s standards both in and out of the pool,” head coach Denny Atkinson said. The team is coached by Atkinson and Olivia Kochis, with assistant coach Lauren Ashman.
Atkinson described the dual meet when the 200-yard medley relay team broke the school record. Teammates lined the edge of the pool, cheering as each swimmer dove in. The final touch sent the pool deck into an eruption of cheers.
“They have inspired the team to work harder to promote personal growth and program development,” Atkinson said.
The boys’ team finished the regular season 6-3, including a victory over Notre Dame for the first time in more than 15 years and wins against rivals Lawrence and Pennington for the second consecutive year. Their efforts earned them the No. 5 seed in the NJSIAA North II Group B state tournament, where they defeated Red Bank Regional before falling to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the quarterfinals.
Commitment Beyond High School
Individually, Castadot qualified for the Meet of Champions in the 50-yard freestyle. While no individual school records were broken, the team is closing in on those marks and hopes to set new ones in the coming seasons.
All five relay team members will compete in their club championships this month before taking a short break and resuming training for the spring and summer. Their dedication to the sport, with multiple training sessions a day across high school and club teams, has played a pivotal role in their success.
Program Growth
Atkinson has seen significant growth in the program since taking over. “When I first started, we had just over 30 swimmers combined between the boys and girls teams. Now, we consistently have over 40 each season. It’s a testament to the kids for buying in and supporting a positive environment that welcomes swimmers at all levels,” he said.
“One of my favorite aspects of this program is that the team welcomes everyone, regardless of ability or strength in the water,” Oliva Kochis, a Hopewell Valley alumna said. “My hope is that the team continues to grow not only in numbers, but in heart. The Hopewell Valley Swim Team is strong and only continuing to strengthen.”
The team’s achievements will be recognized on the record board at the high school. While Hopewell does not have an on-campus pool, the school acknowledged the relay team’s accomplishment with announcements and a celebration at the team banquet.
Looking Ahead
The team will lose seniors Mac and Matteo Piccarillo, but the foundation remains strong with returning swimmers.
“Losing Tyler and Matteo will hurt, but our guys are hungry to continue to swim fast,” Atkinson said. “The foundation of our program is there, and kids want to keep swimming and training in the offseason more than ever. If they keep working hard, we will be right back to breaking more records and pushing further in competition.”
For Mac, the team’s legacy means everything. “Swimming on this team has always been in pursuit of greatness both personally and as a collective. We spend countless hours not only training ourselves as swimmers, but each other as a team who is capable of anything. This record-breaking season perfectly showcases the results of our efforts,” he said.
Mac, who is undecided on his college choice, plans to continue swimming, likely at the Division III level.
