Seton Hall Prep narrowly defeated Delbarton in a close swim meet, highlighting the fierce rivalry between the two New Jersey schools.
On Friday at NJIT in Newark, the Pirates - ranked No. 9 in the NJ.com Top 20 - were tied at 62 with No. 10 Delbarton with three races to go. Seton Hall Prep came into the meet with 100 or more points registered in every contest this winter, but that cushion wasn’t as present this time around. The Pirates had a slim lead all night, but a Delbarton first-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay by 0.21 seconds knotted up the intense bout between two Non-Public rivals.
Pirates junior Alex Buftea dipped into the water as the middle-lane swimmer for the decisive backstroke race, knowing very well what an event win would mean for his squad. Buftea, trailing more than halfway through the 100 back, made an overtake in the final seconds of the event, timing out at 55.11 in a 0.27-second victory to give Seton Hall Prep the lead once again at 71-69. “In those last 15 yards, I saw him out of the corner of my eye. At that point, the meet was super close and I had to turn up the jets one last time. Just one more effort,” Buftea said. The Pirates were not giving up that lead following the Buftea performance. Connor O’Neill placed first in the breaststroke at 58.05 to give SHP an eight-point lead going into the final relay. Seton Hall Prep staved off a quick and determined Delbarton team, holding on for an 86-84 win to improve to 4-0.Delbarton head coach Patrick Savidge (far right) and Seton Hall Prep head coach Christopher Boyle (far left) cheer on their swimmers during the 400 yard freestyle relay during the boys swim meet at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ on Friday, January 3, 2025.“Across all sports, these two schools are rivals, so that makes it really fun,” Buftea said. Buftea was key earlier in the meet, too. He flew to a personal high school-best 47.09 clip in the 100 freestyle to guide Seton Hall Prep to a 51-43 lead, which was their largest margin on Friday. Delbarton’s Max Ciechanowski was right behind Buftea at 48
Swimming High School Sports Rivalry Seton Hall Prep Delbarton
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Delbarton Rallies Past Seton Hall Prep in Gordon Cup FinalDelbarton's ice hockey team defeated Seton Hall Prep in the Gordon Cup final, showcasing resilience after facing a challenge from the Prep team. The Green Wave bounced back from a late second-period tie to secure a lead heading into the third period.
Read more »
Seton Hall Prep Wins Governor's Challenge ChampionshipLed by sophomore guard Anthony Gonzalez's 14 points, Seton Hall Prep defeated St. George's Tech of Delaware, 64-46, to capture the championship of Bracket 12 at the 42nd Governor's Challenge. Gonzalez also dished out five assists in the victory, while junior forward Alex Ante and junior guard Daniel Beazer each scored 10 points.
Read more »
Seton Hall visits Xavier after loss to GeorgetownSeton Hall will face Xavier in a men's college basketball game after losing to Georgetown. The article highlights key stats and player performances for both teams.
Read more »
Chris Hatfield's College Basketball Picks: Xavier vs. Seton Hall PreviewThis article analyzes the upcoming college basketball game between Xavier Musketeers and Seton Hall Pirates. Chris Hatfield, a college basketball betting expert, provides insights and predictions, focusing on Seton Hall's offensive struggles and Xavier's defensive strengths.
Read more »
Seton Hall Coach Shaheen Holloway Grapples with Offensive StrugglesSeton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway is facing significant challenges with his team's offense. The Pirates are struggling to score, ranking last in the Big East and 347th out of 355 Division 1 teams. Holloway is searching for answers at key positions, including point guard, front court, and closer. The team's recent eight-player transfer spree has not yielded the expected results, with many transfers failing to contribute significantly. Key player, guard Isaiah Coleman, has also been hampered by a knee injury. The offensive woes culminated in a heartbreaking loss against Georgetown where Seton Hall couldn't even get a shot off in the final seconds.
Read more »
Seton Hall falls to Georgetown for 4th straight loss despite career night from Isaiah ColemanSeton Hall hosted Georgetown in its Big East home opener.
Read more »