Now that the invitational season is just about complete - only the Burlington County Open remains - it's time to turn our attention to the state team tournament.

The brackets were released this week with action due to start next Wednesday. While the seeding didn't produce any surprises, there are some interesting matchups on tap and more on the horizon if the tournament follows true to form. Public A

First-round matchups at the bottom of the bracket have sixth-seeded Cherry Hill East at third-seeded Mainland and seventh-seeded Eastern at second-seeded Cherry Hill West. Should the higher seeds win, this sectional semifinal would have the Mustangs, No. 3 in the Courier-Post Top 10, facing the second-ranked Lions.

Awaiting the winner will be the four-time defending Public A state champion Vineland, and if the Fighting Clan's performance at the Cape-Atlantic Individual championship meet is any indication, they'll be ready.

Rancocas Valley is seeded third in the Central Jersey section. The Red Devils host Ocean Township in a first-round matchup. A victory there and they'll likely face the two-seed Lawrence. The top seed is West Windsor Plainsboro South. Division B

An interesting first-round matchup pits fifth-seeded Kingsway at undefeated, fourth-seeded Woodstown. The Dragons will be out to avenge an earlier loss to the Wolverines.

The sectional final is shaping up as a repeat of last year's matchup between top-seed Haddonfield and defending sectional champion Moorestown, which is seeded second. Non-Public A Holy Spirit is the only South Jersey representative and travels to Monsignor Donovan for its first-round matchup. The winner gets Immaculate Heart, the top-seed and 11-time defending state champion. Non-Public B

For the first time in a while, we have a full bracket. Could that have something to do with Mount St. Mary's moving up to Non-Public A this year?

The first round has sixth-seeded Wildwood Catholic traveling to Bishop Eustace, the third seed, and Our Lady of Mercy Academy, the seventh seed, hitting the road to meet the second seed, Mount St. Dominic. One local team will obviously make the state semifinal, whether they get any further remains to be seen.

Academy of St. Elizabeth is the top seed and the only school in the group that power pointed over 3,000. It has 3,394. Vikings win

Just one more brick in the foundation, but Eastern took another step in establishing a swimming tradition.

Despite only winning one event, the 200 medley relay, the Vikings captured the team title at the South Jersey Swim League Championship Meet.

"We shot for it and we got it," Eastern coach Bill Fulton said. "It was a nice meet. I am proud of the girls. I told them before the meet, `I put a lineup together to win the meet. It's up to you.' "

The Vikings placed well throughout the meet. Emily Reichard and Monica Dawydowych finished third and seventh in the 200 free; Shannon Silber (this is correct sp) and Molly Dilks were fourth and fifth in the 50 free and second and seventh in the 100 free; Sarah Beggs was second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 100 backstroke, where Dawydowych was eighth.

The senior Reichard and Jacquie Ward, a freshman, finished second and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. Record day

Records fell like dominoes at the Cape-Atlantic Individual Championship Meet this week.

Mainland's sensation freshman, Joanna Thomas, smashed two marks. She went 2:06.44 in the 200-meter free, breaking the record set by Atlantic City's Moira McCloskey by four seconds and won the 500 in 5:31.97, destroying the record set by Millville's Amanda Smaniotto by nearly 24 seconds.

Egg Harbor Township's Sara Czar won the 100 free in 58.33, eclipsing the mark set by Mainland's Emily Bateman by six-tenths of a second.

The Vineland relays established new marks in all three and took it a step further by breaking a national mark in the 200 free relay.

Victoria Bonifield, Stevie Anderson, Sabrina Warren and Tiffany Malatesta won in 1:49.82, breaking the public school meters record set by the Mainland team of Kelley Nugent, Erin Sawyer, Debbie Bateman and Emily Bateman of 1:50.95 in 2002.

Kingsway kids

At the recently completed Gloucester County Championships and Tri-County All-Star meet, Stephanie McAllister, Cassie Tubb and Skyler Lindsey demonstrated why the Dragons have high hopes for the upcoming state tournament.

McAllister did her best time (1:01.55) in winning the 100 butterfly at the Gloucester County meet and won the same race at the Tri-County meet.

Tubb, swimming despite having pneumonia, won the 100 breaststroke at both meets, while Lindsey won the diving competition at the Tri-County meet and also anchored the 200 medley relay to victory.

"Stephanie has swam high school career bests this year in the IM, butterfly and backstroke and has qualified for states in all three events," Kingsway coach Anthony Fitzpatrick said.

"Cassie has been very consistent this year and has developed into a more all-around swimmer.

"Skyler is just a true athlete. In addition to diving and swimming the 50 she has done the butterfly, IM and breaststroke for us. It is because of her athleticism she is able to get through every race and be successful."