GLASSBORO
The South Jersey Public A girls' championship swim meet boiled down to one simple fact.

Vineland High School was just too strong and too deep.

The Fighting Clan took control of the meet with a one-three-four finish in the 50 freestyle and never let up, beating determined but out-gunned Mainland 108-62 for the sectional title.

With the win Vineland advances to Thursday's state semifinal against an opponent that will be determined once all the sectional results are in. At that point the sectional champions will be re-seeded based on how they power-pointed Monday night. Then the top seed will swim the fourth seed and two will swim three.

"Hats off to Vineland," Mainland coach John Rakowski said. "I'm happy with the girls' effort tonight. (Vineland) just had too much depth."

Just how deep is evident in the fact the Fighting Clan did not take one sixth place all night. That means everybody scored at least a point. When that happens, you usually win.

"We swam well," Vineland coach John Casadia said. "We didn't take one sixth place all night and that is excellent.

"Our seniors really stepped up. Karly Daplyn did a great job in the 200 and the 100. Kaitlin Muchler did a great job also. They can take pride in getting us to Thursday night."

After Vineland opened the meet by winning the 200 medley relay Mainland freshman sensation Joanna Thomas won the 200 free, but Vineland went 2-3-4 to outpoint the Mustangs in the event to take a 17-13 lead.

Mainland tied the meet 23-23 when Stacey Rahter and Molly McGroarty finished 1-2 in the 200 IM.

"That definitely got our attention," Vineland sophomore Stevie Anderson said. "It got Victoria (Bonifield) and I pumped up for the 50. Everybody was on the side saying, `Let's go.' We had Sarah (Mulvihill) in there too and we were all really up for it."

Anderson won in 24.85 seconds, followed by Mainland senior Debbie Bateman. But Bonifield took third and Mulvihill was fourth and suddenly Vineland was back in front, 34-28 heading into the break.

"We knew Mainland was going to challenge us in every event," Vineland's Tiffany Malatesta said. "And we like to be challenged. It gets people up. It gets us excited."

Vineland extended the lead to 45-33 when Sabrina Warren led a 1-3-4 finish in the 100 butterfly, setting the stage for a showdown in the 100 free.

The Fighting Clan loaded up with Malatesta, Anderson and Daplyn. Rakowski took a chance by using Thomas, the area's premier distance swimmer, in the race.

"I thought they would go one-two, possibly one-two-three," Rakowski said. "We had to try and break that up. You have to take chances."

Thomas swam well, but Malatesta and Anderson were just a bit better. The difference between the three was less than a second, with Malatesta winning in 53.71 seconds.

"I knew she (Thomas) swam it the last meet," Malatesta said. "I wasn't sure whether she was going to swim the 500 or the 100 or the 100 fly. But I was excited. Just to swim against Joanna, one of the best in the state, is exciting."

At that point, Vineland held a commanding 56-38 lead and the only thing left in doubt was the final score. Interestingly enough, the most exciting race of the night was the last one.

With the meet already decided, Vineland and Mainland went stroke-for-stroke in the 400 free relay, with the Mustangs team of Thomas, Molly McGroarty, Stacey Rahter and Debbie Bateman winning in 3:43.28. The winning margin was one-hundredth of a second.

It was the only time all night Vineland came out on the short end of anything.