By CHARLIE SPRANG
Courier-Post Staff

The day has finally come where the boys in the Cape-Atlantic League will have to share the spotlight.

This year marks the debut of the Cape-Atlantic Girls Swim League with Holy Spirit, Mainland, Atlantic City, Wildwood Catholic, Ocean City, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Millville and Absegami forming a one-division conference.

Several coaches agree it's an idea whose time has come.

"It's about time," Holy Spirit coach Mike Schiavo said.

"I like it," Mainland High School girls' coach John Rakowski said. "It gives the girls something to shoot for."

"I think it's just part of the natural evolution of the Cape-Atlantic League," Wildwood Catholic coach John McGrody said. "It had to happen. All these years the girls had to compete against the guys. Now they get to compete just against other girls. It's exciting."

The historic first meet was held opening day when Holy Spirit hosted Absegami. The record will show Holy Spirit won the meet handily, 122-54, but what it won't show is the historical significance for the Cape-Atlantic League and girls' swimming in South Jersey.

"I think it really hit the girls how historic that day really was," Schiavo said. "When you think of all the girls that came before them that didn't have this opportunity, it's awesome."

It took the better part of two years to get to this point. First, officials had to work within the framework of the league by-laws. Then, they had to work out a schedule.

"It seemed like there was one obstacle after another," Schiavo said. "But we got it done."

It appears as if Egg Harbor Township and Oakcrest will field girls' teams next year.

Vineland is another story. Winners of four straight Public A state championships and perennially one of the state's top teams, the Fighting Clan have been granted a two-year exemption and will remain in the South Jersey Girls Swim League although they will continue to participate in the Cape-Atlantic Individual Championship meet under an agreement reached among the league's athletic directors.

But gone, for the most part, are the days when girls were just cheerleaders at coed meets, generally reduced to filling the outside lanes and rarely counted on to play significant roles.

Now they will be on equal ground with the boys.

"I think you're going to see more and more girls making the commitment to the sport," Schiavo said. "I think it really enhances the feeling of team - not just in South Jersey and on the state level, but now especially on the local level."

Next year look for the Tri-County Conference to split as well. It fell one team short this season with Gloucester Catholic, Woodstown, Kingsway, Clearview, Glassboro, and Cumberland fielding girls' programs as girls' swimming continues to grow.