PCTI having successful swim season

BY ROSE SGARLATO
WEST MILFORD — West Milford teenagers Toniann Feigel, Jake De Marco, Garrett Pilkington and Mary Pilkington have been competitively swimming for more than half their lives. When it came time to attend high school a few years ago, this gang chose to leave their hometown to find a pool at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne.

Known as PCTI, the vocational public high school has about 3,200 students from all parts of Passaic County. And although the school opened 40 years ago, the pool is considered relatively new at 10-years-old, making it a major attraction for swimmers and coaches.

In addition to swimming for the PCTI Bulldogs, the students simultaneously swim for local club teams. They each practice on a daily basis after school going from the PCTI pool to their club team pools. The swimmers have meets once a week and competitions on the weekends.

Senior Toniann Feigel is the captain of the girls’ team at PCTI and is also on Bluestreaks club team out of the Wayne YMCA. Her favorite races are the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Butterfly.

“I basically swim seven days a week,” said Toniann. “ I have a love-hate relationship with it because not being able to see my other friends can be tough. But at the same time, I could never let go of it, and most of my closest friends are swimmers. They are like family.”

And Toniann is enjoying the new challenge of being a captain this year.

“You need to have communication skills and also be compassionate. You have to learn how to adjust to it, “ she said.

In early January, PCTI’s girls’ team took third overall in the Passaic County championship, losing to Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley, according to girls coach. Laura Zuck.

“It’s fun because it’s very competitive. It’s been a great season so far,” said Zuck.

One of Toniann and Zuck’s goals for the girls’ team was to win state championships, but the Bulldogs were recently eliminated in the second round to Montclair.

Toniann’s counterpart is PCTI boys captain and senior Garrett Pilkington who swims also for the Skyy Swim team out of Lyndhurst. Garrett has about an hour in between daily practices to get from one pool to another. He manages to fit in his homework and dinner.

“Sometimes I think I might be missing out. I don’t get to do much during the week,” said Garrett.

But his passion for swimming overcomes whatever loss he may temporarily feel. His personal specialty is the 500-meter distance freestyle.

“I am mainly trying to drop times in all my events," he said. "The boys team overall is having one of the best years out of the last three. Everyone’s gotten faster.”

Garrett hails from a swim family. His sister Mary, a freshman, is also on the team and is already setting records.

“My uncle got me into swimming. My mom is a swimmer, and she got my sister into it too,” he said.

Garrett is also enjoying his new role as captain.

“It’s cool being able to listen to my coaches and give input.”

Academically speaking, Garrett is very satisfied with PCTI. He majors in electrical technology and believes that the variety of shops available offers a unique opportunity for kids his age.

“I like PCTI a lot; the whole feel of it. It’s a really big school, and everything is pretty up to date, and you can major in any shop you want,” he said.

Sophomore Jake De Marco started competing at 4-years-old in local lakes. He also swims for NJ Flyers in Lyndhurst and Bluestreaks of Wayne.

On top of practicing every night, De Marco hits the gym to lift weights. His favorite event is the freestyle. He is presently trying to beat his record of 52.11 in the 100-meter freestyle.

“I like being with the team and trying to achieve lower times,” he said.

He has no regrets about not attending West Milford High School.

“In the beginning it was hard leaving West Milford, but once I joined the team I made new friends.”

Unlike his counterparts, Jake also plays lacrosse for PCTI in the spring, but wants to pursue swimming in college. And seniors Toniann and Garrett are waiting to hear from a few select universities on swim scholarships. No decisions have been made.

The boys recently beat Pascack Valley in the semi-finals and are now in the finals against the winner of Livingston vs. Montclair.

To date and overall, records are being historically set with the girls at 9-4-1 and the boys at 13-0.

Boys coach Denise Aronson who strategizes to refine technique and strokes is very pleased with the season and credits PCTI for attracting a lot of great swimmers.

“We can pull from anywhere in the county. Most of our swimmers swim all year round," said Aronson. "They are doing awesome,”