VIDEO: Middle swims past Lower Cape May in playoff meet

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The Middle Township High School boys swimming team has advanced to the next round of the state tournament.

The Panthers defeated local rival Lower Cape May, 96-74, in the opening round of the South Jersey Group C playoffs Tuesday afternoon at the Special Services School District aquatics facility.

Middle (7-5), the fifth seed in the tournament, will next swim against No. 4 Oakcrest on Friday. Lower, which competes as a coed team, finished its season at 4-6.

Brandyn Acevedo led Middle to the victory over Lower with first-place finishes in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. Other individual winners for Middle included Chase McCray (50 freestyle), Isquian Ruiz (100 backstroke) and Justen Wen (100 breaststroke). Wen and Vinny Povio were each part of two first-place relay teams. Dale Fiorucci was part of a relay victory.

Justin Melli won the 100 and 200 freestyle races for Lower. Kaitlyn Crouthamel added a first-place effort in the 500 freestyle. Melli and Crouthamel were also part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team, along with Kyle Satt and Matt Eck.

(Photos and video courtesy Jeanne Donohue/MTHS Athletics)