The Bunting Family Pharmacy Athlete of the Week can’t always be measured simply by statistics. This week, Glory Days Magazine recognizes a couple of seniors who have played key roles throughout the season for their respective swimming teams. Aly Chain has been one of the leaders of the Ocean City girls team for the past several seasons, and this year helped the Red Raiders defend their South Jersey title. But the best was yet to come, as Chain and the Raiders knocked off Chatham in the state championship meet, 86-84, on Saturday to capture the first girls swimming state title in school history. 
James Gallagher, center, holds the state championship trophy Mainland won on Sunday along with teammates Mike Juliano, left, and Derek Kneisel. Gallagher has been the rock for the Mustangs all season long, and led by Gallagher and fellow seniors Juliano and Derek Kneisel, Mainland went 15-0 and scored less than 100 points in just two meets all season, capturing the school’s first boys swimming state championship since 2003. “This is probably the pinnacle of my whole high school career. I’ve never felt this kind of joy. When I heard we had 85 points (enough to win), I couldn’t keep down the smile or the tears. My emotions kind of overtook me a little bit,” Gallagher said following the win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood. “This is something I’ve dreamed about. It was kind of the perfect storm. Especially for this to happen my senior year, this is the kind of thing that’s only supposed to happen in stories. To keep building up every year, and then all of a sudden to win a state championship and go out on top, it’s something I’ve always wanted — to ride off into the sunset like that.”
— Dave O’Sullivan, Publisher
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