Cedar Creek quadruplets: Librizzi boys helped lead Pirates swim team to historic season

By GIUSEPPE UNGARO Managing Editor Few can imagine what it would be like to be one of four siblings — let alone being a quadruplet — like Cedar Creek High School seniors Anthony, Billy, Curtis and Danny Librizzi. Outsiders may envision a household run amok with temperamental teenagers being ultra-competitive with one another, fighting for attention, arguing about whose turn it is to drive, and about what to watch on TV. However, nothing is further from the truth when it comes to the Librizzi quadruplets. “We mesh together pretty well,” Danny said. “We have a lot of common interests. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we are brothers and get in disagreements here and there, but for the most part we get along really well. We don’t have a ton of fights or arguments or yelling in the household. We pretty much mesh well together.” If there’s any truth that the behavior of children is the reflection of their parents, then Tom and Trish Librizzi could probably teach a class on parenting. The Galloway residents may have been overwhelmed at first with the task of raising quadruplets, but by all accounts, their sons are thoughtful, sincere, polite young men. The brothers are accomplished athletes, natural leaders and standout students, setting a positive example in and out of the swimming pool. “They are great all-around young men,” Cedar Creek swim coach Scott Ferguson said. “They are always respectful and courteous. I’ve never seen them in a bad mood.” Special bond The brothers understand the interest and attention that comes with being quadruplets. Being a quadruplet is rare, but an M.I.T. professor may be needed to figure out what the odds are for two sets of quadruplets to walk the same high school hallways. The Librizzis shared the honor of being quads for three years with the Stefanskis, who graduated last June after successful girls basketball careers. “It was cool seeing them in the hallway and saying, ‘hey, quad,'” Curtis said. Other than the Stefanskis, not many can understand what it is like for the Librizzis. They genuinely enjoy the experience and wouldn’t have it any other way. “You have three other people around you all the time,” Anthony said. “We have great camaraderie. We are really close. You always have someone to look out for you and to look out for. It is such a great experience to always have someone with you and be close with.” In school, on the cross country course, in the pool, at home or a weekend night at Costello’s in Smithville, the Librizzis seemingly are always together. “It’s really rare and it’s really cool having three best friends to hang out with,” Danny said. The brothers may share many common interests, but with four distinct personalities, disagreements are bound to happen. They may not always agree, but they do know how to compromise, a valuable skill when you are a quadruplet. The Librizzi boys, from left, Curtis, Billy, Danny and Anthony, helped lead the Cedar Creek swim team to its first conference title this season. (Photos by Ben Hale/Benjamin Hale Photography) “The majority rules,” Anthony said. “If three want to go out to dinner with friends, we all go. If someone wants to do something on their own, it’s their choice, but we almost always agree on something to do. We like to go out and do the same thing.” They also agree on what sports to participate in. All four are on the cross country team and the swim team. In the pool The brothers’ success in the swimming pool began when they all took lessons as 5-year-olds. It was an activity all four took to right away and enjoyed. They learned the sport and gained experience as part of the Brigantine Greenheads, based out of the Brigantine Aquatic Club. It was there the Librizzis established the foundation of their success, which in turn became the foundation of the Cedar Creek swim program. The program started in 2011, the first time the quadruplets walked the halls of the high school. Despite being freshmen, the brothers brought experience and credibility to the program right away. Many of the other swimmers never swam competitively before joining the squad. The brothers, accustomed to team swimming, were immediate leaders. In four years, Cedar Creek went from a newly-formed team to conference champions. The brothers made major contributions to the title, which was clinched when the Pirates toppled an established Middle Township team. “It’s just a really good mix of seasoned veterans who have been doing it for a couple of seasons, and good, fresh talent,” said Billy, who studies the times of his teammates and opponents to see where his squad can gain an edge. “It’s a good mix of depth. We have kids who can win races, and we don’t have a dropoff. We have kids that can win and we have twos, threes and fours, who give us points in close meets. That has helped us out. Having people that can go win a race, but also guys that can get third over fourth and fifth over sixth. That really has helped us out.” The 109-61 win was the first Cape-Atlantic League National Conference title for the Pirates. Curtis won two individual events — the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke — and was part of two relay wins. Billy was part of the winning 400 freestyle relay. Cedar Creek finished the season with an 8-2 record and its first appearance in the state playoffs. The Pirates’ first playoff meet ended with a heartbreaking 80-76 loss to Gateway. However, the loss can’t overshadow what the Librizzis and the Pirates did in the pool. They led Cedar Creek to its finest season thus far, and will leave behind a culture of success. For the brothers, it was even more special because they did it together. “Being (quadruplets) is definitely a different but cool experience,” Curtis said earlier this season. “We have all been swimming our entire lives, and all the work we put in up to this moment, it’s great to share this together. It’s a great experience.” “It’s been special all season,” Billy said. “Not only the first year we won, but it’s with my brothers. We have been swimming so long and we have always been on the same team, and are doing it together and for each other, so it’s big.” It may be difficult for the Pirates to replace the Librizzi brothers, but because of them the team knows what can be accomplished. Establishing a winning program takes time. Cedar Creek got a taste of it in just four years in part because of the Librizzis. Through their dedication, effort and experience, Cedar Creek reached a new level of success. The Pirates are a playoff team. It may be up to others to keep them at that level, but the Librizzi brothers helped lay the foundation. “I think they are a great group of boys,” Ferguson said. “It has been a pleasure to coach them the past four years. I got to know them well, and it will be sad to see them go when they graduate. They have established such a strong tradition for the swim team.” The next chapter When the brothers are not in the pool or running cross country, they are hitting the books. As much as they enjoy athletics, all four boys expressed that academics come before sports. In fact, their accomplishments in the classroom are even more impressive than their athletic achievements. “We are all good students,” Anthony said. “We are all in the National Honors Society and we all have As. We all have really good GPAs and are taking (Advanced Placement) classes.” “Academics are the main thing,” Billy said. “You get that done and then have swimming on the side. Even in our club swimming days it was like, ‘hey Mom, we have a lot of work to do, we can’t go to practice.’ Academics has been the main thing and swimming comes after that. Academics is what drives us.” With their main focus on academics, the brothers are considering what college is right f
or them. For any high school student, choosing a college is a difficult process. There’s plenty to consider, including location, cost and what academic program is the right fit. Anthony is tech-savvy and is looking to major in computer science while Billy wants a career in civil engineering. Curtis plans on being a physical therapist, and Danny is going to focus on Spanish, possibly becoming a Spanish teacher. The brothers are looking for the right college to fit their needs, but they have the added challenge of contemplating being separated from one, two or even three brothers they have been with for 18 years. After all, Anthony and Billy, and Curtis and Danny, have shared rooms all their lives. What would it be like not to have a brother close by? That is one of the many questions the brothers are considering when picking a college. “We have been going to school together our entire life,” Curtis explained. “Now we are at the time where we may have to go our separate ways. We will see how it goes. Honestly, I think we are all ready for it. It may have a weird feel the first few weeks of college not being able to see each other every day, but once we get used to it, it will be cool to catch up with each other and see how we are doing.” “I have taken time away to think about that,” Danny said. “You are with a group of guys for 18 years, your whole life. College is a new experience in itself. There is time you have to go out and see what is out there for yourself. You are still family and brothers are always going to be there for you, but you have to take time to discover what you want in life and what is the right career path for me.” Despite the differences in their potential majors, there is always a chance some of the brothers will land at the same school. Several have Rowan on their list of potential schools. Even if they do go in different directions the next four years, it won’t change their relationship to one another. “I can’t really imagine my life without it. It’s a part of who I am,” Billy said. “There’s no getting around that. I’m always going to have that with me.” Contact Giuseppe Ungaro: gungaro@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDgisepu [adsense]