Reswim Decision at New Jersey Meet of Champions Sparks Title Shift and Appeal Plan

After a disputed re-swim changed the boys 100-yard breaststroke final at New Jersey’s greatest high school swimming championship, controversy ensued.

It happened at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Meet of Champions, the state’s best individual swimming championship. The event was place March 1, 2026, at Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell.

Summit junior Yehor Maistruk waited on the starting block to defend his state title in the championship event. When the race started, something went awry.

Six swimmers were in the water. Dylan Lagrimas of Westfield and Maistruk were still on the blocks. Both later reported they didn’t hear the beginning signal due to heavy crowd noise inside the venue. They froze at the start while the field surged ahead due to confusion.

Maistruk, who won the same event last year, was devastated. He appeared to lose his chance to win two state crowns in seconds.

Meet officials allowed the two impacted swimmers to re-swim after analyzing the incident. Officials also gave other heat contenders the same chance. A crucial condition existed. Any swimmer who reswims must give up their time. The second race time was final.

Lawrence’s Josh DeMarco reached the wall first in the initial swim in 55.95 seconds. DeMarco stuck with his previous result rather than reswim. He finished second after that decision.

Maistruk won the state championship again with a 55.46-second re-swim. The win was his second straight Meet of Champions 100 breaststroke crown.

The National Federation of State High School Associations allows referees to order a re-swim if a bad start unfairly affects a participant or the heat. Fairness is crucial in championship finals, hence this rule applies.

However, the decision has faced opposition. Lawrence head coach Ryan Shive plans to appeal the outcome to the NJSIAA. The appeal may evaluate whether federation guidelines were followed for the re-swim.

The scenario worried other instructors on deck. Andrew O’Day, another Chatham swimmer, entered the water late due to hearing issues, according to head coach Laura Hartnett. She understood the frustration of athletes who had strong first-race times but had to choose between protecting that result or trying again in a second swim. She thought the race should have been recalled earlier.

The wait between the heat and re-swim made it harder. After the girls 100 breaststroke final, officials decided. Before the re-swim, swimmers waited for Lagrimas to finish the Westfield 400 freestyle relay. It took about 20 minutes for the breaststroke final to resume after the relay.

Maistruk found it intellectually and physically difficult. He noted the long wait required three warm-ups. A four-swimmer re-swim with vacant lanes beside him was distinct from a championship race.

Maistruk retained his title despite the disturbance. The event was won in 54.34 seconds last year. He wanted to shatter Pingry’s Matt Fallon’s 2020 meet record of 54.21 seconds this season, but circumstances made it harder.

Despite the controversy, Summit High School finished strong with the win. At 7-2, the squad defeated Westfield for the first time in seven years. With only 12 swimmers on the roster, Summit’s performance this year stood out.

Maistruk, a University of South Carolina recruit, thanked the chance to participate again after the initial tragedy. His gratitude was simply for the chance to swim the race properly.

As the appeal process continues, the race will certainly be recognized as one of the more controversial Meet of Champions finishes. The final conclusion depends on the pool deck and how state officials interpret guidelines meant to promote athlete fairness.