By Emily Nassi (Freehold Twp.) - Student Swimming Correspondent

Ocean County Swimming Championships-Girls Preview
Here is an event-by-event breakdown of Saturday's championship meet.

200 Medley Relay
Pt. Beach holds the top seed by nearly three seconds, while Monsignor Donovan and Toms River South follow not far behind in the seedings.

200 Freestyle
Tom’s River North’s Madeline Heilman, last year’s champion, looks to defend her title in this event, and holds the top seed of 2:03.53. She faces some competition from Pt. Beach’s Julie Criscuolo. Criscuolo’s teammate, Lindsay Peters, rounds out the top three seeds.

200 Medley Relay
The top three finishers from last year return as the top three seeds this year. Molly Evans of Pt. Beach, who placed first last year, holds a seed time of 2:14.31, almost five seconds faster than teammate Alex Brannick, who placed third last year. Last year’s secon- place finisher, Toms River South’s Julia Zucco also returns, as the third-seeded girl.

50 Freestyle
Now that Monsignor Donovan’s Rebecca Kane, the current record holder and a three-year champion, is off swimming at North Carolina, it is anyone’s event. Jackie Behr of Southern Regional, who placed third last year, holds the top seed at 25.77.  Monsignor Donovan’s Alyssa Conroy, Toms River East’s Brianna Morris, and Monsignor Donovan’s Sam Parlow are not far off either.

100 Butterfly
Point Beach's Andrea Criscuolo, the defending champion and current record holder, has a top seed of 57.31, more than four seconds in front of her sister, freshman Melissa Criscuolo, who is seeded second. Ashley Conroy of Monsignor Donovan is seeded third.

100 Freestyle
Once again, with Rebecca Kane lost to graduation, there is room for new faces to show in this event. Melissa Criscuolo of Pt. Beach holds the top seed of 56.50, while Southern’s Jackie Behr, who placed fourth last year, is next. Lindsay Peters of Pt. Beach and Brianna Morris of Toms River East, who both placed in the top eight last year, also return as the third and fourth seeds.

500 Yard Freestyle
Tom’s River North’s Madeline Heilman looks to come in first this year, after placing in a close second to Toms River East’s Margaret Molloy, currently at The College of New Jersey.  Heilman’s seed time of 5:26.96 is nearly 13 seconds faster than second-seeded Julia Zucco of Toms River South, and 16 seconds faster than third seeded Stephanie Mielach of Monsignor Donovan.

200 Freestyle Relay
Point Beach is top seed for its second relay of the day, with Monsignor Donovan and Toms River South once again seeded second and third, with times less than a second apart.

100 Backstroke
The top four finishers from last year return as the top four seeds. Andrea Criscuolo of Pt. Beach looks to defend her title, and perhaps break the record. Her current seed time of 58.86 is faster than the current record of 59.15, held by former Pt. Beach swimmer Tara Gillies.  Alex Brannick, who placed second last year, is the second seed, with a time of 59.57, less than a second behind Criscuolo’s.  Julie Criscuolo of Pt. Beach, who placed fourth last year, is the third seed and Ashley Conroy of Monsignor Donovan who placed third, is seeded fourth.

100 Breaststroke
Freshman Rachel Zucco is the top-seeded swimmer with a time of 1:11.37. Molly Evans of Pt. Beach, who placed third last year, is seeded second, and Sam Parlow of Monsignor Donovan is seeded third in this event.

400 Freestyle Relay
Once again, Pt. Beach holds the top seed, while Monsignor Donovan and Toms River South are seeded second and third. This time though, Pt. Beach’s time is around 13 seconds faster than Mon Don’s and 14 than Toms River South.