The 2025-26 girls swimming season brought us plenty of thrilling moments in each conference. Now that it’s wrapped up, it’s time to honor the best swimmers, teams and coaches in each league.Below, you’ll find this winter’s North Jersey Interscholastic Conference awards and honors.
Swimmer of the Year
Iris Kim, Leonia, Sr.
An injury cost Kim most of the 2024-25 season, but she made up for lost time with a strong comeback season this winter. She won two Bergen County titles this year at the county’s Meet of Champions, winning the 200 IM in 2:06.27 and the 500 freestyle in 4:54.64. At dual meets this year, Kim had 12 first place finishes between her individual events throughout the season, with five of those coming in the butterfly.With Kim at full strength again, Leonia finished with an 8-3 record and advanced to the North 1, Group B quarterfinals.
Team of the Year / Coach of the Year
Steven Dunn, Rutherford
Steve Dunn will never forget his 13th season at the helm of Rutherford girls swimming.Guiding the best team in program history, Dunn led Rutherford to the NJIC regular season title with a perfect 9-0 record, then capped the year by winning the North 1, Group C championship—the program’s first-ever sectional crown.The sectional title came down to a dramatic finish, with the quartet of Ava Berroa, Ella Marzullo, Isabella Bianco, and Olivia Mendez clinching the meet in the 400 free relay, edging out Madison in a walkoff win.Rutherford’s middle lanes were stacked with talent, including freshman sensation Olivia Mendez, sophomore Natalie Hower, and senior Gabriella Pakovics. But what set this team apart was its depth; Rutherford was one of the deepest small-school squads in the state, frequently winning meets not just with their ‘B’ lanes, but their ‘C’ lanes as well.
