NJIC 2025 Championship Meet Team Results
Saturday, Februaty 1st @ Lyndhurst High School
BOYS ( * Co-Champions based on dual meets and championship meet )
*Leonia / Paisades Park -167
*Rutherford – 158
New Milford /Waldwick – 84
Becton – 34
Garfield / Hasbrouck Heights – 24
Lyndhurst – 19
Secaucus – 18
Harrison – 10
Weehawken – 4
GIRLS
Leonia / Palisades Park -217
Rutherford – 160
Garfield / Hasbrouck Heights – 52
Harrison – 49
Secaucus – 33
New Milford / Waldwick – 13
Lyndhurst – 6
Mary Help – 6
Weehawken – 2
Leonia’s dynasty in the NJIC continues, wins 11th straight conference title
This one feels a little bit sweeter for Leonia/Palisades Park girls swimming.
Leonia (8-1) went into this year’s NJIC Championship meet without All-State swimmer Iris Kim, who suffered a injury prior to the 2024-25 campaign that later became season-ending just a few meets into the season.
For the entirety of January, this team has had to overcome the loss of losing one of the best distance freestylers in the country, adding to the pressure of extending one of longest championship streaks in N.J. girls swimming.
For the last month though, Leonia has rallied to keep its dynasty alive. On Saturday, it culminated in the program’s 11th consecutive NJIC conference title. In the championship meet at Lyndhurst, Leonia scored 217 points, outlasting Rutherford (140) and Garfield/Hasbrouck Heights (52).
“These girls have been keeping the standard that came before us when (former head coaches) Bill Eickelberg and Nicholas Colletto were coaching the program,” said Leonia girls head coach Tim Ryan, who is in his sixth season as head coach. It’s incredible watching them swim and just dominate the pool.”
“Our school has a lot of great athletics, but not many have been on a run like this,” Ryan added. “When we get to this meet, and I always have faith that they’re going to get the job done.”
With one All-State swimmer sidelined, Leonia’s other standout swimmer in the pool rose to the occasion to keep Leonia’s title hopes alive.
Senior Rebekah Jung secured her fifth and sixth individual conference titles on Saturday, winning the 200 IM (2:12.51) and 100 back (1:01.75).
Jung didn’t swim for Leonia her freshman year, but she’ll still finish her illustrious swimming career unbeaten at the NJIC Championships. It’s a bittersweet feeling for her.
“I’m really honored to have gone unbeaten in this meet,” Jung said. “I’m also really glad I’ve gotten to contribute to my team for the last three years. I wish I did it my freshman year so I could’ve contributed more, but it’s been a great experience, being apart of this team.”
Senior Sophie Dahiya contributed to the splurge of wins by taking home conference titles in the 50 free (26.97) and 100 free (58.48), while sophomore Cate Chung earned second-place medals in the 200 free and 500 free.
HaEun Jung & Sophia Lazarou were also conference runner-ups in two events apiece. HaEun got sliver in the 100 free (58.85) and 100 back, while Lazarou finished second in the 100 fly (1:08.84) and 100 breaststroke (1:08.84).
In total, seven different swimmers earned medals for the reigning NJIC champions between individual events and relays.
“Of course, we miss Iris,” Jung said. “She is definitely a big hole to fill on our team, but just because we lost one swimmer doesn’t mean our team isn’t good. I think that the rest of our team also stepped up and wanted to better so could try and fill that hole.”
While Leonia won most of its races in dominant fashion, they also enjoyed a close win in the 200 free relay. The quartet of Jung, Dahiya, Erin Kim and Renee Kim won in 1:47.79, just 0.01 seconds faster then Rutherford (1:47.80
In the anchor leg of the relay, Renee Kim was able to recover after being slightly behind with 25 meters to go, out touching Rutherford’s Natalie Hower in the final few meters.
Frosh headlines strong day for Rutherford
If today’s meet is any indication, Rutherford is beginning to close the gap in the NJIC.
After failing to score 100 points at this meet last year, Rutherford up their total to 140 points this year’s meet, finishing second behind Leonia.
And a big reason for their resurgence was the emergence of freshman Natalie Hower, who captured the 100 fly (1:02.41) and 200 free (2:04.33).
Junior Gabriella Pakovics also secured her first conference title, snagging the 100 free in 58.48.
