7-10-2023 10:54pm

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL'S ERICA MALTSEV IS ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS' SWIMMER

Donnella Tilery Editor

Photo property of Official Facebook Page for BRRSD, NJ

Author- BRRSD, NJ Communications

Erica Maltsev has a new title to her name—All-American. Maltsev was named this week as an All-American in scholastic girls’ swimming for the 2022-2023 winter season.She will enter her senior year at Bridgewater-Raritan High School in September after a junior season when she thrived in the 200 Individual Medley, the event in which she received her All-American recognition. According to Chris Levin, the hall-of-fame coach of the girls’ swim team at Bridgewater-Raritan, the top 100 times recorded in each event across the nation resulted in All-American status for the swimmer.

She established a school record with her All-American time of 2:01.78—the 57th best in the country— that she registered at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions when she placed second in the 200 IM on Sunday, March 5,at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell.That performance at the Meet of Champions resulted in Maltsev breaking the previous Bridgewater-Raritan school record of 2:03.38 which was established by Grace Zhou during the 2021-2022 season. Maltsev finished second in the state Meet of Champions to Emily Thompson of Ridge High School, who swam a 1:59.3, which earned her All-American honors, too. Thompson’s performance was the 20th best in the nation.

The top All-American swimmer in the 200 IM was Teagan O’Dell of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California, who swam to a scorching time of 1:53.38.Maltsev will continue their duel next winter since the Ridge swimmer is also entering her senior year.Coach Levin, who was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame this past winter, was thrilled with the news of Maltsev receiving All-American status.“This is a very rare honor,” Coach Levin said.

Since he began as the head coach in 2011, Bridgewater-Raritan has been regarded as one of the finest scholastic girl swim programs in New Jersey.

Four times Coach Levin's teams finished ranked No. 1 in the state.But, he reported: “I think the only other All-American recipient on the girls’ side was our medley relay team in 2019.”Coach Levin admires his swimmer's mindset once she dives into the pool."Erica's determination and drive has been unparalleled. She gives 110 percent every single race and never backed down from a challenge," Coach Levin declared. "At the Meet of Champions this year, she shattered her lifetime best time, and reset a seemingly unbreakable school record in the process"He is anxious for the 2023-2024 season to kick in and what is in store for his All-American Erica Maltsev."We can't wait to see what her senior year holds for her!"