Bridgewater Coach Honored By NJ Coaches Association Hall Of Fame

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - A Bridgewater-Raritan High School coach and educator was recently named among the top coaches in the state by the New Jersey State Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Chris Levin, the head coach of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls’ swim team and social studies teacher at the high school, was inducted Sunday into the esteemed hall of fame during a ceremony at the Pines Manor in Edison.

“This is quite an honor, especially when you hear of the names who are in the hall of fame," Levin said in a statement. “This is very humbling.”

Levin’s tenure at Bridgewater-Raritan began in 2011 when he began to lead the girls’ swim team. He had served as an assistant for both the boy and girl Panther swim teams from 2009 through 2011. Since, Levin has coached the team through four New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Public A state championships, six North Jersey Public A state sectional titles, five Somerset County Tournament championships and seven Skyland Conference crowns, according to a press release from the school district.

In fact, for four years—2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021— Levin’s teams have finished as the No. 1 ranked swim team in all of New Jersey.

Levin is a Bridgewater-Raritan High School graduate himself, where he helped the boys win four state sectional titles as a student. He swam through college at The College of New Jersey, where he served as captain for two years, per the news release.

What’s the secret to Levin’s success? In his words, teamwork.

“One of the best parts about New Jersey high school swimming is that it is truly a team sport. In order to win a state title, you need the whole team to contribute in some way,” Levin added. “We have worked hard to build that team bond and tradition over the years and help the girls realize that they are swimming for more than just a best time.”

Here’s the full list of inductees in 2023:

• Chris Caserta, Ramsey HS
• Shaun Cherewich, Westfield HS
• Marvin Fenstermacher, Somerville HS
• Joe Freeman, Westfield HS
• John "Doc" Gantz, Irvington HS
• Vicky Gillen, Toms River North HS
• Tony Giordano, Asbury Park HS
• Frank Guadagnino, Fair Lawn HS
• Joe Haemmerle, Bergen Catholic HS
• Kevin Harper, Middlesex HS
• William Hartney, New Milford HS
• Mike Kearney, Donovan Catholic HS
• Bruce Keogh, Wayne Hills HS
• Christopher Levin, Bridgewater-Raritan HS
• Chet Parlavecchio, Passaic Valley HS / Bloomfield HS
• Tony Picaro, Linden HS
• Nancy Saggio, Union Catholic Regional HS
• Dr. Eric Schwartz, Washington Twp. HS
• Chris Sheppard, Williamstown HS
• Mike Suk, Randolph HS