It was a bittersweet week for Cougar Nation. There were two big winners, and then two very tough losses.

Starting with the good news, Columbia's Henry Scott was sensational at the Meet of Champions this weekend. The senior swimmer became the fifth Essex County boys swimmer to win an M-of-C crown in the last 21 years, claiming first place in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly.

Scott has been a large part of Columbia's resurgent swimming program, which finished 7-2 this season and advanced to the second round of the sectional playoffs.

The Columbia boys fencing team claimed its first state championship since 2007, fending off Bernards 15-12 at Morris Hills High School. It was Columbia's fourth state title since 2003.

I had never seen a fencing match before this season and I have to say that it is not at all what I expected. My eyes have been opened to a new kind of sport and a different kind of athlete.

First of all, the intensity level at fencing matches is just ridiculous. Just picture 300 people watching one bout and oohing and ahhing at every move and touch. There are bout pauses after each point scored, so there is just so much time to clap and really get into the match.

Also, unlike most sports where strength, speed and agility are the most important skills, fencing is more about precision, strategy and reflexes. It certainly makes for an interesting watch.

In what was probably the most disappointing Cougar loss of the winter for any team, the girls basketball squad was stunned at home by North Hunterdon. I don't want to take anything away from North Hunterdon because they executed and took the Cougars out of their game plan.

They just didn't turn the ball over and Columbia couldn't find a way to score. I knew it was going to be a low-scoring game, but there was no way that I thought Columbia even had a chance of losing until the Group 4 tournament.

Looking ahead, I would expect the girls to be good next season and maybe a little less balanced—at least that's what I'm hoping. Jade Johnson-Walker looks like she has all the makings of being a star high school player. You add in Gabby Jackson (I like to call her Action Jackson because she's always in the mix) returning as a senior to lead the team, they have a nice core for next year.

For the boys, I think it was a tall order for them to go to Plainfield, one of the best teams in the state, and win. It would've taken a monumental performance from multiple players, probably coupled with a bad game from Plainfield.

I think the Cougar boys will look back at this season at a few games they should've had, and maybe they end up with a different seed, and get to play a team other than Plainfield in the second round.

The loss of graduating senior Femi Agunbiade will be a big one. He averaged 10 points and 10 boards per game; that's not an easy player to find. I think they will be more of a speed team next season, with a lot of guards like Austin Little, Jamar Chavis and Justin Martin. They will be a senior-dominated team next year, which should make for some healthy competition. Coach Jerry Hill said he thinks he will have 13 seniors fighting for 10 spots.