Swimming Toward Success

East Hampton’s swim team saw two straight ties and a recent loss to Half Hollow Hills prior to the start of League II play this week.

On December 3, the Bonackers fell to the multi-time county champion at Hills West 106-69.

Suffolk County championship qualifiers were the 200-yard medley relay team; 200 freestyle relay; 400 freestyle relay; Joey Badilla in the 200 individual medley; Colin Harrison, Owen McCormac, and Aidan Forst in the 50 freestyle; Nicky Badilla and Harrison in the 100 butterfly; Forst in the 500 freestyle; Badilla in the 100 backstroke, and Jack Duryea and Curran O’Donnell in the 100 breaststroke.

East Hampton freshman Tenzin Tamang was named the swimmer of the meet by the Bonackers’ captains.

“The captains decided on Tenzin for this honor because he competed in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle and scored in both events,” head coach Craig Brierley said. “What made the choice apparent was when he followed those performances up with a personal-best time as the lead-off leg of the 400 freestyle relay that inspired the other three in the relay to dominate the event to finish in first place.”

The Bonackers followed the loss with an 85-85 tie to Connetquot/East Islip December 5.

“This meet was extremely competitive and exciting for all who were able to be there,” Brierley said. “The score was close throughout the meet, with a few lead changes as it came down to the last event to decide the winner.”

Connetquot outscored East Hampton 10-4 in the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, for the event to end in a tie.

O’Donnell was named the swimmer of the meet for dropping over four seconds off his 100 breaststroke time for a new personal best that also earned him second place. It helped put East Hampton ahead heading into the final event of the meet. Curran also went best times in the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay at the meet.

Saturday was the team’s annual Maroon v Gray meet at the YMCA East Hampton RECenter, which also ended in a tie. There was a breakfast organized by the parents that followed.

Gray team captain, Aidan Forst, recognized East Hampton junior Daniel Sarlo as his swimmer of the meet and Captains of the Maroon team Miles Capolla and Will Midson chose Pierson junior Jack Duryea as their recipient of the title.

East Hampton travels to Lindenhurst Thursday, December 12, for its first League II meet of the season, which begins at 5 PM, and travels to Deer Park Wednesday, December 18, for a 5 PM meet.

“Our boys have been very excited to get the season started and were looking forward to their first competition,” Brierley said. “They battled well in all of their races and put up a lot of personal best times.”

desiree@indyeastend.com