Bonacker Boys Swimmers Already Boasting Best Times To Start the Season

These East Hampton/Pierson boys swimmers are already making a name for themselves.

Despite a losing team record, many Bonackers have already posted personal-best and even Suffolk County championship-qualifying times to start this young season.

“Myself and the other coaches are always excited for a new season and the opportunity to watch the boys develop as teammates and help them learn what it takes to be successful,” head coach Craig Brierley said. “We are starting to see some grit from the boys as they are racing, and we look to the captains to take ownership and help motivate the team.”

Leading the group this year are East Hampton senior Cristian Sigua and his Pierson classmate Jack Ziemer.

“We have a lot of strong swimmers that, through hard work during their club practices, have gotten so much faster,” Sigua said. “Already, we have qualified for counties in all three of our relays, which reflects the team’s promise.”

This includes the 200-yard freestyle relay of Pierson sophomore Nick Chavez, East Hampton freshman Ariel Ruggiero, Pierson sophomore Ben Kriegsman and East Hampton junior Zeb Ryan, who finished first in the Bonackers’ 86-75 season-opening loss to Half Hollow Hills December 3 with a time of 1 minute, 43.35 seconds; the 200 medley quartet of Chavez, Sigua, Ryan and East Hampton junior Liam Knight, who placed third at Half Hollow Hills by clocking in at 1:53; and the 400 free relay of Chavez, Ryan, Knight and Pierson junior Dylan Knapik, who finished during a 94-72 League II kickoff loss to Ward Melville December 6 with a time of 3:46.46.

Sigua said he’s been captivated by Chavez over the first two meets of the season, and now owes his teammate a handful of meals thanks to a healthy bet.

“He’s shocked me with his technical improvements and overall speed,” the senior said. “In fact, he made a bet with me that he would break a minute in the 100 butterfly — something he has never done before — and he went a 58.96. Although I owe him food for the next few away meets, I’m so happy to see his growth as a swimmer.”

Brierley said he has big expectations for Chavez, who also qualified for counties in the 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle across the first two meets, and Knight, who already earned a chance to compete in the 50, 100 and 200 free, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly.

“I had a big personal record in the 200 free, and at my best in the 100 free; same with Nicky Chavez, but in the 100 back and 100 fly — two huge personal bests,” Knight said. “I think swimming year-round is a huge factor in maintaining my speed and building on it. Competing in Australia also gave me way more experience competing in high-pressure situations, and I think that was a great experience to help me learn about competing and how to perform at my best all the time.”

Knight had participated in the Lifesaving World Championships in Australia in September. He has shaved seconds off his backstrokes and freestyles since the season started.

“Liam Knight just improves every day,” said Ziemer, who cut 10 seconds off his 50 fly as part of the 200 medley relay. “I also worked out a lot over the summer as an ocean lifeguard. It feels amazing to be back, because I love swimming.”

The senior said he’s been impressed with East Hampton freshman Jasper Samuelson, who clipped more than 35 seconds off his 500 free time from the first to the second meet of the season. Knight has enjoyed seeing Ryan’s improvements, as the junior cut down on his swim times in each freestyle event, both individually and as part of the 400 free relay. East Hampton freshman Watts Comly, who was named the team’s swimmer of the meet against Half Hollow Hills, has excited his coach with his early contributions. He raced in the 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle and 400 free relay team that first meet.

“The captains appreciate Watts’s ability to help the team in multiple events and are looking forward to seeing his value grow,” Brierley said, adding that Ruggiero has also been a bright addition to multiple events. They’re part of a group of six freshmen on the team this season. Knapik, who is a second away from qualifying for counties in the 50 free and was named swimmer of the meet against Ward Melville, is also shaping up to be a quality sprinter, according to his coach and teammates.

“It’s his first year swimming on varsity, and he’s already become a pivotal part of the team, especially in freestyle events,” Sigua said. “He’s really exciting to watch, as he’s already so fast and still has a lot of things to learn since he just started swimming on the team this year. These swimmers are already performing so well, and I’m really excited to see how strong this team becomes as the season progresses.”

“I think our team is very motivated to do well and everyone pushes each other, especially the new swimmers,” Knight added. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the individual successes of our team as each and every one of them keep on improving meet after meet, showing the hard work they’ve been putting into the sport.”

The Bonackers traveled to Deer Park Tuesday, results of which were not available by press time. East Hampton/Pierson hosts Northport next in a nonleague matchup on Tuesday, December 17, at the YMCA East Hampton RECenter at 5:45 p.m., before competing in the Long Island Challenge in Farmingdale on Thursday, December 19, at 5:30 p.m.

Brierley said it’s only up from here for his Bonackers, who now have an understanding of the expectations and fitness level as a result of progressive volume and intensity increases.

“Each meet will teach the boys racing skills and values that will help them grow throughout the season,” Brierley said. “As coaches, we want to encourage and teach the boys to do their absolute best all the time and to understand the processes involved in order to be successful. If we accomplish that, the boys will have the best opportunity to have the best outcomes possible. We want them to be able to look in the mirror and say, ‘I did that.’”