East Hampton Girls Swim Team Already Making Waves

The East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton girls swim team’s consistent training is already paying dividends in this young season.

The Bonackers opened nonleague play not only overcoming Ward Melville’s 13 diving points for a 98-83 win, the East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton team earned nine qualifying times for the Suffolk County championship meet.

“The team was very excited to compete and attacked the first event of the contest,” head coach Craig Brierley said. “Using our depth of talent, the girls went on to take first place in eight out of the 12 events.”

The 200-yard medley relay team of East Hampton seniors Ava Castillo and Lily Griffin, junior Lizzy Daniels and Pierson freshman Vanessa Rizzo finished 0.3 seconds ahead of the Patriots’ top team for the first county qualifying time, completing the event in 1 minute 58.63 seconds.

Daniels also qualified in the 200 individual medley with her first-place time of 2:22.45, and in the 100 breaststroke with her second-place time of 1:12.15. The junior also led off the 200 freestyle relay, with Castillo, Griffin and East Hampton sophomore Cybelle Curry, which finished first with a time of 1:49.27. The 400 free relay — of Castillo, junior Lylah Metz and sophomores May Dias and Lily Early — also earned an opportunity with a time of 4:13.72. Castillo finished in a county qualifying time of 1:04.70, good for first, in the 100 butterfly, while Griffin did the same in the 100 free by touching the wall in 58.69. Pierson freshmen Mia Luna and Vanessa Rizzo will also get to race at the end of the season in the 100 breaststroke and backstroke, respectively. Rizzo clocked in at 1:06.42 for first place, while Luna’s 1:18.10 finish earned her third.

“Our Saturday training is going well, and it is an important part of improving strength, movement and flexibility that the girls will really benefit from,” Brierley said. “Out of the water, the girls continue to grow close as a team, and the captains are embracing their leadership roles.”

Bridgehampton sophomore Emma Kapon was named swimmer of the meet by her teammates for her showing in the 400 free relay.

“The captains were so impressed with Emma because her goggles fell off at the start, but she did not let that affect her as she still gave her best effort as she did not want to let her team down,” Brierley said.

Unfortunately, the Bonackers followed up their strong display with a narrow 86-84 defeat at the hands of Half Hollow Hills/Kings Park.

“We knew it could be a back-and-forth contest and could potentially come down to the final event,” Brierley said. “That early prediction held true and even though we only had two first-place finishes, the strength of our depth is what kept the meet close.”

Daniels took second in the 100 freestyle with a county qualifying time of 59.47, while Castillo and sophomore Ginger Griffin grabbed second and third in the 100 butterfly in county qualifying times of 1:06.95 and 1:07.40, respectively.

“It did eventually come down to the final 400 free relay with the score tied at 78-78, and Half Hollow Hills was able to secure the overall win by touching in first place to our second and third-place finishes,” Brierley said. “There were great efforts by both teams and it was a fun meet to be a part of.”

Pierson junior Lily Caplin finished first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:21.11, and Curry, Daniels, Dias and Griffin ended the 200 free relay first with a time of 1:51.14.

The Bonackers captains recognized Rizzo as swimmer of the meet for her performances.

“Vanessa is very motivated to help the team wherever she can during the meet, and she is a big part of the team’s success in the pool,” Brierley said. “The captains also wanted to recognize Vanessa for her care and support out of the water as she made an effort during the meet to comfort a teammate that was feeling down.”

East Hampton had a meet at home against Connetquot on Tuesday, but results were not available by press time. The Bonackers round out their nonleague schedule at Hauppauge/Smithtown on Thursday, September 19. The meet is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.