2 Photos
East Hampton's Tenzin Tamang dives into the pool at a meet earlier this season. Tamang had a number of top performances at the League II Championships, including placing second in the 100-yard butterfly. MARIANNE BARNETT
Pierson's Nicky Badilla MARIANNE BARNETT
The East Hampton/Pierson boys swim team finished fourth in the League II standings during the regular season, and that’s where they finished at the League II Championships at Ward Melville High School on Thursday, February 2.
Host Ward Melville edged Half Hollow Hills, 286-285, to win the meet while West Islip finished third with 230 points, just ahead of Bonac’s 193 points. West Islip gained 39 points in diving events, which made the difference between third and fourth place.
The East Hampton swimmers had 22 personal, or as the team likes to call them lifetime bests, including a pair of huge improvements, a pair of second place finishes and season’s bests in all three relays.
“The boys took what they learned throughout the season and were asked to apply it here, to control what they have control over — effort, attitude, and preparation — and to give their absolute best,” East Hampton head coach Craig Brierley said. “By applying those principles, they earned everything they prepared for.”
East Hampton senior Tenzin Tamang and Pierson senior Nicky Badilla earned second place finishes in their respective events. Tamang finished second in the 100-yard butterfly in 54.96 seconds, while Badilla finished second in the 100-yard backstroke in 58.15 seconds.
Badilla and Tamang also swam on the 200-yard medley relay team — along with East Hampton juniors Rock Hamada and Owen Robins — that finished third in 1:47.94. Badilla, Robins, East Hampton sophomore Liam Knight and East Hampton senior Luke Tarbet also placed third in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:37.01. Tamang, Tarbet, Knight and East Hampton junior Emmet McCormac placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 3:37.01.
Two of the biggest personal, or lifetime, bests came from Pierson eighth-grader Nick Chavez and East Hampton senior Daniel Rossano. Chavez dropped nearly nine seconds off his 200-yard individual medley time (2:17.41) and Rossano had a huge improvement in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 6:29.33, nearly a 30 second improvement.
“The boys demonstrated what their training prepared them to do — to compete against an opponent and reach for the greatest heights — together,” Brierley said. “They showed mental and physical strength in an attempt to come out on top. The meaning of competition is striving together to do your best and each season Coach Brian [Cunningham] and I are continually humbled by the boys and their efforts. This year’s team did not disappoint.”
Tamang was selected by team captains as the Swimmer of the Meet for being one of the team’s most versatile swimmers, capable of competing in just about any event. In addition to placing second in the 100 fly and helping the 200 free and medley relays to third place finishes, Tamang also placed fifth in the 200 IM.
“He is a big asset to the team and has been a consistent contributor to the team’s success this season,” Brierley said.
The Section XI Championships are this Saturday, February 11, at Stony Brook University and start at 9:30 a.m. The Bonackers will have a good contingent of swimmers on hand. All three of their relays will be competing and a number of individuals have qualified in multiple events. Badilla has qualified in the 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free and 100 back; Tamang qualified in the 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free and 500 free; Knight qualified in the 200 free, 200 IM, 100 fly, 100 free and 100 back; Chavez qualified in the 200 IM; and Tarbet qualified in the 100 fly.
