East Hampton Swimmers Are Tested in Win Over West Babylon

Craig Brierley said an 80-62 win over West Babylon last Thursday provided a lot for his East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton girls swim team.

Not only did the Bonackers get the confidence boost they needed by opening the league season with a victory, but the meet also allowed the head coach to test his athletes in many different races.

“Because West Babylon has a small roster of swimmers, we were able to use this meet as an opportunity to challenge many of our swimmers with different events and we were also able to have many of the girls swim additional events to what they were accustomed to,” Brierley said. “It was all in an effort to test them and get them out of their comfort zones to help them prepare for any challenges that lie ahead.”

West Babylon came out ahead with a win in the 200-yard individual medley, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay, but the Bonackers took first in every other event to end the meet on top. Nineteen personal records were earned in the victory, and four of those helped swimmers qualify for the Suffolk County championships.

East Hampton senior Cami Hatch’s time of 26.35 in the 50 freestyle, down 0.15 seconds from her previous personal best, and classmate Jane Brierley’s 1:02.75 finish in the 100 butterfly, faster than her best by 1.5 seconds, earned them a chance to compete in the individual postseason championships. East Hampton sophomore Ava Castillo clocking in at a personal best of 58.28 in the 100 freestyle, down 2.6 seconds, and freshman Lizzy Daniels’s personal best of 1:18.00, shortened 3.6 seconds, in the 100 breaststroke also earned them a spot.

“Our girls took on their respective challenges admirably,” the coach said.

Through September 29, Lily Griffin has also qualified to compete at counties in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke. Brierley has also qualified to compete in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, Castillo in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly and Hatch in the 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Brierley has also hit the qualifying time to compete in the 100 breaststroke in the state championships.

During the West Babylon meet, Hatch also grabbed first with a 58.28-finish in the 500 freestyle, Lily Caplin’s time of 2:35.12 helped her to a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle and the 200 medley relay team of Brierley, Castillo, Griffin and Hatch took the top spot by touching the wall in 1:54.55. Bonackers swimmers also placed second in all but two events — the 200 freestyle relay and 100 backstroke.

After the meet, the Bonackers captains recognized East Hampton juniors Kate McMillan and Ruby Tyrrell as swimmers of the meet. McMillan swam a best time of 29.97 in the 50 freestyle, dropping over 2 seconds while placing third.

“The captains pointed out how they love Kate’s focus and intensity when it comes to racing,” Brierley said. “Kate consistently works hard in practice and her continued improvements are a result of that hard work.”

Tyrrell finished second in the 200 freestyle with what the coach called an “impressive” time of 2:36.47 to finish second. She also earned the Bonackers points by competing 100 backstroke.

“She swam the 200 freestyle for the first time and she rocked it,” Brierley said. “Both Kate and Ruby continue to be an important part of the team’s success both in and out of the pool.”

Speaking of out of the pool, the Bonackers recently volunteered at the MightyMan Montauk triathlon.

“The weather created some challenges for us with the high winds, but we adapted, and it was a treat to see the girls having fun with each other away from the pool environment, and growing closer as friends as they sacrificed their time on a Sunday to help the race organizers,” Brierley said. “Their efforts were well-appreciated by the triathletes, who couldn’t thank us enough for being out there as the girls learn the value in doing something for others.”

With the win over West Babylon, the Bonackers improved to 2-1-1 overall. The team traveled to West Islip Monday, October 3, for its second league matchup of the season, but results were not available by press time.

The Bonackers will be wearing pink swim caps at every meet this month in recognition and support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.