After three weeks of training, Elizabeth Daniels, Ginger Griffin, Heidi Rizzo, and Vanessa Rizzo made their way to Webster, N.Y., just outside Rochester, to represent East Hampton High School’s girls swim team at the state championships. The foursome competed against more than 7,000 swimmers from across the state on Nov. 21 and 22. Sydney Powers, a freshman, traveled as the alternate for the 200-yard medley relay team.
“It was so much fun,” Craig Brierley, the head coach, said. “The girls were — you’ve got to call it — they were so well behaved, and they really enjoyed the whole experience from start to finish, from the ride up to the ride home. They had a lot of fun and they competed so well.”
The relay team improved its time significantly at the state competition, posting a 1:50.72 to qualify for the finals. They then took 13th place with a time of 1:51.13, a strong swim, according to Brierley. “The progression from seed to prelims highlighted the team’s ability to step up under pressure,” he said. “Their finals performance capped off a competitive showing.”
Daniels, a senior captain, also competed in the 100-yard breaststroke, advancing to the finals with a 1:07.44. She dropped .41 seconds in the finals to secure a 14th-place finish. “Her ability to sharpen her performance from prelims to finals shows both her determination and competitive edge,” Brierley said. “A fantastic effort on the state stage and a proud moment for the team.”
Daniels graduates this spring, and while Coach Brierley is sad to see her go, he’s thrilled she plans to continue swimming in college. “I tell the kids every year that my seniors are my least favorite people — I do not like the seniors because they’re leaving us, so I tease them. But we’re excited that she’ll be swimming in college. She had a great season.”
Brierley said he was extremely proud of the girls’ accomplishments and how they prepared themselves each day for their swims. “Everything that they learned throughout the season, they left it all out there. They went best times. They qualified for finals. It was really exciting for them, and they’re hungry for next year. They never want the season to end,” he said. “I love hearing that. It means the coaches are doing something right.”
