The defending champions Ward Melville pulled off the repeat, dominating last week’s League II swim championships with 354 points, followed by West Islip with 253. But the Bonac boys swim team managed to glide into third with 238 points, even though they had a disqualification in the 200-yard medley relay when the backstroke went past 15 meters under water off the start.
In the remainder of the competition, East Hampton achieved 18 personal best times and had three event champions.
“The boys exemplified what it means to compete: striving together, pushing physical and mental limits, and reaching for new heights as a unit,” Coach Craig Brierley said. “Coach Thomas [Brierley], Coach Dave [Riley] in his first season with the team, and I are continually humbled by their heart, dedication, and growth. This year’s squad truly delivered — no disappointments here!”
Among the event champions, Nick Chavez took first in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:05.59. Liam Knight won the 100-yard freestyle in 49.32. And the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Oskar Merseburg, Dylan Knapik, Jasiu Gredysa, and Knight took first place with their best time ever, 1:33.34.
Knight, a senior captain, led the team in scoring with 28 points, with Chavez and Gredysa right behind him at 26 points. Gredysa took second place in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 54.92 and also finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:03.77. Those were both personal records.
Aidan Menu took third in the 50-yard freestyle with a 23.80. He also finished sixth in the 100-yard butterfly with a 59.51 for a total of 21 points. Zeb Ryan swam his best 50-yard freestyle split, a 24.61 in the 200-yard medley relay. He also placed eighth in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly for 10 points. Knapik finished seventh in the 50-yard freestyle and sixth in the 100-yard freestyle for 16 points. Sebastian LeChartier took sixth in the 200-yard individual medley and fifth in the 500-yard freestyle for 19 points. Merseburg finished seventh in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:33.60 and fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:10.52, both personal records that earned him 17 points.
Ralph Carballal, a senior from Southampton, was named swimmer of the meet for his impressive 16.6-second improvement in the 100-yard backstroke, the team’s biggest time drop.
“When the team needed someone for the backstroke event, coaches turned to Ralph — who hadn’t swum it much during the season — and asked him to step up,” Craig Brierley said. “Ralph embraced the challenge with full commitment, eager to contribute to the team’s success. Over the next couple of practices, with targeted guidance from Coach Thomas, Ralph’s focus and determination shone through. He made rapid improvements and positioned himself to compete well. The captains wanted to make sure Ralph’s effort, quick adaptation, and team-first mind-set were recognized.”
The day before the meet, Coach Craig Brierley invited Aimee Neuman, the East Hampton High School psychologist, to speak to the team about mental health and wellness. Brierley said the session focused on building awareness, finding meaning, and developing effective strategies to manage everyday stressors.
“What stands out most is the incredible growth we’ve witnessed in our athletes,” Craig Brierley said. “They’ve learned so much, demonstrated strong character, and shown real dedication throughout the year. As coaches, it’s been a privilege to watch this journey unfold alongside them.”
The season isn’t over yet for Chavez, Gredysa, Knight, Menu, Merseburg, and Ryan. They’re preparing for the Section XI meet on Saturday at Stony Brook University.
