Combined Swim Team Takes Nassau Title

Senior Carina Dai clocked 23.91 seconds in the 50 free to help secure a county championship for her team. That time, paired with a 55.29-second 100 butterfly, formed the core of a dominant performance at the Nassau Aquatic Center in East Meadow on Nov. 7.

The Port Washington/Roslyn girls swim team captured the Nassau County title on Saturday. The squad is a combined entity that head coach Joe Lennon reconfigured three years ago. He merged the rising young talent from Port Washington with established swimmers from Roslyn to create a competitive unit.

Lennon noted that the process has moved through distinct stages. The group won the conference title two years ago. Last year they claimed the division championship. This year, the objective was the county crown. Lennon said the pieces aligned this season. He stated that the athletes felt ready from the first day of the year.

Dai, a Roslyn student, led the charge with three first-place finishes. She also swam on the winning 200 freestyle relay. The senior said the team trained intensely for the event. She emphasized that the group supported one another, which allowed them to maintain momentum throughout the competition.

The team is sending eight swimmers to the state meet on Nov. 19 and 20. They will represent Section VIII, which covers Nassau County. Dai, who is headed to Columbia University, placed third in the 100 butterfly at states last year. Lennon said she has improved in every area this season.

Sophomore Mae Strasser contributed to the victory by winning two events and placing second in another. She also helped secure wins in two relays. Strasser, who will swim the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke at states, credited the older swimmers for their guidance. She said the veterans reminded the younger members to focus on the experience rather than just winning.

Mila Fisher, another sophomore, excelled in longer-distance events. She helped win the 200 and 400 free relays. Fisher qualified for state in the 100 and 200 free. She said she has improved her pacing. She noted that she previously struggled to finish strong but now pushes at the correct moments in the race.

Junior Kamila Ko is a two-event state qualifier. Sophomore Angie Arcerito, who moved to the area from Riverside, Calif., also performed well. Lennon described Arcerito as a pleasant surprise who had a positive impact on the team. Sophomore Vienna Yu added depth as a top 1-meter diver, an element Lennon said past teams lacked for scoring purposes.

The team now prepares for the state meet with the goal of scoring points for their section. Strasser and her teammates credited Lennon for their development. They noted that the relay teams have the best chance of finishing in the top three at the upcoming event.