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The East Hampton/Pierson/Southampton boys swim team on the first day of practice on November 17. JACK GRAVES
The East Hampton/Pierson/Southampton boys swim team on the first day of practice on November 17. JACK GRAVES
The East Hampton/Pierson/Southampton boys swim team’s season is already underway, as the team competed in a nonleague meet to start the season with reigning county champion Hauppauge-Smithtown at the East Hampton YMCA RECenter on November 25.
The Bonackers earned multiple county-qualifying times, even one state-qualifying time, but ultimately lost the meet, 93-69, to a very strong Hauppauge-Smithtown team.
“The boys were excited to kick off the year and eager for their first competition — especially in front of the home crowd,” said head coach Craig Brierley, who is entering his 16th season at the helm of the boys team. “This meet also marked our first official competition with our newly combined student-athletes from Southampton High School, adding even more energy to the deck.
“We knew coming in that Hauppauge-Smithtown would be a strong opponent, having claimed the county championship last season,” he added. “Our athletes embraced the challenge and rose to the occasion, delivering strong efforts across all events. Their hard work paid off with several county-qualifying times, multiple personal bests, and — for Pierson junior Nicky Chavez — a New York State Meet qualifying time.”
Chavez accomplished the feat in the 100-yard backstroke, winning in 54.33 seconds, 4 seconds ahead of Hauppauge-Smithtown senior Noah Hutzler. It was for that achievement that Bonac captains — East Hampton seniors Liam Knight and Ryan Zeb and Pierson senior Dylan Knapik — named Chavez the team’s Swimmer of the Meet.
“Nicky was highly motivated to earn a state-qualifying time this season as he narrowly missed the time last season,” Brierley explained. “He was so focused on his goal and locked in for his race and he earned the time in his first attempt.”
Chavez also qualified for counties in the 100 back and the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.09). Additional sectional, or county, qualifying times at the meet included all three relays — the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle — and East Hampton freshman Aidan Menu (200 IM, 100 fly) and Southampton junior Jasiu Gredysa (50 free, 100 fly) also qualified for multiple events.
“The enthusiasm was high, and the sportsmanship displayed by both teams made the meet even more enjoyable,” Brierley said. “Our team walked away proud of their performances and motivated for what’s ahead.”
The 2025-2026 team also includes East Hampton seniors Pema Edwards and Anthony Pillajo, juniors Owen Grisch and Ronan Walters, sophomores Oliver Coppola, Oskar Merseburg, Sebas Ruiz, Luca Speranza and Chris Walters and freshmen Carson Diamond, Colin Grisch, Levon Muse and Justin Peters. Pierson juniors Kai Greene, Ise Haney, Danny Loja and Martin Milazzo also made this year’s team along with sophomore Alex Morocho. And the aforementioned Southampton swimmers new to the program include seniors Ralph Carballal, Erik and Ethan Mejia and William Salinetti, junior Isaiah Warden, sophomore Cris Guaman and freshman Sebastian LeChartier.
The Bonackers will continue to compete in League II this season along with Central Islip, Deer Park/North Babylon, Lindenhurst, Sayville/Bayport-Blue Point, Ward Melville and West Islip. They competed at Central Islip on Tuesday, and will compete against Sachem in a nonleague meet at Sachem East High School this Tuesday, December 9, before hosting Ward Melville in their first league home meet on Thursday, December 11. All dual meets begin at 5:30 p.m.
