If you were to analyze the sweat of an east swimmer, you’d probably find equal parts gunpowder and chlorine. The East swim team is proof that fire can burn under water.
“At practice, you’re exhausted, you’re cold, and you’re really hungry,” said Junior Huibo Guan as he stood outside the swim locker room. “But when you choose to put in 100 percent regardless, that’s when you become stronger.” Huibo proceeded to pound his chest in triumph.
Indeed swim practice is something special. The team spends hours in the pool, swimming their way through complicated sets as prescribed by coaches Mike Doerfler and Chris Miller. Practices can range from 4000 to 7000 yards of swimming, where 25 yards is standard pool length.
In practice, swimmers learn to communicate during the pockets of rest that separate bouts of swimming. If you were to eavesdrop on a conversation between two swimmers during practice, you’d probably hear something like this.:
“Wanna”
*100 yard butterfly*
“get”
*100 yard backstroke*
“food”
*100 yard breaststroke*
“later?”
*100 yard freestyle*
Yet the work put in at East’s pool has paid off– the swim team is currently undefeated and has clinched the Division Title. Against Williamsville North, James Jiang’s 100 Yard Breaststroke not only broke the North pool record, but qualified Jiang for the New York State Swimming Championship.
And in between decisive wins in the pool, this team knows how to have fun, whether we are ordering the entire menu at Mighty Taco, blasting Simple Plan on the team bus, executing our famous post-meet cheer, or even competing at an Ohio track meet.
In December, swimmers Ryan Berkun, James Jiang, Huibo Guan, and Alec Siskar made a special showing at an Ohio-based invitational track meet. The boys ran individual events as well as relays, sporting Speedo swim suits and goggles during races. Alec Siskar placed 11th in the 1 Mile Run, with a time of 5:28.94, and Ryan Berkun placed 9th in the 400 yard run with a time of 54.6 seconds. In the 4×200 relay, the boys placed 7th with a time of 1:44.58. Ironically, the amphibious East Swimmers were able to take down many accomplished track runners from across the East Coast.
With only one home meet this season, East takes on South High at Transit Middle School, Friday January 24, at 6 pm. This meet will be East’s senior meet, a chance to honor and look back on the careers of seniors Chris Choi, Rohith Bhagavatula, Nick West, Ryan Berkun, Prabhu Sasankan, James Jiang, Ryan McNerney, Justin Kacko, and Henry Chen.
Looking ahead, Varsity Swimming is gearing up for what looks to be a promising post-season, starting at Erie County Interscholastic Conference Championships on February 1, and ending with NYS Championships on March 1. During the coming weeks, East seeks to secure additional NYS qualifying times, both in individual events and relays.
