Port Washington's Manorhaven Red Devils beat the East Meadow Veterans in Saturday morning's swim meet at the pool at Manorhaven Beach Park, 194 - 126. This victory continues the team's winning streak for the season, having defeated New Hyde Park's Clinton G. Martin Park Duckies last week.
"Everyone swam their hardest and put in a lot of effort, and of course had fun," said Coach Max Todd, adding that the team still has a tradition of pushing the coaches—fully-clothed-- in the pool after each swim meet.
The meet kicked off at 8 a.m. as fans watched the Red Devils, standing in a red-hued huddle, cheer in synch, followed by equally spirited chanting from their neighboring competitors.
The "Vets" and Red Devils hadn't competed in about ten years because they were in different divisions, explained Barbara Bernstein, a self-described "swim mom" from East Meadow. When the Red Devils won their championship at the end of last summer, they moved up in rank to Division II, which often contains a mix of non-U.S.A. and U.S.A.-swimmers, with the latter possibly going on to compete in the Olympics.
Parents from both teams--unfazed by the early hour and heat-- camped out across from the diving boards in beach-style chairs, chatting as they casually kept score at just another get-together.
"We're getting destroyed here! They're doing very well," noted Bernstein light-heartedly during the first half of the meet.
Across from clapping spectators, coaches and veteran swimmers coaxed younger members to swim farther, harder and faster with encouraging shouts of "Go! Go! Go!" A cheering chorus of one girl's name resounded as she rounded out her laps.
Port Washingtonian Dan Pohoreckyj, whose eight-year-old son, Brian, has been swimming with the Red Devils for two years, echoed the popular sentiment that the group is more a family than a sports team.
"It's a unique scenario where the team is comprised of different sexes and age groups, and unique in that the older swimmers…mentor and befriend the younger swimmers," Pohoreckyj said.
That connection seems to continue up the ranks. Coach Max Todd, now 20, swam with the team for 10 years before beginning to coach four years ago. Today, he says he and his fellow coach Julia Vogel emphasize having fun, especially by holding a group bonding session every Friday in addition to regular practices Monday through Thursday.
Next Saturday the Red Devils will travel and compete against Lynbrook's local swim team. They plan to wrap up the summer as usual with a championship meet August 12 against all the season's competitors at the Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park in Westbury.
Lisa Lay, whose 13-year-old daughter Jina is the youngest of five to swim with the Red Devils, said the Port Washington team has a reputation for spirit among Long Island teams.
"When we go to championships, they all know we're coming 'cause we basically paint ourselves in war paint," said Lay.
Without looking too far into the future, Todd thinks everyone's efforts have paid off so far.
"I've always taught my kids, 'If you work really hard, you'll be rewarded and see your times improve,'" he said after Saturday's win.
