On Friday afternoon, the girls’ swim team opened the season against Sayville/Bayport-Blue Point and Madi Sargent picked up right where she left off a year ago.

The freshman broke her own school record in the 200 freestyle with a mark of 1:57.02, resetting her top time of 1:57.08 set at last October’s League Championships. Her 200 mark already qualified her for the State Championship while her 5:15.02 win in the 500 free left her just a second away from state qualification.

Though the Bears fell to the perennially powerful Sayville/Bayport squad, 42-53, there were plenty of highlights for the Bears with only a week and half of training under their belts. Sarah Vincent took 2nd in the 100 breaststroke, Ruthie Crane was 2nd in the 50 free and 3rd in the 500 free with lifetime bests of 27.66 and 5:55.60, respectively, and Rebecca Crane out-touched Sayville at the wall to anchor the 400 free relay to victory.

The girls are back in the pool on Sept. 25 in a meet at Sachem East.

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