Close Call: Lake Isle Pulls Out Gutsy Late Win

“Regardless if we won, lost, or tied, I want you all to go over and shake a Greenburg swimmer’s hand, because they had a great meet today.”

Those were Head Coach Kevin Lavelle’s words to his swimmers moments after the conclusion of Lake Isle’s dual meet against Greenburg Thursday afternoon. If you cannot already tell from his tone, it was a close one. 

Despite both teams entering the relays with a tied score, however, Lake Isle did in fact pull out the victory – albeit by the smallest of margins, 242 to 228. Lake Isle ended up winning five relays to Greenburgh’s three. If Greenburgh would have managed to steal one more away from Lake Isle, the teams would have ended the meet tied.

“There were three [relays] I was confident we would win, and three I figured they would win, with the other two that could go either way,” Lavelle said. “I tried to get those kids pumped up and ready to swim fast, and we were fortunate to pull them both out. Greenburgh's team isn't very big, but the swimmers they have are very fast. I knew going in this would be a close meet, and we’re just happy we came out on top.”

Thursday’s nail biter over Greenburgh means Lake Isle will have won all three of its home dual meets this summer, with this coming Monday’s Invitational being the team’s last home competition. What it also means is that for just a few more days, Lake’s Isle rather impressive unbeaten streak as a team is preserved. The last time Lake Isle lost a meet was in 2006.

“The success we have had over the past few years has led to the kids being very competitive and not wanting to lose a meet,” Lavalle said. “Our first two meets [this summer] obviously weren't as close as this one, so I wasn't sure how the kids would react.  I know some swimmers like to know the score is close and use it as motivation, where as some may get nervous and not perform as well. I let some of the older kids know how close we were, and they spread the word. When the meet is close and the kids are all around the pool cheering it’s a lot of fun. It’s what summer swimming is all about.”

Another streak that was kept alive Thursday was Nick Torres’ unbeaten spell in individual races, as he has now been a triple winner for Lake Isle in all three of the team’s meets so far this summer. Torres – who took home the freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly events in the 10 & Under division Thursday – is new to the Lake Isle team this year, although he says he already feels very much at home thanks to a few familiar faces and teammates. 

“I’ve made a lot of new friends,” said Torres, who has been swimming for a number of local teams for the last four years. “I already knew some people on the team who swam with me on our year-round team a couple years ago.”

Torres, who already has set the 50-yard backstroke team record this summer, has his sights set on some more Lake Isle team marks, and credits his strong season to that little bit of extra practice he occasionally gets in with some all too familiar opponents.

“My goal is to get close to the 50 [butterfly] record,” he said. “Our dad was a swimmer and diver, so my brother (Chris Torres, also on the Lake Isle Swim Team) and me we come with him to the pool sometimes to practice together. It’s just fun. I try to race my dad but of course he beats me.” 

Torres also anchored Lake Isle’s 10 & Under relay team that broke its own team record Thursday, posting a time of 2:06.75. The other swimmers on the relay and new record-holders were Aidan Bowers, Luca Quinones and Ryan Maierle. Chris Torres was a double-winner in the meet against Greenburgh, finishing first in the 8 & Under boys freestyle and breaststroke.

After Monday’s Invitational at the Lake Isle pool, the team’s next dual meet will be away at Scarsdale on Thursday July 21 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.