East's Valerie Zeffiro Resets 100-Yard Backstroke Record in State Meet

Sachem East varsity swimmer Valerie Zeffiro, representing Sachem East and Section XI in the New York State Championship meet, came in 26th out of 55 swimmers in the preliminary round of the 100-yard backstroke this past Friday, finishing in 1:00.05.

Despite not moving ahead to the final round, where only the top 24 finishers were allowed to advance, the new time resets the previous school record she had set in the event at last weekend's Suffolk County championship at Suffolk County Community College Brentwood, where she had finished in 1:00.40. Zeffiro had also reset a school record at Brentwood in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:01.20. 

East swim coach Kathleen Dugan, who joined Zeffiro en route to Buffalo, said the junior was mildly disappointed at not breaking her one-minute goal but still happy at the continued improvement through to the state level. 

"I personally think the 100-yard backstroke is one of the harder events to come back [to the finals] from," said Dugan, adding that Zeffiro had been seeded 32nd prior to the meet,"but we finished the season on a good note."

That dedication carries through to the off-season as well: Zeffiro participates in club swimming year-round with the Three Village Swim Club. A club swimmers' consistent work ethic commonly makes them among the more valuable members of a team, but the dynamic remains quite different from club competition, which is more centered on individual achievements, according to Dugan. 

Dugan also coaches the Sachem Swim Club alongside head coach Al Scott, North's varsity girls swim coach.