Penteck Powers North Boys Swim Past Huntington

The Sachem North boys swimming team comes at its opponent in waves. Not only does it have the strength at the top of its lineup, but its depth will make it a strong contender in League I and at counties.

Another example of that was on display Tuesday night when it knocked off Huntington, 100-80, with a strong all-around performance from a number of competitors. Steve Penteck led the way for the Flaming Arrows with victories in two individual and two relay events.

"It's early in the season and people stepped up," said head coach Larry Saposnick. "Our depth really helped because when we weren't getting first, we were seconds, third and fourths."

North opened its season two weeks ago with a 98-88 victory over East and will look to go 3-0 when it travels to West Islip Thursday (4 p.m.). Half Hollow Hills, the League I favorite, is set to visit North on Jan. 10.

Leading the way Tuesday was Penteck, who captured the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 57.99 seconds, a quarter-second quicker than Huntington's Tom Scott. He also was able to hold off younger brother Chris to win the 100 backstroke. Steve swam it in 59.58 seconds – the only athlete to break a minute – while Chris touched the wall in 1:00.61. The combined 10 points from the event gave North a 12-point lead with three events to go.

Penteck also was a part of two victorious relays. He joined brother Chris, Kyle Beigay and Greg Coleman to capture the 200 free relay (1:41.43), and then the Pentecks teamed up with Cameron Byrnes and James Donlevy in the final and most tightly contested race of the night – the 400 free relay.

Through three legs, the teams were almost dead even. Donlevy took off from the board a third of a second behind Huntington anchor Jake Goldstein, but he made up that time to nip the Blue Devils by four one-hundredths of a second. Donlevy, who didn't participate in the sprint events after winning both against East, swam a race-best 49.38 while Goldstein clocked a 49.69.

The Arrows also took third and fourth in the event, allowing Sachem to win comfortably in its non-league finale at home.

"[The depth] is really huge," Saposnick said. "In the past, we've had one weak relay, but this year we have three solid relays to push us through each meet."

Chris Penteck won an individual event as well, rolling to victory in the 200 freestyle. He touched the wall in 1:56.64 and was the only competitor to eclipse the two-minute mark. Beigay snatched third with a time of 2:08.23.

For all the first-place finishes, the Arrows really made hay once the first swimmer was done. Greg Coleman scored two second-place finishes in both the 200 IM (2:11.06) and 500 free (5:13.08); in both races, he matched up with Goldstein, who broke the 500 free school record at Huntington by 12 seconds with a time of 4:48.91.

Saposnick also pointed out Adam Enzinger's second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Enzinger (1:09.26), Lyon (1:10.64) and Ilardi (1:22.01) took second, third and fourth respectively to pile up all-important points for North. Other second-place racers were 50 freestylist Omar Ramzy (26.31) and Byrnes in the 100 free (58.22). The 400 free relay foursome of Ramzy, Enzinger, Derek Avila and Grant Lindeman also took second (4:15.98).

North was immediately staked 10 points as it swept diving – Huntington didn't field any divers. Graham took the top spot with 211.05 points, while Galletta placed second with 124.35.