Strong Individual Performances Don’t Lead to Team Success for Bears

(From Left) Brewster’s Greg Markert, Mike Quinn, John Carr, Charlie Carr and Niki Tchobanov BREWSTER—Despite some strong individual performances, the Brewster High boys swim team lost its seasonopening duel meet on Dec. 2 to a league opponent comprised of swimmers from Westlake, Pleasantville, Ossining and Briarcliff.

The duel meet came a day after the Bears had very strong showing at the Relay Carnival at White Plains High School, where the Bears medaled in all six relays and took the silver in diving.

In their duel meet, the Bears got strong performances from senior John Carr, sophomores Niki Tchobanov, Charlie Carr and junior Mike Quinn, but it wasn’t enough as they lost 84-101.

As a foursome, the Carrs, Tchobanov and Quinn took first in the medley relay with a time of 1:46.3.

Individually, they took home seven top-three finishes between them, but it wouldn’t be enough to take the meet.

“The reason we didn’t win is because it’s about depth, it’s not just about top finishes it’s also about third and fourth place,” said coach Clare Carr. “We have fast swimmers, but the teams we’re going up against have more depth.”

In the 100 backstroke, the Carrs took the top spots with John beating out the younger Charlie by a fraction of a second to take first place with a time of 1:00.1. In addition to his victory in the backstroke, team captain John Carr also took first place in the 100 freestyle and was part of the 400 freestyle relay team with Charlie Carr, Tchobanov, and Greg Markert that finished in first with a time of 3:24.

Like the older Carr, Charlie also left the meet with an individual first place victory, with his coming in the 100 butterfly with a time of 0:57.

The Bears first-place finishes were rounded out by Quinn, who took first in the 50 freestyle, and Tchobanov, who took first in the 500 freestyle. Freshman Mark Stein delivered a strong performance in diving and took first with a score of 167.6.

In the crescendo relay, Markert joined the Carrs, Quinn and Tchobanov to finish with a time of 4:35.84 and first place finish. Tchobanov anchored the 200 breast stroke relay team to victory with Markert, Chris Curro and Matt Kaufman.

With Quinn setting the pace, the Bears took home their final first place finish with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay. Swimming with Quinn were Steve Le- Pere, Don McLoughlin, and Alex Delin.

Once again the Bears also did well in diving, as divers Chris McAvey and Stein finished in second.

“He was a bit nervous at first,” said coach Carr about the freshman Stein in his first meet. “But after he stuck that first dive he settled down.”

The Bears next meet will be against league opponent Rye at White Plains High School at 5:30 on Tuesday Dec. 15.