The Swimming Scene: Bunch Up In League 1

Just because Half Hollow Hills will likely finish the season undefeated for the fourth straight year doesn’t mean there wasn’t any drama in Suffolk’s League I.

Because of Hills dominance, the race for the No. 2 spot proved the compelling story line, and nothing summed up the competition like the Sachem East-Sachem North rivalry.

The teams, which are currently 4-2 in league, tied the season series at a game apiece, each winning by the slightest of margins on the final event of the meet.

North beat East 93-92 on Dec. 10 and East returned the favor after the Christmas Break, defeating Sachem North 94-92 on Jan. 7.

Sachem North won the 400 relay by roughly two seconds in the first meet, but both teams amped up their efforts for the final contest, with only 0.5 seconds separating the final result.

Sachem East won 3:26.22 to 3:26.72.

"The first meet they beat us by two seconds," Sachem East coach Bill Kropp said. "But the winning time was 3:30...so we swam six seconds faster in that relay. They didn't want to lose.

"With Sachem East and Sachem North, there’s that built in rivalry. You don’t have to say anything as a coach to get them up. No matter what sport it is. That East-North game is the mark on the schedule as soon as the schedule comes out. The kids know each other. They’re friends. They’re online, they’re texting each other. They’re talking smack both ways."