Three Village Swimmers Place at Empire State Games

Three Setauket swimmers have returned from the Empire State Games, held July 21-25 in Buffalo, with something to brag about.

Colleen Lampe, 15, and Rachael Bertini, 14, won silver medals in the 400 m individual medley and the 200 m butterfly, respectively, in the scholastic women's division. Kristin Pozmanter, 14, won bronze in the 400 m individual medley.

"They performed very, very admirably," said Barry Roffer, head coach of the Three Village Swim Club.

Lampe, who swam with the Ward Melville varsity swim team as an 8th grader, shaved 12 seconds off her previous best time to complete the 400 m individual medley in 5:35.1.

"I knew I swam my best time because I felt really fast during the race, and I was really tired after," she said.

Bertini, who has been swimming since the age of six, finished the 200 m butterfly in 2:36.64. She said they had been training hard but were well-rested heading into the Empire State Games.

"Being able to medal in one of my best events was a great feeling," Bertini said. "I was very proud."

Pozmanter, who finished the 400 m individual medley in 5:36.71, credited the coaching staff of the Three Village Swim Club with helping her win at the Games.

"Coach Barry and the whole coaching staff is great," she said. "The team really is a family. They all support you when you're swimming."