By Joseph Staszewski
Bayside swimmers Jennifer Arana Perez and William Harrison had never heard of the PSAL’s Wingate Award until Arana Perez discovered she had won for the organization’s top senior girls’ swimmer. She immediately put the pressure on Harrison.
“I told him he had to win it because we had to win it together,” she said.
Harrison figured he had a shot, and the sweep of the awards for the Commodores became complete when he earned the nod for boys’ swimming in March. It meant both needed to be ready for the ceremony at the Brooklyn Marriot on June 8.
“Then it was like, ‘OK. Now we have our own table,’” Harrison said.
The dual award was made extra special by the fact that Arana Perez and Harrison trained together outside of the halls of Bayside with the Flushing Flyers club team. Arana Perez swam for the Flyers for 15 years and Harrison the last two.
“It’s cool winning stuff side by side,” Harrison said.
Both were winners throughout their careers at Bayside. Harrison qualified for the New York State Federation swimming championship all four years in the 100-yard butterfly. He finished in the top eight each time. This year he placed a personal best third in the event that he set PSAL records in and was unbeaten in during league competition.
He collected 16 PSAL medals during his career and led Bayside to the playoffs each season. The honors student will swim at Division-I Binghamton next year. Harrison felt at home there.
“Just visiting the team it seemed like a good fit,” he said. “The financial side and the academics, it all fell into place over there. I loved the place.”
Arana Perez had similar success. She was a four-year qualifier for states in the 100 butterfly, reaching the final each time. Arana Perez won 12 PSAL medals and was a key cog of a strong 200 medley relay team. She will swim for Division II Queens College next season.
“I knew I wanted to stay home and it was the only D II around that I could stay home at,” Arana Perez said.
She and Harrison made sure to enjoy one more accomplishment together before they go their separate ways.
“He and I have been training together for a couple of years,” Arana Perez said. ‘It’s been great, especially to win this together.”
