Perazella Breaks Swim Records While Going Back To The Basics

November 28, 2009 by Greg Lederer

Cheshire swimmer Brianna Perazella didn’t know what to expect from her freshman season at Mount Saint Mary College (Newburgh, New York). Tendonitis in both shoulders and ankles wore her out so much that for the first time in many years, she chose to not swim the short course season for the Cheshire YMCA Sea Dog Swim Club.
Not only was she uncomfortable being away from competition for months, but Perazella also knew there would be rust for the start of her college career. Rewriting school history is something she couldn’t have imagined.
Perazella broke the 200-yard freestyle record (2:07.44) during the season opener and added another first place in the 200-yard individual medley (2:23.98) to lead the Blue Knights to second place at the Mount Saint Mary’s College Invitational. She has since broken her own 200-yard individual medley (2:23.88), 500-yard freestyle (5:31.38), and 200-yard medley relay (2:04.78) records, to go along with the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:20.48). The relay record was significant considering that Kassie Kaval, Jamie Testa, and Maggie Connell are also newcomers to the program.
“It’s a great feeling. I’m here to help the team and try to get my strokes better,” said Perazella. “One of the records, I broke with three teammates. The other girls are freshmen too, so it was great for the four of us.”
A 2009 graduate of Cheshire High School, Perazella is adjusting to more than just new teammates and surroundings. The coaching staff has emphasized stroke work to lessen the pressure on her shoulders. Like a basketball player with a jump shot, tinkering with that repetition can be nerve-racking. However, Perazella knew her strokes needed work and thus has been very open to change.
“My times haven’t been as great as they have in the past. I didn’t expect to see the records,” added Perazella. “I want to improve my strokes and times for the rest of the season.”
Perazella is expanding her repertoire at the collegiate level. As a member of the Sea Dogs and CHS program, she was recognized as an elite distance swimmer. Perazella (All-State/Southern Connecticut Conference Champion) won the Class LL 500-yard freestyle title (5:06.29) as a junior and lowered that time (5:04.32; fourth all-time at CHS) to finish runner-up at the State Open. She earned the 2005 Most Improved Swimmer Award and then last fall, Perazella became a senior captain alongside Sam Loignon, Jessica Metcalf, and Liz Visconti.
Perazella also swam from 200 to 1,650 freestyles during YMCA national championships. The Sea Dogs swim both yards and meters.
“So far, I’ve been doing the 200 IM (individual medley) and breaststroke. My (butter) fly has gotten so much better and that improves my IM,” explained Perazella, who has won 12 events in five meets. “To know I have other events other than freestyle distance makes it easier on me.”
The fact that she is breaking records, while not at 100 percent, creates room for improvement. Gene Damm coaches the Mount Saint Mary men’s team, yet he has worked closely with Perazella and believes she has the potential to be a Division III All-American.
“Brianna is going to be even better,” said Damm, whose wife (Mary) coaches the women’s program. “She hasn’t gone all out yet. Our job is to fix her stroke and we may not let her go all out at the ECAC (Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference; Dec. 4-6) Championship. We want her to swim with ease and not hurt herself.”
Telling an athlete to not go 100 percent can be difficult sometimes, but the Damm family has experience working with driven competitors. Their goal is to have Perazella ready as possible for the post-season.
“She is playing it smart right now. When we are ready to have her swim really fast, she will do it. The records are interim right now,” Gene Damm explained. “You get an athlete like her and you need them to get over the fear of losing time by changing their stroke.”
A deep group of seven freshmen have made an immediate impact for the undefeated Blue Knights (4-0 record). Perazella won the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle on Nov. 21, adding to the victorious 200-yard medley relay during a 93-87 victory at Drew University.
“It’s really funny,” said Damm, of coaching alongside his wife. “It’s unselfish between us. When you get freshmen who are willing to work together, they will mature.”
Mount Saint Mary has 1-0 record in the Skyline Conference, after defeating Purchase College (105-91) on Nov. 7. The Blue Knights visit Sarah Lawrence College on Monday Night, at 7 p.m.