Q&A with the Valley Stream freshman who helped propel the district boy's swim team to an All-Conference finish

In just its second year of competition, the Valley Stream district boys’ swim team earned All-Conference honors in Nassau County, marking a significant milestone in the team’s young history. Among the standout swimmers was 14-year-old Marc Santamaria, a freshman at South High School, who qualified for multiple events and brought intense dedication to the team’s effort.

The Herald sat down with Santamaria to talk about his training regimen, motivation, and what makes swimming such a powerful part of his life.

Q: First off, congratulations on earning All-Conference recognition with your team. What was your role in this achievement?

Santmaria: Thank you! My role was to try my best and compete as hard as I could. I’ve really started getting more competitive in swimming lately, so I gave it everything. I qualified for four events—those were at the All-County level.

 

Q: Which events did you qualify for and share how you placed in your events at the conference?

Santmaria: Sure. The 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 IM, and the 500 freestyle. In the 200-yard medley relay, we placed 21st. I placed 35th in the 200 IM, and 34th in the 100 back. In the 400 free relay, we placed 18th. Swimming is really all about time—your age doesn’t matter as much as how fast you are.

Q: What does it take for a team to earn All-Conference recognition?

Santmaria: We have to train hard—on and off season. Magnus [Gros] and I swim six days a week, and we both hit the gym in the mornings. Over the summer, I even did two practices a day—one in the morning and one at night. You’ve got to keep grinding.

Q: Would you say you’re an all-around swimmer then?

Santmaria: Yeah, I think of myself as an all-around swimmer. But for next year, I’m aiming to qualify in every event throughout the season. I want to be even more consistent.

 

Q: What kind of preparation went into the All-Conference competition?

Santmaria: I train with the Long Island Aquatic Club, or LIAC. It’s a very competitive swim team—some of the swimmers there have even qualified for the Olympics. I train six days a week for two hours each day. Sometimes in the mornings, I also hit the gym with my dad.

 

Q: How did you get into swimming in the first place?

Santmaria: I started with the Valley Stream summer team when I was younger and just fell in love with the sport. My dad signed me up for LIAC, and I started in their white group, then moved up through red, silver, blue, and finally to gold, which is their highest level in Long Beach.

 

Q: What do you love most about swimming?

Santmaria: Definitely the competition. You’re not just racing others—you’re racing yourself to be better. I also have friends on the team, and it’s fun trying to beat them too.

 

Q: Who’s your biggest influence or role model?

Santmaria: Definitely my dad. He’s never swum in his life, but he still knows more about swimming than I do! He pushes me every day and helps me fix my strokes. He really motivates me.

 

Q: Has swimming taught you anything outside the pool?

Santmaria: Time management for sure. I come home from school, do my homework, eat, go to practice, shower, and sleep. There’s no time to waste. It’s taught me a strong work ethic.

 

Q: Have you faced any obstacles in your swim journey?

Santmaria: Losing by a millisecond can be tough. Those close losses are frustrating,

Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.