Swimming sensation Camila Perez-Segnini has been named the Rye High Athlete of the Month for November, and Wrestling Captain Fritz Zahringer has earned the honor for December, the Lions Club announced recently.

By Mitch Silver

Swimming sensation Camila Perez-Segnini has been named the Rye High Athlete of the Month for November, and Wrestling Captain Fritz Zahringer has earned the honor for December, the Lions Club announced recently. They and all the 2013-14 monthly honorees will be feted at an awards dinner at The Osborn in June.

A varsity swimmer for five years, Perez-Segnini somehow finds the time for Honors and AP courses, as well as a full boat of community service, when she’s not in the water. For the past four years she’s served Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to disadvantaged families through Part of the Solution (POTS).

When she’s in the pool, Perez-Segnini excels at any distance — the longer the better. She represented the Garnets this season at States in the 500-freestyle finals, and made the 2014 Senior METS Finals in the mile, the 1,000- and the 500- freestyle.

But her true forte may be open-water swimming. Perez-Segnini finished first in the Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon in both the 16-and-under and 19-and-under divisions. Closer to home, she won the 17-and-unders at the Jarden Westchester Triathlon and led all comers in the 2013 West Point Triathlon open-water swim.

“Swimming’s like breathing to me,” she said. “I always love doing it, along with other sports. I’m always elevating my standards, and trying to improve. Thanks so much for this award!” Camila will attend and swim for The Peddie School next year.

Fritz Zahringer, by contrast, has led a land-locked athletic career at Rye High. A five-year wrestler who’s been captain of the Garnets for the last two seasons, Zahringer was well on his way to earning a second-straight All-League laurel this year when he suffered a season-ending injury. Though disappointed, Zahringer still pulled hard for his Garnet teammates in an up-and-down season. He retires with five varsity letters and an MVW (Most Valuable Wrestler) award at Rye’s own tournament his junior year to show for his efforts.

The young man with a Math department award in Algebra and other Honors and A.P. classes — one who coaches PeeWee wrestlers when he’s not on the mat himself — is hoping to hear from the University of Miami; he’s already been accepted by Ithaca and Roanoke colleges.

“Winning this award is a great honor. I’ve been wrestling since elementary school and it is truly my passion. Although unable to finish my senior season due to shoulder surgery, I am happy with all the hard work I’ve put in am looking at the possibility of wrestling at the college level.”