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It will be the longest stretch of swimming in open water for Jessica, 17, and David, 14. She swam one mile in a Swim Across America event last year in New York, but this marks the first open-water swim for David.
“I’m a little nervous about it,’’ said David, who swims for the Stingrays youth team at the Scarsdale Jewish Community Center. “I’m worried about getting tired and not being able to finish. I’ve done a mile once, but never this far.”
Jessica said she found swimming in open water more challenging than a pool. “The current makes it a lot harder,’’ she said. “When you swim in a pool, you’re just swimming to swim. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, but it was harder. I also had more motivation because I was doing it for charity.”
One of David’s friends mentioned Swim Across America to him, and he told his sister. She joined Scarsdale High School swimming teammates for last year’s swim in New York. They will swim Saturday with a few friends and coaches of the Stingrays.
Saturday’s swim begins at 6:30 a.m. when the five-mile group begins its journey. Three-mile swimmers begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by 1 ½ mile swimmers (8:30) and half-mile swimmers (8:45).
The swim raises money for cancer research. People can donate support for Jessica and David through their online fundraising page.
“I feel good about doing it because I’m doing it for a good cause,’’ David said. “I don’t think I’m going to mind the pain. I’m helping other people, which will make it easier.”
The Calamaris have a cousin and friends who are battling cancer, which adds to their commitment to the swim. Jessica believes it’s going to be an emotional experience standing on the beach as she gets ready to hit the water.
“It definitely was emotional the first time I did it, and I expect it will be the same for this one,’’ said Jessica, who graduates from Scarsdale High School on Friday. “We’re not going to make it a competitive thing. I’m going to stick with him to make sure he’s OK. I think we’ll do great.”
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