Getting to practice is half the battle for these 2

They live in Hicksville, New York – and, gulp, commute daily to the Brooklyn College campus on Bedford Avenue.

“We take a train, and subway,” Elizabeth, who is :30-seconds older than sister Christine, told the Eagle the other day. “We avoid parking this way, and save on gas.”

And after that hour-and-a-half daily haul, it’s full load of classes for the two – and then in the pool for a two-hour swimming practice.

“It makes for a long day,” she said, “But we love it, and manage to get some schoolwork and sleep on the way home.”

But why Brooklyn College?

“Brooklyn has a fantastic theater program,” Christine said. “And they offer the only B.A. Degree in Fine Arts and Acting.”

Money was also a concern. “It is less expensive than the Long Island schools. Only $4,000 per semester.”

Christine Bailey is just one of 14 students to be accepted to that acting program.

As for Elizabeth, she’s pursing her degree in Arts and Film. “Brooklyn has great facilities, equipment and practice room,” she added.

Swimming was just an added plus. “It’s been a long time. We knew Brooklyn had a swim team, and we’ve been swimming since we were 10 or 11 at the CYO. We missed swimming.”
Competitively, they last swam for St. Dominic’s High School in the Fall of 2016.

Don’t let the time-off fool you. Elizabeth set her high school record in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:16.20).

The girls were ready -for college — in the classroom and the in the pool. In fact, Elizabeth proudly says they both earned all A’s last semester.

But as for swimming, it took just a little courage – and a big push from the older sister.

Elizabeth made the first move. “But I wanted Christine to join the team with me,” she said.”

“We’re doing it for the fun, and really we got back into it fairly quickly,” Christine said. “And we’ve made so many new friends.”

They didn’t waste much time, either.

Swimming in their first meet of the year, in early…