BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
When Joshua Velasquez takes to the pool today at the UIL Swimming and Diving meet in Austin, he will be in a different position than he was a year ago.
While the junior will compete in the boys 100-meter backstroke for PSJA Southwest, last year he swam in the 200 IM for McAllen Memorial. Velasquez was also joined by younger brother Joseph — who also moved to Southwest — as well as a small cast of teammates.
Now Velasquez represents the Javelinas on his own.
When Velasquez made the move from Memorial to Southwest, he didn’t just change programs but class affiliations as well. While the Class 6A competition found at Memorial is fast, the times in Class 5A are more competitive. Instead of swimming against other Valley kids at regionals, Velasquez was tested against programs from Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
“I never really saw anything like that before,” Velasquez said of his time at regionals. “Those San Antonio teams and all those others schools were very fast. It opened my eyes as to what kind of effort it takes to compete at the next level.”
Velasquez is the first swimmer from PSJA Southwest to advance to state.
FRESHMAN FORM
Stacia Benitez had low expectations for her freshman season with McAllen Memorial. For her first year on the varsity squad, she expected to rank near the bottom in her events.
But Benitez didn’t enter the pool without prior experience. She has competed in various club teams and was the only Valley girls swimmer to compete on a team for USA Swimming made up of 13 and 14 year olds in the state.
As the season progressed, and Benitez steadily saw her name at the top of the standings, her confidence grew as well as her hopes for a trip to the state meet.
Today, she’ll achieve just that when she competes in the girls 100 backstroke, an event she won at regionals with a time of 1 minute, 00.12 seconds. Benitez will also compete in two relays.
“I think it’s going to be a good experience for me,” Benitez said. “I’ve swam at the pool where they hold the state meet before, so I know how big it is and what to expect. But I just want to see how I measure up against other swimmers in the state.”
NOT DONE
McAllen ISD swim teams often travel outside the Valley to expose their swimmers to faster competition. Memorial’s Hannah Bradford has traveled outside of team functions as a member of the McAllen Swim Club — competing in pools as far away as Texas A&M.
“It made me realize that I’m not done here,” Bradford said. “It made me realize that there are faster times out there and faster kids. The Valley is only the beginning of what I want to do.”
This marks Bradford’s first time at the state meet, where she will compete in the girls 100 backstroke, the 200 IM as well as two relays.
THREE TIMES TO STATE
At his third visit to state, McAllen High senior Erroll Lizotte will compete as an individual in the boys100 butterfly. Lizotte won first in the event at regionals with a time of 51.25 seconds.
SOPHOMORE SENSATION
In his first year with McAllen High after transferring from Sharyland High, sophomore Shaine Casas will compete in the boys 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
TO THE MAX
McAllen High’s Max Saenz will compete in the boys 200 IM.