By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
Maya Athena Imperial has two goals going into the UIL state swimming & diving meet: swim her fastest time and have fun.
Imperial is a junior swimmer at Hanna and qualified in the 500-yard freestyle after winning the Region VIII-6A championship in that event.
She admits she was a little nervous when she made it to state in both the 500 free and the 200 individual medley last year.
“When I was at state last year, I liked being there, but I just wanted to get the meet over with,” Imperial said. “It was kind of, not intimidating, it was kind of overwhelming, I guess you could say. This year I know what to expect. Not that I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’ve had one state experience behind (me). So I kind of know what more to expect, and I think I’m more conditioned this year. Overall, I feel like I’m more focused this year.”
Hanna coach Samuel Perez thinks familiarity will help Imperial since she had a taste of the atmosphere surrounding the state meet last year.
“She is a special swimmer,” Perez said. “She’s got to be one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever worked with. She is determined, and she’s going to see this out. Last year, we had a few technical hiccups with her suit, so we got the suit in early (so she could) try it on first. She’s going into this race an experienced swimmer. She’s been there before. It was brand new and kind of shocking. Also a little intimidating.”
“As much as a hardcore athlete she is, she’s also a swim fan,” he added. “So all of these names in U.S. swimming are popping up here at the UIL meet, and she’s like, ‘So and so swimming here,’ and she’s so excited to compete with them at this level.”
Imperial grew up swimming but credits the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where Michael Phelps broke the record for gold medals won in a single Olympics, as motivation to get serious about the sport.
“I watched the Olympics in 2008 and, for a lack of a better word, I was just inspired,” she said. “I wanted to join the swim team.”
Nearly eight years later, she’s heading to her second state meet.
Perez expects her to have more fun the second time around.
“I think she’s going to enjoy the meet this year, where last year there was a little bit of nervous energy and it was her first time at the swim meet,” he said. “She’s going in with a little more experience.”
Joshua McKinney covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.