ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center has been a source of pride for Brownsville ISD and the city in general for nearly 20 years.
It is a spacious indoor swimming and diving facility, one of the finest in South Texas, with the capacity to hold the largest of meets, such as this week’s Region VIII-6A competition that begins today and runs through Saturday. The meet will attract upwards of 400-plus swimmers and divers from as far away at Laredo.
Closer to home, the meet will include athletes from Los Fresnos, Hanna, Rivera, Harlingen High and Harlingen South, plus other Valley 6A schools.
Class 5A swimmers and divers such as those from Brownsville schools Veterans Memorial, Lopez, Pace and Porter will be competing today and Saturday at the Region VIII-5A meet at the Corpus Christi ISD Natatorium.
The Clark Center opened during the 2000-01 school year, according to aquatic center director Monica Rosales. The first regional meet took place there in 2005. This week marks the 15th consecutive year for a regional meet to be held there. Over the years, it has been the site of numerous high-level amateur meets as well.
“The facility was (the late) Mrs. Clark’s dream to take care of our children, who are our future,” Rosales said. “The facility has elevated swimming for our kids to be able to keep up with the big fish (as they compete against other top athletes from around the state). The uniqueness of this facility allows for a wide variety of ages and abilities to benefit.”
The regional meet at the Clark Center starts at noon today with prelim competition. The top 16 finishers in each event today advance to Saturday’s finals starting at 10 a.m. The diving begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Some of the Lower Valley’s top swimmers to watch who won their events at last week’s District 32-6A meet include Los Fresnos’ Luis Osuna (100 freestyle), Hanna’s Nadia Gutierrez (100 freestyle and 100 backstroke), Harlingen High’s McKenna Stock (200 freestyle), Harlingen South’s Justin Diaz (200 individual medley) and Camille Lizada (100 butterfly) along with 1-meter divers Seth Garza of South and Amber Warner of Harlingen High.
Osuna already has advanced to the UIL state meet twice. This year it is scheduled Feb. 15-16 in Austin.
Los Fresnos has perhaps the largest contingent of athletes participating at the 6A regional meet with 23 (12 boys and 11 girls).
Brownsville Veterans is not far behind with 21 athletes, including three male divers, who have qualified for the Region VIII-5A meet in Corpus Christi.
Brownsville Veterans swimmers and divers to watch at the 5A regional meet who won their events at the District 32-5A meet last week include Daniela Chapa (200 individual medley and 500 freestyle), Adrian Rodriguez (50 and 100 freestyles), Javier Garcia (200 freestyle), Daniela Santillana (50 freestyle), Nico Alvarez (1-meter diving), Salma Mena (100 backstroke) and Karen Rodriguez-Lua (100 breaststroke).
Also winning her event at the 32-5A meet was Pace’s Diana Garza Garcia (100 butterfly).
The top two finishers in individual events and relays at the regional level move on to state. The top three divers go as well.
Brownsville Veterans coach Frank Sanchez thanked all his swimmers and divers for their efforts this season, especially his seniors.
“I’ve had my seniors with me the last four years, and I just want to say that I couldn’t be more proud of them, and really, everyone on our team,” Sanchez said. “I wish them the best. I’m just glad they were on this team for us. The girls have won district three straight years, and the boys just came up short this year (by two points to PSJA Southwest), but they won district the two years before that.
“Our boys are a young group,” Sanchez added. “I think they’ll be hungry next year (as well). I’m really proud of everybody. This regional meet is something I think everyone will put a lot of heart into.”