By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
Quinten Deysel and Matthew Lovett are set to lead the Brownsville Hanna boys’ 200 freestyle relay to the University Interscholastic League state meet, a two-day event that begins with the semifinals today at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin.
Hanna captain Aaron Valdez, who will be traveling with the Golden Eagles’ qualifiers as a state alternate alongside Ricardo Najera, said he is proud of the way his teammates have performed this season.
“This year has been a great season for us,” Valdez said. “The boys have stepped up their game a lot, sophomores picking up their pace, juniors breaking records, Matthew breaking records. The relays are at their peak, they’re up there. … I’m really proud of these guys, and it’s going to be a good experience to go to state with them.”
Lovett broke a school record that he previously held in the 100 backstroke during the UIL Region VIII-6A championship Feb. 8 at the Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center.
“This year, specifically, has been really fortunate for me,” Lovett said after competing at the Region VIII-6A championship. “Each meet, I kept on improving, lowering my time and beating myself (and what I had done) previously. … I feel grateful for all the people that have supported me throughout — my coaches, my teammates, my family — everybody knew I could do it, I just needed to believe in myself.”
Also, Deysel will be competing in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, and Lovett will swim in the 100 backstroke.
Sophomores Ricardo Rodriguez and Michael Kowalski are among those who have stepped up and benefited from a shuffling of the order in the 200 freestyle relay between the District 32-6A championship and the regional meet.
“So far, our relay has done really well this season,” Deysel said. “All the sophomores have been working really hard. These sophomores are moving up and becoming a really good part of the relay. With their help, we’ve been doing really good this year, and we’ve been dropping time and getting our goals (accomplished).”
Rodriguez is eager to make a good first impression when he competes in Austin.
“It’s awesome that we can go our sophomore years and then we can see how hard it is, compared to people up north,” Rodriguez said. “(Compared to) people who have been swimming longer and against better competition. … Hopefully we can go back again for our junior and senior year and do better.”
The Class 6A swimming & diving prelims are set to start at 5:30 p.m. Friday, and the 6A finals are slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.