By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
Brownsville Veterans Memorial senior Nico Alvarez and junior Daniela Chapa competed in the preliminary round of the University Interscholastic League state meet held Friday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin.
Alvarez advanced to today’s final round in the 1-meter dive, recording a score of 306.60 and moving one spot ahead of his original seed to 15th place.
“He came in seeded 16th, so he has already moved up,” Chargers diving coach Mark Schlatter said. “The divers were cut down to the top 16 and will complete the final three dives (today). I feel good about his chances to move up some more (today). The competition this year is definitely up from last year.”
Chapa, a junior, finished 24th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:59.94.
“Daniela did not have her best race nor time,” Brownsville Veterans swimming coach Frank Sanchez said. “I believe nerves probably got the best of her. However, she went out and swam strong. It was a great experience for her and having one year left, she is excited about next year and what she needs to do to better prepare. I am proud of her, she accomplished a lot this year. I know she will work even harder next year.”
In Class 6A, Los Fresnos’ Jada Ashford (24.06) advanced to the final round in the 50-meter freestyle. She also placed 22nd (53.40) in the 100 freestyle.
The Lady Falcons’ 200 medley relay (1:59.71) finished 20th. The Los Fresnos girls were 22nd in both the 200 freestyle relay (1:46.94) and 400 freestyle relay (4:06.30).
Hanna’s Quinten Deysel competed in the 50 freestyle (22.26) and 100 freestyle (48.14), placing 21st and 22nd, respectively. His teammate, Matthew Lovett, swam in the 100 backstroke (58.47) and placed 24th.
The Golden Eagles (1:32.12) earned a 23rd-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay.
In the girls 1-meter dive, Harlingen High’s Amber Warner finished 21st (214.30). Los Fresnos’ Anapaula Hernandez (154.35) was 24th.
Harlingen South’s Jason Luckey (279.35) placed 23rd in the boys division.
The 5A swimming and diving finals are slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. today, followed by 6A at 3:30 p.m.