By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — The Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center will play host to the Region VIII-6A swimming & diving meet this weekend.
The prelims are scheduled for today, and the finals are set for Saturday.
East Valley swimmers from District 32 will be joined by swimmers from Districts 29, 30 and 31. The top two swimmers in each event will qualify for the state meet Feb. 18-19 in Austin.
Los Fresnos, Laredo Alexander, Mission High and PSJA High all won district titles for boys and girls last weekend.
The Lady Falcons won the regional meet as a team last year for the third consecutive year, and despite their small team this season, they still pack a punch.
Senior Angela Loera, junior Ariana Mancillas, junior Jada Ashford, senior Reiana Apacible and junior Evangeline Wrinkle performed well in their district championship win last week.
The senior-heavy Los Fresnos boys will be led by seniors Jayden Crews, Angel Lopez, Fernando Ramirez, Luis Izaguirre and sophomore Christopher Reynolds.
“I am excited for our student-athletes that accomplished their goals of defending their district titles and qualifying for regionals,” Falcons swim coach Jaime Perez said. “Our swimmers and divers strive on the motivational support they receive from our community. The competition at regionals is fierce, but that is what makes it fun.”
The competition will be fierce. The Brownsville Hanna boys, led by seniors Ricardo Rodriguez and Michael Kowalski, are great in the freestyle relays and individual freestyle events.
Harlingen High and Harlingen South have great young distance swimmers. South underclassmen Daniela Gonzalez, Mia Gonzalez and Mia Hinojosa are ready.
South freshman Isaac Oviedo’s time at district looks to be competitive at the regional meet. Oviedo will be pushed by teammate Austin Scogin. Junior Frank Pimentel took district gold in the backstroke.
Harlingen High distance swimmers, sophomore Elise Hernandez and freshman Giovanna Pierami, both looked solid at district with first-place finishes. Junior Davina Gutierrez will push the Lady Falcons’ swimmers.
East Valley swimmers will be pushed by the rest of the region, too.
“Once you are in, anything could happen,” Perez said. “If you got a lane, you got a chance.”