By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
The University Interscholastic League Region VIII-6A swimming & diving championships will take place beginning at 11 a.m. today and 10 a.m. Saturday from the Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center in Brownsville, where several East Valley schools and individuals will compete for a chance to qualify for the state meet in Austin.
Among them are the defending regional champion Los Fresnos Lady Falcons. Despite losing Sarah Villarreal — the leader of the 2019 state qualifying 200 freestyle relay team — to graduation, Los Fresnos won its third straight District 32-6A championship and posted the top seed times in the 200 freestyle relay (1:45.22) and 400 freestyle relay (4:04.22).
The Lady Falcons will have several experienced swimmers return to the pool, including seniors Maria Manongas and Emily Rodriguez.
The Los Fresnos girls are stacked with contenders in the 200 individual medley, the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
Junior Citabria Barrales (2:28.14), sophomore Reiana Apacible (2:33.12) and Rodriguez (2:29.57) are the second through fourth seeds in the 200 IM, respectively.
Freshmen Jada Ashford (53.12) and Ariana Mancillas (58.57) posted the top two seed times in the 100 freestyle. Ashford also comes in as the top seed in the 50 freestyle (23.86).
Hanna’s Nadia Gutierrez (26.40) is the third seed in the 50 freestyle, and Harlingen High freshman Davina Gutierrez (27.39) is seeded fifth.
Junior Rebeca Osuna (5:53.94) had the fourth-best seed time in the 500 freestyle. The only Rio Grande Valley swimmer with a better seed time in the event was Nadia Gutierrez (5:52.92).
Harlingen High senior McKenna Stock (6:21.02) and Los Fresnos’ Angela Loera (6:21.30) are the fifth and sixth seeds in the 500 freestyle.
In the girls 100 butterfly, Harlingen South’s Camille M. Colu Luza (1:06.06) is the top seed. Hanna junior Rahel Giebermann (1:06.90) is the third seed.
The Harlingen South girls earned the second-best seed time in the 400 freestyle relay (4:14.43).
The Hanna boys (1:31.38) have the top 200 freestyle relay seed time, and the Los Fresnos boys, having recently earned their 11th straight district title, checked in as the fourth seed (1:35.02).
Hanna junior Quinten Deysel (48.81) recorded the top seed time in the 100 freestyle and 50 yad freestyle (22.54).
Senior Matthew Lovett posted the second-best seed time in the 50 freestyle (22.93) and 100 backstroke (56.72).
Top contenders in 1-meter dive include 2019 state qualifier and Harlingen High senior Amber Warner, the top seed in the girls division. Harlingen South senior Mae Kennedy is the third seed.
In the boys division, Hawks senior Jason Luckey is the second seed.