KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN—Harlingen CISD will host its annual Winter Splash Bash Invitational starting today with the diving events at 10:15 a.m., followed by the swimming events Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
“Every year we have two meets, one in the fall and one in the winter here in Harlingen,” said Cardinals swim coach Daniel Uresti. “We are expecting about 20 schools to compete over the weekend.”
Both Harlingen and Harlingen South will take action, along with Brownsville Pace, Hanna, Veterans and St. Joseph Academy. Other schools from around the Rio Grande Valley ecpected to compete are Edinburg Economedes, Sharyland Pioneer, Roma and Sharyland High.
Seven Laredo schools will also make the trip to Harlingen with Laredo Nixon, Cigarroa, L.B Johnson, Martin, United, and United South all listed to compete. Others will be Valley Christian High School, Corpus Christi John Paul II and Corpus Christi Carroll High School.
For the Cardinals, a few swimmers to keep an eye on are, senior Ian Fredrickson in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and McKenna Stock in the 200 and 100 freestyle.
Both the Hawks and Cardinals see the event as not only an opportunity to get better and compete, but also as one final tune up before their district meet later this month in Weslaco.
“The kids are coming off their winter break,” Uresti said. “So there is some rust we need to shake and off and with these meets you never know what can happen. We have had a few practices so we are looking to get into a grove and prepare for district.”
As for the Hawks, sophomore Justin Diaz is looking to make an impact in the 200 free style and 100 breast stroke. Diaz, who qualified for the state meet as a freshman, is looking to pick up where he left off.
Along with Diaz, Pasquale Davila, Erick Verlarde, Brandon Ibarra and divers Jason Luckey, Seth Garza and May Kennedy all are hoping to have big outings this weekend.
“We work hard every day,” Harlingen South coach Hector Castaneda said. “We see this as an opportunity to go out there and compete and get better. We have so many meets and we see every opportunity to see where our kids are at. We are hosting the meet, but the goal in mind is district and regionals.”