By STEFAN MODRICH
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Among the several Rio Grande Valley swimmers and divers headed to the University Interscholastic League state swimming & diving meet this week, the contingent from Harlingen High and Harlingen South features three seniors who may very well be some of the most seasoned competitors at the event.
Harlingen High diver Amber Warner is set to make her third trip to Austin, and Harlingen South diver Jason Luckey and swimmer Camille Conlu Lizada are each set to make their second appearance at the state meet.
Lizada, who is set to compete in the 100 butterfly, reflected fondly upon her first state competition, calling it “the greatest experience I’ve ever had.”
She missed the qualifying cut by finishing third, less than half a second behind the runner-up in the 100 butterfly at the regional meet during her sophomore year.
Lizada credited her parents for their role in helping her bounce back and said she looks forward to being surrounded by “a lot of good energy” at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin.
“They’ve been my No. 1 supporters since Day 1,” Lizada said. “Seeing their faces (after a race), no matter what the outcome, is what makes me do what I do every single day.”
Like Lizada, Warner and Luckey have benefited from a plethora of coaches and time spent practicing for club teams and in other settings.
But the tutelage of HCISD diving coach Yvonne Moran has been especially helpful to the boys and girls from South and Harlingen High.
“We support each other as much as we can, we’re always watching each other and we correct each other,” Warner said. “So it really does help.”
Warner has been focused on improving her technique this season in an effort to improve on last year’s performance to reach Saturday’s final.
“Watching (Warner) be better than me does motivate me,” Luckey said with a wry smile. “(Because) I don’t like her being better than me. I’m pretty competitive, so seeing anyone do better than me makes me want to do better.”
Moran has seen both of her state qualifiers progress since their first opportunities to compete on the state stage.
“(Competing at state) really helped him grow into the diver he is now,” Moran said.
Luckey’s easygoing approach appears to have played a part in his success, which helped him mentally through a tough spell after he broke his nose and missed time at the start of the 2019-20 season.
“I think it’s going to be even more fun,” Luckey said of his expectations for his second state bid. “All of the hype is going to be great, and it’s going to get me really motivated to do my best and hopefully to do their best. I think my whole family is going to go, and I’ve asked them specifically to go nuts even if I do terribly.”
Moran said Lizada has been a role model who has gained the respect of divers and swimmers alike, and who has influenced several younger swimmers and divers to pursue the sport at a higher level.
“Swimming, since I was 8 years old, really has directed me onto the right path,” Lizada said. “It helps me to stay on the right path with school and keeping myself in shape.”