HARLINGEN — The District 32-6A swim meet was held in a new venue this year, but it was business as usual for the Los Fresnos swimming program.
Both the Los Fresnos boys and girls swim teams dominated and were once again crowned league champions Saturday after noon at the Harlingen CISD Aquatics center.
It is the seventh consecutive district title for the boys and the fourth for the girls.
“It means the world to me and it’s our goal every year; it’s what we do,” said Albino Cisneros, who was also named Coach of the Meet for the boys and the girls. “It’s been a rough year with weather and us having to practice in an outside facility, but I’ve been tough on the team all year long — they’ve earned it.”
The Falcons placed first with a score of 178, followed by Brownsville Veterans (106) and rounding out the top three was Brownsville Rivera (76).
Leading the way was sophomore Carlos Paredes, who took gold in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.91), the 500-yard free (5:11.80), and was also on the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:48.40) and 400-yard free style relay (3:32.55).
The Lady Falcons scored 135 points to run away with the crown. Rivera and Brownsville Hanna tied with 91 points each.
Lady Falcons senior Ivana Besteiro, who qualified for the state meet last year, was named the Female Athlete of the Meet after placing first in the 200-yard individual medley (2:21.81), the 50-yard freestyle (25.85) and was also on a pair of winning relay teams. Now, she looks forward to the next step on her way back to Austin.
“I was nervous this morning, but I was confident in our team and coach trained us very well for this,” Besteiro said. “I gained confidence after my first race. I’ve been preparing for regionals all year and I trust my coach and my training.”
Winning the Male Athlete of the Meet was Brownsville Veterans senior Jonathan Ashford, who is also eyeing a return trip to state.
Ashford looked dominant, winning the 50-yard freestyle (22.36) and the 100 breast stroke (1:01.07).
“I’m content with my performance today,” Ashford said. “I just want to practice hard this week and go get it at regionals next week. I need to put in two practices in a day and stay focused on the goal at the end.”
Another standout performer of the day was Hanna junior Maya Athena Imperial. She brought home gold medals in the 200-yard freestyle (2:05.55), the 50-yard freestyle (25.85) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:34.00).
The top six individuals in each event and relays qualify for the regional meet. The Region VIII-6A meet is set for Feb. 5-6 at the Margaret Clark Aquatic Center in Brownsville.