HENRY MILLER | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MCALLEN — Shaine Casas’ earliest memories of swimming come from about age 5.
His grandmother, Elsa, remembers him at even an earlier age — before he could walk — crawling toward the family pool; doing anything he could to get into the water.
His mother, Monica Epling, however, has a different story. Her memories go back much farther.
“He doesn’t believe me when I tell him he was geared toward swimming,” she said. “I was severely sick my entire pregnancy, and I couldn’t get comfortable unless I was submerged in the bathtub or water or in the pool. He’s been around water since before he was born.”
All those years of swimming came to a peak on Wednesday, as Casas signed a national letter of intent to swim for Texas A&M under a full scholarship offer.
“I can’t wait to go. I’ve been ready for months,” said Casas, who was the Texas 6A high school state runner-up in the 200-yard intermediate medley and the 100 fly last season. “A&M is like a second home already, and we’re going to bring home a championship there.”
He also competed in junior nationals last year in New Jersey, winning the 100-meter butterfly and taking second in the 200 butterfly. His times already would qualify him for the Olympics with more than 50 percent of the countries around the world. He actually tied for first in the 100 – with Moldovan Olympian Alexei Sancov. Casas handled the heightened level of competition in stride at those junior nationals, placing at least eighth in each of seven individual events and in two of three relays.
Casas came up through the swimming ranks first as a safety measure. His mom wanted to make sure he knew how to swim so he wouldn’t be a bigger risk of drowning.
“Then he went to the Gus & Goldie program in McAllen, and the lifeguards were swim coaches there,” his mom said. “They came up to me and said that Shaine should try out for the team, and so we did. Then he swam for TAAF (Texas Amateur Athletic Federation), and then he started competing for USA swimming. He’s been competing since he was about 5.”
McAllen High School Principal Albert Canales said that Casas is a respectful student and athlete, whose grades in the classroom and performances in the water are both exceptional.
“You don’t get into A&M like he is going in without having both the ability in and out of the classroom,” Canales said. “He has done a lot of good things for our community and school and has brought a lot of positive recognition. He’s a good role model for McAllen High School.”
McAllen ISD Athletic Director Paula Gonzalez said she was in a store in Brownsville when she came across a friend and teacher from Brownsville.
“He said, ‘You’re in McAllen, right? You have Shaine Casas.’ I said, ‘Yes, that’s right,’” Gonzalez said. “He said his son was a swimmer, and that Shaine was absolutely a great athlete and a great gentleman. Then he said, ‘He’s probably the best athlete in the entire Valley.’ We are super excited and proud of him and what he’s done and is going to do.”
Casas paid two other schools a visit — Notre Dame and the University of Tennessee. But, he said, those were just formalities.
“I knew in my mind since last Christmas that I wanted to be an Aggie,” Casas said. “I visited those places just to make sure.”