By KEVIN NARRO | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
PHARR —Seven of the first eight events at the District 31-6A were claimed by PSJA schools. PSJA Southwest grabbed with four first-place finishes, while PSJA North notched three first-place finishes Friday afternoon.
PSJA Southwest’s Lourdes Wisby a junior, claimed first place in the girls 200 yard freestyle. Wisby entered Friday’s meet with a 2:18.25 mark and was placed in the third heat before finishing with a 2:19.57 time in the finals. Wisby also captured her third consecutive district title in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:11.02.
Wisby, a three-year letterman, will make her third trip to the UIL Class 6A Region VIII Meet in Brownsville.
“This is my first year competing in the 200 yard freestyle in district,” Wisby said. I also compete in the 100 backstroke, and winning the district title again in the 100 means so much to me. Switching from the 200 to the 100 was a challenge. The training was different for long distance. It’s a lot more rigorous. I had fun learning the new style despite the challenges. It’s definitely a great feeling getting another district title in a new event.”
PSJA Southwest features a pair of brothers in Joseph and Joshua Velasquez. Joseph, a junior, is a two-year letterman and has reached the regional meet in the individual medley, medley relay, 200 free relay and breaststroke.
Velasquez helped his 200 medley relay team take first place with a 1:49.58 mark and nabbed first place in the 200 freestyle relay with his brother Joshua, who served as the first leg, finishing in 1:33.35. Joseph also had a first-place finish in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:04.18.
“I was able to reach my goals today,” Joseph said. “The competition was definitely tough. The best part was competing with and against my brother.”
The Velasquez brothers faced off in the 200 yard individual medley. In their seeding times, Joseph posted a 2:03.36, with Joshua at 2:04.12. The next closest time was 2:13.81.
Joshua was able to slide past his younger brother in the race, finishing with a 2:06.66 while Joseph ended with a 2:08.53.
“I’m so proud of my younger brother,” Joshua said. “It’s my last year, and I’m taking it all in. What is happening right now is very special to me as an older brother.”
Both brothers have been involved in swimming since they were 10 years old, and both feed off of each other.
“I’ve tried to teach him what I know, and he’s learned and done such a good job,” Joshua said.
Joshua’s season isn’t done yet, as he will compete in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke at the regional meet in Brownsville.
PSJA North took the girls district title with 124 points, while PSJA Southwest won the boys district title with 155 points.
District 31-6A Swimming Results
At Bannworth Park Aquatic Center, Mission
Friday, Jan. 27
Team Results
Girls
1, PSJA North, 124; 2, Edinburg High, 118; 3, Edinburg Vela, 101; 4, Edinburg Economedes, 52; 5, Edinburg North 42; 6, PSJA Southwest, 34; 7, PSJA Memorial, 33; 8, PSJA High, 20.
Boys
1, PSJA Southwest, 155; 2, Edinburg Vela, 95; 3, PSJA High, 92; 4, Edinburg High, 62; 5, Edinburg North, 48; 6, PSJA North, 40; 7, Edinburg Economedes, 37; 8, PSJA Memorial, 19.
Individual Results
Girls 200 Medley Relay
1, PSJA North, 2:13.44; 2, Edinburg Vela, 2:14.78; 3, Edinburg High, 2:17.65; 4, Edinburg North, 2:32.93; 5, PSJA Southwest, 2:36.82; 6, Edinburg Economedes, 2:37.68; 7, PSJA High, 2:44.56.
Boys 200 Medley Relay
1, PSJA Southwest, 1:49.58; 2, PSJA High, 1:56.89; 3, Edinburg High, 1:58.58; 4, PSJA North, 2:01.09; 5, Edinburg North, 2:08.17; 6, Edinburg Vela, 2:10.41; 7, Edinburg Economedes, 2:14.91.
Girls 200 Free
1, Lourdes Wisby, PSJA Southwest, 2:19.57; 2, Cassandra Arteaga, Edinburg Vela, 2:26.60; 3, Ashley Buenrostro, PSJA North, 2:27.14; 4, Grace Alanis, Edinburg Vela, 2:31.78; 5, Amy Buenrostro, PSJA North, 2:38.96; 6, Ariana Bravo, PSJA North, 2:40.10; 7, Brianna Ordonez, Edinburg High, 2:45.60; 8, Daisy Gauna, Edinburg High, 2:46.65.
Boys 200 Free
1, Zack Garza, PSJA Southwest, 1:59.37; 2, Kike Maldonado, PSJA High, 2:00.65; 3, Rufino Hernandez, Edinburg North, 2:14.17; 4, Carlo Carranza, PSJA High, 2:19.40; 5, Joe Furtuna, Edinburg High, 2:20.88; 6, Emiliano Nuno, PSJA Southwest, 2:23.38; 7, Alonzo Barrera, Edinburg High, 2:26.04; 8, Carlos Pelayo, PSJA Southwest, 2:26.68.
Girls 50 Free
1, Julia Worley, PSJA North, 26.88; 2, Alison Tacderas, Edinburg High, 26.95; 3, Gianna Salinas, PSJA Memorial, 28.55; 4, Yvette Zea, Edinburg High, 29.36; 5, Jada A Helems, Edinburg High, 30.50; 6, Carloine Leal, Edinburg Vela, 31.37; 7, Brianna Salinas, Edinburg High, 31.85; 8, Anna Pineda, PSJA High, 32.74.
Boys 50 Free
1, Eloy Garza, Edinburg Vela, 23.33; 2, Bets Hinojosa, PSJA Southwest, 23.38; 3, Justice Rivera, Edinburg Vela, 23.70; 4, Matthew Anaya, Edinburg High, 24.74; 5, Ervey Sanchez, PSJA High, 25.00; 6, Luke Singh, PSJA Southwest, 25.74; 7, Carlos Padron, PSJA Southwest, 26.19; 8, Adrian Fernandez, Edinburg High 26.27.
Girls 100 Butterfly
1, Jacquelin Vega, Edinburg Economedes, 45.62; 2, Christa Guerra, Edinburg Vela, 1:18.76; 3, Samantha Garza, Edinburg High, 1:24.25; 4, Ariana Bravo, PSJA North, 1;26.71; 5, Estrella L Navarro, Edinburg North, 1:28.23; 6, Joanna Jimenez, PSJA High, 1:19.98; 7, Gabby Martinez, PSJA North, 1:32.77; 8, Vivian Molina, Edinburg Economedes, 1:33.26.
Boys 100 Butterfly
1, Justice Rivera, Edinburg Vela, 57.12; 2, Bets Hinojosa, PSJA Southwest, 1:00.56; 3, Luke Singh, PSJA Southwest, 1:03.99; 4, Justin Gonzalez, PSJA North, 1:06.69; 5, Carlo Carranza, PSJA High, 1:08.97; 6, Taylor C Pulido, Edinburg North, 1:09.14; 7, JP Echarte, PSJA North, 1:10.78; 8, Ethan Guerrero, Edinburg Vela, 1;13.85.
Girls 100 Free
1, Alison Tacderas, Edinburg High, 57.99; 2, Julia Worley, PSJA North, 59.36; 3, Gianna Salinas, PSJA Memorial, 1:02.40; 4, Cassandra Arteaga, Edinburg Vela, 1:04.49; 5, Jada Helems, Edinburg High, 1:07.73; 6, Brianna Salinas, Edinburg High, 1:09.95; 7, Kaylan Esparza, PSJA High, 1:14.88; 8, Monica Rodriguez, Edinburg Vela, 1:15.64.
Boys 100 Free
1, Eloy Garza, Edinburg Vela, 52.16; 2, Juan Mejia, PSJA Southwest, 53.18; 3, Kike Maldonado, PSJA High, 54.35; 4, Matthew Anaya, Edinburg High, 56.15; 5, Sebastian Tijerina, Edinburg Vela, 57.43; 6, Anthony Pedraza, PSJA Memorial, 57.50; 7, Carlos Padron, PSJA Southwest, 57.91; 8, Hector Martinez, Edinburg High, 1:00.68.
Girls 500 Free
1, Vicky Gonzalez, Edinburg Economedes, 6:28.35; 2, Ferin Hinojosa, Edinburg High, 6:40.67; 3, Daisy Guana, Edinburg High, 7:23.61; 4 Amy Buenrostro, PSJA North, 7:24.65; 5, Anyssa Bravo, PSJA North, 7:40.70; 6, Daniela Razo, Edinburg High, 7:58.32; 7, Amanda A Rodriguez, Edinburg High, 8:03.67; 8, Lesley Barron, Edinburg North, 8:03.69.
Boys 500 Free
1, Eddie Velador, Edinburg Vela, 5:25.47; 2, Zack Garza, PSJA Southwest, 5:35.24; 3, Ervey Sanchez, PSJA High, 5:45.41; 4, Rufino Hernandez, Edinburg North, 6:10.37; 5, Robert Escobedo, PSJA North, 6:13.26; 6, RJ Renteria, PSJA High, 6:33.04; 7, Donovann Luevano, Edinburg High, 6:33.34; 8, Jared Crutchfield, Edinburg High, 6:52.47.
Girls 200 Free Relay
1, Edinburg High, 1:54.79; 2, Edinburg Vela, 1:55.49; 3, PSJA North, 2:09.29; 4, Edinburg Economedes, 2:14.21; 5, PSJA Southwest, 2:15.12; 6, Edinburg North, 2:17.34; 7, PSJA Memorial, 2:20.78.
Boys 200 Free Relay
1, PSJA Southwest, 1:33.35; 2, Edinburg Vela, 1:35.72; 3, Edinburg High, 1:45.35; 4, Edinburg Economedes, 1:52.77; 5, PSJA High, 1:56.18; 6, Edinburg North, 1:56.88; 7, PSJA North, 2:02.22.
Girls 100 Backstroke
1, Lourdes Wisby, PSJA Southwest, 1:11.02; 2, Ashley Benevente, Edinburg Vela, 1:16.17; 3, Ashley Buenrostro, PSJA North, 1:19.18; 4, Caroline Leal, Edinburg Vela, 1:22.43; 5, Ashley Pena, Edinburg Vela, 1:22.64; 6, Lauren Ortiz, Edinburg North, 1:24.33; 7, Jayden Davila, PSJA North, 1:29.14; 8, Kaylan Esparza, PSJA High, 1:29.74.
Boys 100 Backstroke
1, Joshua Velasquez, PSJA Southwest, 59.45; 2, Juan Mejia, PSJA Southwest, 1:01.58; 3, Andre Rodriguez, PSJA North, 1:03.23; 4, Julian Solias, PSJA Memorial, 1:06.51; 5, Anthony Pedraza, PSJA Memorial, 1:07.15; 6, Melvin Hinojosa, PSJA Southwest, 1:10.53; 7, Joseph Davis, Edinburg High, 1:12.91; AJ Garza, Edinburg North, 1:20.85.
Girls 100 Breastroke
1, Jordan Davila, PSJA North, 1:23.88; 2, Vicky Gonzalez, Edinburg Economedes, 1:25.10; 3, Grace Alanis, Edinburg Vela, 1:27.82; 4, Estrella Navarro, Edinburg North, 1:29.35; 5, Victoria Salinas, PSJA Memorial, 1:33.90; 6, Alison Meador, Edinburg Vela, 1:35.71; 7, Vivian Molina, 1:40.58; 8, Lily Martinez, Edinburg North, 1:41.19.
Boys 100 Breaststroke
1, Joseph Velasquez, PSJA Southwest, 1:04.18; 2, Emiliano Nuno, PSJA Southwest, 1:13.72; 3, Leo Flores, Edinburg High, 1:15.11; 4, Jose Gomez, PSJA High, 1:15.45; 5, Christian Garza, Edinburg Vela, 1:20.07; 6, Dominic Espinoza, PSJA Memorial, 1:21.88; 7, Michael Navarro, Edinburg Economedes, 1:22.87; 8, Juan Trevino, Edinburg North, 1:25.04.
Girls 400 Freestyle Relay
1, PSJA North, 4:26.33; 2, Edinburg High, 4:29.53; 3, Edinburg Vela, 4:29.66; 4, Edinburg North, 5:18.82; 5, PSJA Memorial, 5:29.07; 6, PSJA High, 5:33.26.
Boys 400 Freestyle Relay
1, Edinburg Vela, 3:36.05; 2, PSJA Southwest, 3:37.02; 3, PSJA High, 3:52.49; 4, Edinburg North, 4:08.05; 5, Edinburg High, 4:14.30; 6, Edinburg Economedes, 4:31.93; 7, PSJA North, 4:33.64.