By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
Qualifying from a district meet to regional competition for swimmers and divers is relatively easy compared to the next step, which is making it to the UIL state meet.
Last week at the district level, the top six finishers in individual events and relays earned trips to this week’s regional competition. From there, only the top two swimmers and top three divers in their individual events go on to the state meet Feb. 16-17 in Austin. Only the top two relays at regionals go to state as well.
That said, the competition figures to be at quite a high level today and Saturday at the Region VIII-6A meet at Brownsville’s Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center and at the Region VIII-5A meet at the Corpus Christi ISD Natatorium.
At the Clark Center, swimming prelims are scheduled today starting at noon. Diving begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with swimming finals to follow at 10 a.m. The schedule is similar at the Class 5A regional meet in Corpus Christi.
Last Friday, Los Fresnos’ boys and girls again captured team titles at the District 32-6A meet at the Clark Center. It was the ninth straight district crown for the Los Fresnos boys and the fifth time in six years to win it for the Lady Falcons.
“I’m very proud of our student-athletes (who swim and dive) for setting goals and working hard to achieve them,” Los Fresnos coach Jaime Perez said. “They have high expectations for themselves. Having our new indoor pool has allowed us to practice and better prepare to do well regardless of what the weather may be like outdoors.
“I’m looking forward to the regional meet,” Perez added. “I have confidence in our student-athletes. As their coach, all I can ask of them is to swim their hearts out and leave it all in the pool.”
The Falcons have a swimmer who went to state last year in Luis Osuna, now a junior. He qualified again for regionals by winning the 200 and 500 freestyles at district. He’s also is a member of the Falcons’ district-winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays along with Will McKinney, Carlos Paredes and Danny Escamilla.
“Luis is our hardest worker and a team captain,” Perez said. “He leads by example.”
For the Los Fresnos girls, Sarah Villarreal is a standout. She won the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle in decisive fashion at the 32-6A meet.
McAllen High’s boys and McAllen Memorial’s girls are defending team champions of the Region VIII-6A meet.
Also last Friday at the Clark Center, the Brownsville Veterans Memorial boys and girls successfully defended their championships at the District 32-5A meet.
Now their regional competition has arrived as well.
“I think our swimmers and divers are pumped up,” Brownsville Veterans coach Frank Sanchez said. “Winning district (again) really increases their confidence level. And now, looking at the times from other regionals and maybe having a chance to go to state is getting them excited. We’re excited about what could happen at the regional meet.”
Adrian Fierro is a Brownsville Veterans senior and is perhaps one of the city’s best hopes to make it to state. At the 32-5A meet, he was a double-winner in the 50 and 100 freestyles and he also swam on a pair of first-place relays.
“We’re really happy because we wanted to defend our district titles,” Fierro said. “I’m glad that we’re all going to the regional meet together, like in the relays, where we all help each other out. We’re united. It was a good job by everyone (to do so well at district).
“It’s a good boost for us going into regionals, and especially for me in the 50 (freestyle where I set a Brownsville ISD record at the district meet),” he added.
Other swimmers to watch from Brownsville Veterans include Daniela Santillana (girls 50 and 100 freestyles), Daniela Chapa (girls 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle), Javier Garcia (boys 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke), Jenna Saldivar (girls 100 butterfly) and Kevin Borsani (boys 200 individual medley).
Lopez has a pair of standout boys in district winners Daniel Gamez (500 freestyle) and Jocsan Camacho (100 breaststroke).
Another local swimmer to watch from 32-6A is Hanna’s Nadia Gutierrez (girls 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke).
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess