It took 42 years for both the McAllen High boys and girls swim teams to capture their district title in the same season.
Now, they’re doing it on an annual basis after both teams won the District 31-5A title for the second straight year last week compete in the Region VIII-5A meet today and Saturday at the Corpus Christi ISD Natatorium.
The Region VIII-6A meet is also today at the Margaret Clark Aquatic Center in Brownsville.
McAllen third-year head coach Juan Gutierrez delivered success during a pandemic-stricken year, bringing 10 swimmers to regionals. The girls have prelims this morning and finals this afternoon. The boys follow the same schedule Saturday.
“I told the kids it was a good accomplishment,” Gutierrez said. “But we still have regionals. We’ve been working for regionals and trying to get our best times.”
McAllen High, McAllen Memorial and McAllen Rowe were all new additions to Class 5A this year, dropping from 6A. Gutierrez believes the regional competition may be tougher this year, facing Corpus Christi- and San Antonio-area programs.
“We did well in 6A and there was stiff competition with McAllen schools, PSJA schools and Laredo,” Gutierrez said. “Even though we dropped in classification, it’s a lot tougher. Our district was hard to get out of too.”
Making it more difficult was COVID-19 and limited gatherings. Fewer swimmers will advance than past years. Only the winner from each event, and the next eight fastest times statewide, will advance.
“We have followed protocols and it has been like walking on glass the whole time, just nerve-wracking,” Gutierrez said. “We kept telling the kids that any slip ups would have us in quarantine. This is go time. This is what we practice all season long for.”
The Bulldogs’ girls team won by around 50 points.
“They were just amazing,” he said. “I told them now we’re off to bigger things.”
Senior Katie Blackwell, the girls’ captain, won the 100 backstroke and was anchor on the winning 400 freestyle relay team with Natalie Gamboa, Kim Bazan and Regina McNamara. McHi took the top three spots in the 100 back with senior Haidee Moore and junior McNamara grabbing second and third.
“Katie is always full of spirit. She’s had some injuries the past couple of years, but you can not put her down. She’s never not smiling,” Gutierrez said. “She is a born leader. She tells her teammates to do this and do that and she makes sure it gets done and she gets it done, as well.”
Nilton Dos Santos earned the boys swimmer of the meet after firsts in the 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay, where he anchored a team with Travis Wilkins, Nyles Dos Santos and Ethan Lizzotte. That same group took second in the 200 freestyle relay. Lizzotte also won two individual events, the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
Gutierrez recalled Nilton Dos Santos’ first race for the Bulldogs as a freshman. Halfway through, he stopped, thinking he was about to drown.
“He started at the bottom,” Gutierrez said. “Now, he’s one of the top times in the state (in the butterfly). I think we will have a good time a good chance to go to state.”
HOW PHARR (SAN JUAN AND ALAMO) THEY’VE COME
When Jonathan Landero and PSJA ISD began the aquatics program eight years ago, there were 18 or 19 swimmers. “Almost everybody got their own lane,” he said.
Now there’s close to 30, and that’s just ones advancing to regionals.
The PSJA High girls won their fourth straight District 31-6A title, while the PSJA North boys captured the first title in school history at the newly christened PSJA Early College High School Aquatic Center.
Both swam away with titles, the girls by a 209-94 margin and the boys claiming a 50-point victory.
Senior Carina Campos won the 100 freestyle and 200 IM. Classmate Isela Ruiz won the 200 freestyle and 100 fly. They also dominated their events, each winning both races for four straight years.
“I’m excited for this accomplishment, especially for the seniors who were part of this for four years,” said Landero, the PSJA ISD Aquatics Director. “It sets a high standard for years to come.”
Senior Mark Suarez highlighted a strong day for the Raiders, winning the 200 IM and 100 breast stroke.
“This sets the tone for the future and shows the rest of the programs can be successful by following the model of hard work and discipline,” said Landers, adding the PSJA Southwest boys had won district title for four straight years, twice in 6A and twice in 5A. “The goal is if not one of our teams wins, another does.”
When the program first started, Landero and two other coaches oversaw all PSJA schools. Now, each program has a coach and is growing, this year with close to 75 swimmers across the district.
“The overall goal is to reach a regional title and produce individual state champions,” Landero said. “We started from nothing, but we’re in for the long game and we will get there.”
The UIL Swimming and Diving State Meet will take place Feb. 19-20 for the girls and Feb. 26-27 for the boys. Both will be held at the Bill Walker Pool and Josh David Natatorium.