By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The first big swimming meet of the new school year in the Rio Grande Valley takes place Friday and Saturday at Brownsville’s Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center.
The Halloween Hysteria meet begins with diving at 11 a.m. Friday. Swimming competition starts at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“There have been some meets already (this school year) with teams from one end of the Valley at one site and teams from the other end of the Valley at another site, but this will be the first big meet with teams from all over the Valley at the same location,” Clark Center director Monica Rosales said. “We’re expecting around 25 teams (to participate).”
She said Upper Valley teams will be coming from as far away as Roma, Rio Grande City and La Joya. The meet is also expected to include teams from Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco, McAllen and Mission.
McAllen Memorial won the girls team title at last year’s Halloween Hysteria. Hanna and McAllen Rowe finished second and third, respectively.
Sharyland High is the meet’s defending boys team champion. PSJA Southwest and McAllen Memorial were second and third, respectively, for the boys a year ago.
Rosales, a former swimming coach in Brownsville ISD before becoming the administrator at Clark Center, said coaches will use this weekend’s competition as a chance for new additions on their varsity squads to see just how things work at a major meet.
“It’s an appetizer for what is to come in future meets,” Rosales said. “I think the coaches will use it as a way for their newcomers to understand and get a feel for the format (and competition at meets like this one).”
Rosales said the Halloween Hysteria meet pretty much signals that the high school swimming season is officially underway.
“I think everyone — coaches, swimmers, divers and parents — we’re all excited for the start of another season,” she said.
Another swimming event in Brownsville that is expected to attract a number of teams is scheduled Nov. 4-5 at Clark Center. It will be BISD’s Fall Festival meet.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess