By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Just one step remains for area swimmers and divers to qualify for the UIL state meet.
It’s a daunting one, though.
Swimmers finishing in the top two places in each event at this weekend’s regional competition will move on to the state meet Feb. 17-18 in Austin. The top three divers at regionals advance to state as well.
It’s a change from previous years when only the top finisher in each swimming event at regionals qualified along with the top two divers.
Still, even with a more favorable format to reach state, it figures to be quite a challenge.
Three area swimmers who have advanced to state before and want to go back are Hanna’s Maya Athena Imperial (500 freestyle), Rivera’s Stephanie Castillo (100 freestyle) and Los Fresnos’ Stephanie Villarreal (200 freestyle relay).
Regionals are today and Saturday around the state. The Region VIII-6A meet is at Brownsville’s Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center, while the Region VIII-5A meet is at the CCISD Natatorium at Cabaniss Sports Complex in Corpus Christi.
Swimming prelims are scheduled today starting at noon in Brownsville and 10 a.m. in Corpus Christi. Finals are Saturday at both sites, starting at 9 a.m. for diving and 10 a.m. for swimming.
Swimmers and divers qualified for regionals at last weekend’s district meets, where the top six finishers in each event advanced. At the regional level, it becomes much more difficult to move on to state.
“Our focus has changed to regionals (after having our girls win the District 32-6A meet),” Hanna coach Sam Perez said. “We know where we stand and we know what we’re up against. We’ve been looking at times and at swimmers and studying the meet.
““I really believe in letting our swimmers know what the strategy is for the meet (at hand), and for the whole year, really,” Perez added. “I think that helps a lot. I had a lot of buy-in this year from everyone, especially the ones I would call the ‘B’ swimmers. I told them they would be our game-changers (at the 32-6A meet). They pushed for sixth place and helped us pick up one or two points (here and there at district). The boys have pushed the girls and the girls have pushed the boys all season long.
“It’s exciting. We’re looking to fight to the finish and make it to state.”
The McAllen High boys and McAllen Memorial girls are defending team champions of the Region VIII-6A meet.
Meanwhile, sparked by a dominating performance from his boys and girls at the District 32-5A meet, Brownsville Veterans Memorial coach Frank Sanchez hopes the momentum carries over for his team this weekend in Corpus Christi.
“I think our district showing really prepares our swimmers (for regionals),” he said. “Of course, they come down from the high of winning district and then go right back to their routine (of preparing for the next meet), but I think they’re going to be very pumped up for regionals. It will be difficult, but not anything that is impossible to achieve.”
Added Marijose Garza-Argote, a senior team captain for the Lady Chargers, “Our expectations are always high. We’re expecting everyone to swim at their ‘A’ level, and we know they will be able to because we’ve fought hard for this. I know in my heart that all the boys and girls can do it.
“I would just say thank you to all our swimmers,” she added. “This being the last year for the seniors, it’s a little heartbreaking, so thank you to all of them.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess