SPORTS — Del Rio swim team helps break in new Laredo swim center

By Colleen Durham

Del Rio High Swim Coach

On November 12, the Rams & Queens swimmers traveled to NEISD Walker Natatorium for a swim meet. The Queens placed 10^th overall, and the Rams placed 6^th overall.

Scoring points for the Queens was Nevaeh Martinez, 20^th in the 200 free. Relays scoring points include ‘A’ 200 medley relay of Aelynn Hyten, Chanceine Saechao, Nevaeh Martinez, and Viviane Salinas-Mejia in 14^th place, and the ‘B’ medley relay of Amanda Ong, Ana Rendon-Flores, Jackie Graham, and Aurora Maltos in 15^th. The ‘A’ 200 free relay of Saechao, Rendon-Flores, Salinas-Mejia, and Martinez placed 16^th, and the ‘B’ 200 free relay of Pina, Ong, Maltos, and Graham placed 19^th. Swimmer of the Meet was Amanda Ong for cutting the most overall time in her 3 events.

Scoring points for the Rams were Manuel Delgado-Gaona, 9^th in the 50 free, 10^th in the 50 fly, and 11^th in the 100 free; Mario Perez, 16^th in the 100 back; Christopher Rodriguez, 15^th in the 100 back; and Athan Zertuche, 8^th in the 50 breaststroke, 11^th in the 100 breaststroke, and 13^th in the 200 free. Relays scoring points include the ‘A’ medley relay of Rodriguez, Zertuche, Delgado-Gaona, and Gabriel Gallegos in 13^th, and the ‘B’ medley relay of Perez, Leo Vaquera, Christopher Vega, and Owen Southam in 16^th. The ‘A’ 200 free relay of Zertuche, Gallegos, Rodriguez, and Delgado-Gaona placed 10^th, and the ‘B’ 200 free relay of Perez, Southam, Vega, and Vaquera placed 13^th. Swimmer of the Meet was Gabriel Gallegos for cutting the most overall time in his 3 events.

On November 20, the teams traveled to Laredo for La Copa Laredo, held in the brand new United ISD Swim Center, located in the Bill Johnson Student Activity Center. All six District 29 teams swam at the meet, along with 7 other teams from Region 8. Los Fresnos won girls and boys team titles, Alexander girls placed 2^nd, followed by United in 3^rd. The teams switched places in the boys team totals – United 2^nd, Alexander 3^rd.

Queens scoring in individual events include Nuria Sanchez and Jackie Graham 6^th & 8^th In the 200 IM; Nevaeh Martinez 7^th in the 50 free; Chanceine Saechao 10^th in the 100 free; Graham 3^rd in the 500 free; Sanchez 2^nd and Martinez 7^th in the 100 back; Saechao 7^th and Ana Rendon-Flores 13^th in the 100 breaststroke. Relays scoring points include the ‘A’ 200 medley relay of Sanchez, Saechao, Martinez, and Alicia Pina in 7^th place, and the ‘B’ 200 medley relay of Amanda Ong, Rendon-Flores, Graham, and Aurora Maltos in 10^th. The 200 free relay of Ong, Rendon-Flores, Maltos, and Pina placed 12^th. The 400 free relay of Martinez, Graham, Saechao, and Sanchez placed 5^th. Queen Swimmer of the Meet is Nuria Sanchez.

Rams scoring in individual events include Isaac Ruiz, 13^th in the 200 free; Gabriel Gallegos, 16^th in the 200 IM, Manuel Delgado-Gaona, 4^th and Athan Zertuche, 9^th in the 50 free; Delgado-Gaona 7^th in the 100 fly, Ruiz 12^th in the 100 free; Christopher Rodriguez, 11^th in the 100 back; Zertuche 7^th in the 100 breaststroke. Relays scoring points were the ‘A’ 200 medley relay of Ruiz, Zertuche, Delgado-Gaona, and Owen Southam in 7^th place; the ‘B’ 200 medley relay of Rodriguez, Gallegos, Christopher Vega, and Mario Perez in 10^th. The ‘A’ 200 free relay of Rodriguez, Vega, Perez, and Gallegos placed 12^th, and the ‘B’ 200 free relay of Alex Pina, Armindo Rayo, Bernie Esquivel, and Leo Vaquera placed 14^th. The 400 free relay of Zertuche, Ruiz, Southam, and Delgado Gaona placed 5^th. The Ram Swimmer of the Meet is Manuel Delgado-Gaona.

The next competition for the swim team is January 8^th in San Antonio, which will be a tune up meet for the District 29 meet in Laredo on January 29, followed by Region 8 meet February 4 and 5 in Brownsville.