SPORTS — Del Rio High swim team returns to action

Submitted by Colleen Durham

Del Rio High School Swim Coach

Del Rio High School swim team has been back in the water for three meets to kick off its 21-22 season.

Last year, the team swam in two meets in the fall, and its participation in the district meet in January was canceled due to rising COVID-19 numbers in Val Verde County after Christmas.

This year’s Queens swimmers include Jackie Graham, Aelyn Hyten, Aurora Maltos, Nevaeh Martinez, Amanda Ong, Ana Perez, Ana Rendon-Flores, Chanceine Saechao, and Nuria Sanchez. Rams swimmers include Manuel Delgado-Gaona, Gabriel Gallegos, Sebastian Montealegre, Mario Perez, Armindo Rayo-Salgado, Christopher Rodriguez, Isaac Ruiz, Owen Southam, Leo Vaquera, Christopher Vega, and Athan Zertuche.

The Queens and Rams swimmers competed in a Pentathlon at the Northside ISD Swim Center Sept. 25 with 390 swimmers from all over San Antonio. No team scores were kept, but swimmers competed for the fastest combined time in five sprint events and all Del Rio swimmers cut their times. Manuel Delgado-Gaona placed 89^th overall out of 185 swimmers and the Ram Swimmer of the Meet was Isaac Ruiz. Nuria Sanchez placed 104^th overall out of 205 swimmers, and Queen Swimmer of the Meet was Aelynn Hyten.

The swimmers returned to the Northside Swim Center for a meet with traditional high school events on Oct. 2. Fifteen teams from San Antonio area competed at this meet.

The Girls Medley Relay placed eighth, the Girls 200 Free Relay placed 11^th, the Boys Medley Relay placed ninth and the Boys 200 Free Relay placed 10^th. In individual events, Nevaeh Martinez placed seventh in the 200 free and 10^th in the 100 fly; Chanceine Saechao placed 11^th in the 200 free and 10^th in the 100 breaststroke; Nuria Sanchez place fifth in the 100 backstroke. Queen Swimmer of the Meet was Aurora Martinez.

For the Rams, Manuel Delgado-Gaona placed 10^th in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 free; Athan Zertuche placed 12^th in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 breaststroke. Ram Swimmer of the Meet was Mario Perez.

On Oct. 15, the team traveled to NEISD’s Bill Walker Pool at Blossom Athletic Center for a sprint meet. Each swimmer competed in five sprint events against 276 swimmers from the San Antonio area, and no team scores were kept.

For the Queens, Nuria Sanchez placed 25^th in the 50 back, 32^nd in the 50 fly, and 34^th in the 50 free; Nevaeh Martinez was 31^st in the 50 fly; and the Queens Swimmer of the Meet was Nevaeh Martinez.

For the Rams, Manuel Delgado-Gaona placed seventh in the 50 free, 11^th in the 50 back, 17^th in the 50 fly, 26^th in the 50 breaststroke, and 31^st in the 100 IM; Athan Zertuche placed sixth in the 50 breaststroke, 24^th in the in the 100 IM, 32^nd in the 50 free, and 49^th in the 50 fly; and the Rams Swimmer of the Meet was Leo Vaquera.

Next up for the swim team is an invitational at NISD Swim Center Oct. 30.