El Paso High boys and girls swim teams win Region 1-5A championship
The El Paso High boys and girls swim teams felt confident entering this weekend's Region 1-5A swimming and diving championship at the Pete Ragus Aquatic Center in Lubbock.
Both teams swam their best meet of the year and claimed the Region 1-5A championship, putting an end to Lubbock High's dominance at the regional meet.
Lubbock High had won 11 straight regional titles on the girls side and seven straight regional titles on the boys side.
It is the first time in school history that the Tigers have won a regional title in the same year.
"We were very disciplined," El Paso High coach Patrick Gailey said. "The kids hit great times, we really stepped up. Our kids deserve this, it was truly a reward for all the hard work. We have such great support from the school, parents, the school district. Lubbock High is a great program and had won three straight state titles coming into the season. They showed great sportsmanship. But this was emotional for us, there were lots of tears and joy. Our boys have a shot at winning a state title and the girls have a shot at top three, top five or even winning it with a great effort."
El Paso High's boys team scored 460 points, 100 points ahead of Lubbock High. The Tigers won the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.12), the 200-yard free relay (1:27.82) and the 400-yard free relay (3.11.53). Individually, Holden Convertino was second in the 100-yard freestyle (47.66) and won the 50-yard freestyle (21.53), Marcos Otero won the 100-yard free (45.66) and 100-yard breaststroke ((59.68), Zev Benjamin was second in the 100-yard fly (51.99) and second in the 100-yard backstroke (52.00) and Michael Saucedo was second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.06).
"We have a close knit team and a coach invested in our success and that means a lot," Convertino said. "Looking at our lineup we felt we had a chance to do great things this year. We put our heads down and worked hard."
On the girls side, Allegra Rojas-Antillon won the 50-yard freestyle (24.27) and 500-yard free (5:11.14), Sofia Reese won the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.27), Sarah Wallen was second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.73), Zyenna Martinez was second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.61) and second in the 100-yard fly (58.44).
El Paso High's relays did well, winning the 200-yard free relay in 1:40.47, finishing second in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:53.08 and finishing second in the 400 yard free relay in a time of 3:37.72.
The girls won the title with 472 points, 63 ahead of Lubbock High.
"Accomplished is the word that comes to mind," Rojas-Antillon said. "We performed well this weekend. It was a team effort, we all had to help each other. We're still processing what we accomplished."
Added Martinez: "It was our time to shine, we're very happy. All the effort from freshman season to now paid off. Winning the reginal trophy meant so much and seeing everyone so happy."
Jefferson High's Brianna Elliott is headed to state in the 50-yard free and 100-yard free. The talented sophomore won the 100-yard free in 52.96 seconds and was second in the 50-yard free with a time of 24.67.
More: Socorro swimners fare well Socorro sophomore swimmer Samirah Avila breaks through as one of city's best
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@gannett.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso High boys, girls swim teams win Region 1-5A championships
