The Aqua Tribe will compete at the district swim meet in Lubbock on Jan. 27 and 28.
“I think district is going to go pretty good this year,” sophomore Judy Thiessen said. “All of us have been improving on our times and doing good in practice.”
Sophomore Kourtney Kildow has set expectations for district.
“For me, I am hoping to win breaststroke, but it looks like I will get second,” Kildow said. “For the team, I am hoping we will do good at district since we have a lot of freshmen.”
Sophomore Edgar Madrid said being in a relay helps him improve individually.
“I think our relays will do well at district,” Madrid said. “Hopefully I can get to regionals.”
Regionals presents challenges with strong competition.
“I think we will do well at district,” Coach Tim Sage said. “We have several people set up to win. I think our hardest competition will be Pampa.”
Kildow has more than just a personal challenge to swim for.
“I don’t really see any competition [at district],” Kildow said, “but I look for motivation in the memory of Matt Mares.”
Madrid, who moved from Houston, sees defeat as a challenge.
“When someone else beats me, it motivates me,” Madrid said. “I work harder and train more.”
Throughout the season, the Aqua Tribe continued to cut seconds off its times.
“We got better each week and that is self motivation,” Sage said. “It also makes [the team] want to do better.”
Tribe members improve each meet.
“For me, the season has been great,” Madrid said. “I got better times and the team has improved little by little.”
Thiessen is anxious for district to arrive.
“District will be a success,” Thiessen said. “I love being a part of swimming. All of us are really close. I love my team, and they motivate me. We all stick together.”
Jan. 14 Andrews Meet Results–
Maidens–15th overall–14 points
Indians–12th overall–71 points
Individual Finals Results
Men’s 200-yard Freestyle–Edgar Madrid–eighth (2:16.54)
Men’s 400-yard Freestyle Relay–Tyler McCormick, Chance Pettyjohn, Coby Peters, Madrid–seventh (4:01.68)