Senior still chases record as final season begins

Sarah Sumpter

Chasing a number Senior Judy Thiessen, shown here practicing butterfly, is still trying to break the 50-yard freestyle record. Although she has broken the school record in a relay, until she does it in the individual race, it doesn’t count.

Senior Judy Thiessen entered her final swim season at Monahans on Oct. 26, still chasing the school record for the 50-meter freestyle.

“I’m working toward the record,” Thiessen said. “I am doing sprints during practice and pushing myself harder than I ever have before.”

The Aqua Tribe women took second at Monahans while the men took fifth.

“I think we will be good this year,” junior Arin Hindman said. “The freshman coming up have a lot of experience because they have competed in club swimming.”

The team veteran leadership returning from last season.

“We are going to do a lot better this year,” junior Gabriel Madrid said. “We have more people who know what they are doing.”

This included second-year swimmer senior Nancy Bergen.

“Nancy has really stepped up even though it is only her second year,” Hindman said. “She knew that she was a senior and had to be a good example for the underclassmen.”

Another school record that eluded the team last year was the women’s 200-yard freestyle relay.

“I want to break that record,” Hindman said. “It is going to be hard with the changes we have had.”

Thiessen, who is a member of the 200 relay as well, wants her teammates to rise to the challenge as well.

“I try to do the best I can,” Thiessen said. “I try to lead by example.”

RESULTS OF MONAHANS MEET ON OCT. 26

Maidens–second-285 points

200-yard medley relay (Tori Phillips, Judy Thiessen, Kourtney Kildow, and Arin Hindman)–second (2:15.38)

200-yard freestyle (Tori Phillips)–fifth (2:39.54) (Sierra Talamantes)–seventh (2:46.03)

200-yard Individual medley Arin Hindman–third (2:56.52)

50-yard freestyle (Judy Thiessen)–second (28.36) (Faith Klassen)–fifth (30.58) (Arin Hindman)–sixth (30.58) (Emily Medrino)–seventh (31.57) (Nancy Bergen)–ninth (32.09) (Esther Neufeld)–tenth (32.36)

100-yard freestyle (Judy Thiessen)–second (1:03.22) (Faith Klassen)–fourth (1:08.11) (Kourtney Kildow)–fifth (1:10.04) (Kree Ellison)–sixth (1;10.04) (Nancy Bergen)–seventh (1:11.57) (Emily Medrino)–ninth (1:12.55)

500-yard freestyle (Sierra Talamantes)–sixth (7:27.30) (McKenzie Ivins)–seventh (7:47.68) (Melissa Romos)–eighth (8:44.41)

200-yard freestyle relay (Judy Thiessen, Faith Klassen, Kourtney Kildow, and Arin Hindman)–third (2:01.73) (Kree Ellison, Esther Neufeld, Nancy Bergen, and McKenzie Ivins)–fourth (2:08.71)

100-yard backstroke (Tori Phillips)–sixth (1:20.86) (Kree Ellison)–ninth (1:22.01)

100-yard breaststroke (Kourtney Kildow)–third (1:25.79) (Esther Neufeld)–eighth (1:35.21) (McKenzie Ivins)–twelfth (1:41.45)

400-yard freestyle relay (Faith Klassen, Kree Ellison, Nancy Bergen, and Tori Phillips)–first (4:45.09)

 

Indians–fifth-130 points

200-yard freestyle (Gabriel Madrid)–seventh (2:23.26)

50-yard freestyle (Wade Mayes)–ninth (27.70) (Antonio Parras)–tenth (28.64) (Samuel Letkeman)–eleventh (28.79) (Ramiro Garcia)–twelfth (29.51)

100-yard freestyle (Ruger Jones)–seventh (1:03.69) (Ramiro Garcia)–eighth (1:05.98) (Samuel Letkeman)–tenth (1:06.16)

500-yard freestyle (Gabriel Madrid)–fifth (6:39.50) (Antonio Porras)–seventh (6:44.59) (Steven Weeks)–eighth (7:32.22)

200-yard freestyle relay (Wade Mayes, Samuel Letkeman, Ruger Jones, and Antonio Porras)–fifth (1:51.91) (Aaron Espinoza, Ramiro Garcia, Gage Jennings, and Antonio Porras)–ninth (2:03.23) (Wade Mayes)–fifth (1:10.46)

400-yard freestyle relay (Gabriel Madrid, Samuel Letkeman, Wade Mayes, and Ruger Jones)–fifth (4:22.66) (Antonio Porras, Gage Jennings, Ramiro Garcia, and Aaron Espinoza)–sixth (4:44.95)