Four was the magic number for senior Carlos Arzate as he qualified for his fourth trip to state in four events on Saturday.
“I went to the Texas A&M camp this summer,” Arzate said. “I’ve improved on my technique, like knowing where to go faster and when to do it, too.”
Arzate was one of five Aqua Tribe swimmers will compete across five events at the state meet at Josh Davis Natatorium at Northeast ISD in San Antonio on Feb. 12-13.
The Aqua Tribe placed sixth overall with 126 points at the region meet in Andrews on Jan. 31.
“This has been the most students going to state,” Coach Danielle Sims said. “We have one more than we’ve ever taken, and they have individually qualified for events.”
This will be freshman Logan Cheuvront’s state debut as he qualified as part of the school record-breaking 200-yard freestyle relay.
“I’m really excited,” Cheuvront said. “I’m getting to experience this at a younger age than others.”
Senior Gabryl Alaniz, who broke the 40-year-old butterfly record last year, will make his third trip to state in three events: 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-freestyle relay. Alaniz, who bulked up for football had to adjust for swimming, a sport which has given him new experiences.
“I had to change my diet from carb to protein,” Alaniz said. “After an injury, swimming helped me through a rough spot in my athletic career. I was also able to meet people I wouldn’t have met if I didn’t join.”
Both the 400 and 200-yard school records fell at regionals.
“It was exciting seeing the record being broken,” Arzate said. “When we were at district, we were so close, like a second off the record. We were happy.”
Junior Austin Peters, who will make a third trip to state began swimming in junior high.
“I love being in the water,” Peters said. “My dives have become smoother and my turns have gotten faster.”
Sophomore Donovan Klassen will debut at state on the record-breaking 400-yard relay.
“It was pretty hard,” Klassen said, “but I did everything Sims told me to. I swam as hard as I could.”
For Alaniz and Arzate, the state meet will be a last chance to put a cherry on top of their legacies. Arzate is milliseconds from breaking another school record as he set personal records in the 100-yard back stroke and 200-yard freestyle at region.
“I first joined swimming because my sister had joined,” Arzate said, “but now it’s more than that to me.”
Region Results
Aqua Tribe–sixth place (126 points)
Men’s 200-yard medley relay of Donovan Klassen, Ashton Booth, Jonah Teichroeb, Logan Cheuvront)–sixth (2:02.26)
Men’s 200-yard freestyle–Carlos Arzate-sixth (1:57.73) called up to state
Men’s 200-yard freestyle relay of Carlos Arzate, Logan Cheuvront, Austin Peters, Gabryl Alaniz–third (1:36.91) new school record, called up to state
Men’s 100-yard backstroke–Carlos Arzate-eighth (1:00.94) called up to state
Men’s 400-yard freestyle relay of Carlos Arzate, Donovan Klassen, Austin Peters, Gabryl Alaniz–fourth (3:38.75) new school record, called up to state.
