Reprint from the Progress Times - July 20, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Mission swimmers go to state
Mission Parks & Rec sends 47 swimmers to state competition

By Jim Brunson

The Mission Parks & Recreation summer swim program will send 47 children – 14 boys and 33 girls – to the state swim meet, setting a new record for the Mission program.

The swimmers, coached by Arnold Perez, Veterans Memorial High swim coach, and Fabian Lara, Sharyland High swim coach, advanced to state by taking first or second place in their individual or team event at the Texas Amateur Athletic Association (TAAF) regional meet held July 14 at Nikki Rowe High School. Only the top two places advance.

"We have several swimmers that we expect to place at state," said Coach Perez. Among those are Shaine Casas and Nicholas Dooley, who took first and second place at the regional meet in the eight-year-old and under division in the 50-yard Freestyle. Both boys are seven years old. "These two are always neck-and-neck," said Perez.

Some of the other top individual swimmers on the Mission team are Jacob Dooley, age 14, who won first in the 200 Free in the 13-14 age division; Edwin Jones, age 16, took first place in the 200 Free (15-17); and Roxie Guajardo, age 12, won first place in the 100 Free (11-12).

Comparing the times these individuals posted at regionals with the winning times at state last year, they are expected to do very well at state.

The men’s 200 Free Relay team (13-14) is also expected to medal at state. Team members include Jacob Dooley, Johnny Gutierrez, Louie Loya and Chris Martinez. This team won first at regionals with a time of 1:47:18.

Also winning first place at regionals was the women’s 200 medley (11-12) relay team, consisting of Brianna Cantu, Jade Garcia, Roxie Guajardo and Caroline Honribia. Other first place women’s relay teams from Mission include: 200 Free Relay (11-12) with Leanna Gonzales, Karina Cantu, Abby Schiefelbein and Brianna Gutierrez; and the 200 Free Relay (13-14) with Miranda Garcia, Adriana Mercado, Ashley Gutierrez and Celeste Moreno.

Also going to state is the women’s 200 Medley (15-17) relay team, consisting of Amber Garcia, Lauren Vigil, Allyssa Cantu and Georgiana Rios. The team took second at regionals.

The women’s eight-and-under 100 medley relay won second place. The team members are Stephanie McCoy, Madison Hatzold, Destiny Cantu and Chelsea Chandler. Also taking second place was the women’s eight-and under 100 Free Relay team consisting of Marin Hulse, Kayla Hickle, Kate Padilla and Victoria Rogers.

In the men’s relay team events, placing second was the 100 Free Relay (9-10) with team members Ben Jones, Miguel Rogers, Alex Solis and Javier Guerra.

Individuals who medalled at regionals include Edwin Jones, second, 100 Free (15-17); Celeste Moreno, first, 100 Free (13-14); Johnny Gutierrez, first, 100 Free (13-14); Roxie Guajardo, first and Caroline Honribia, second, 100 Free (11-12); and Jordyn Brechler, first, women’s 50 Free (9-10). Also, Javier Guerra, first, 50 Free (9-10); Destiny Cantu, second, 50 Free (8 & under); Edwin Jones, second, 50 Back (15-17); Brianna Cantu, first, 50 Back (11-12); and Jordyn Brechler, second 25 Back (9-10).

Others placing first or second at regionals in individual events were: Nicholas Dooley, first, 25 Back, (8 & under); Adriana Mercado, second, 50 Breast (13-14); Jacob Dooley, first, 50 Breast (13-14); Andy Solis, second, 50 Breast (11-12); Allyssa Cantu, first, 50 Fly (15-17); Chris Martinez, second, 50 Fly (13-14); Shaine Casas, second, 25 Fly (8 & under); Noe Sauceda, second, 50 Free (17-18); and Celeste Moreno, first, 50 Free (13-14).

Regional winners also include Johnny Gutierrez, first, 50 Free (13-14). Caroline Honribia and Brianna Gutierrez won first and second, respectively in the 50 Free (11-12). Stephanie McCoy and Madison Hatzold also place one-two, respectively, in the 25 Free (8 & under).

Other regional winners are Javier Guerra, second, 25 Free (9-10); Nicholas Dooley, first 25 Free (8 & under); Chris Martinez, first, 100 IM (13-14); Brianna Cantu, first, 100 IM (11-12); Jordyn Brechler, first, 100 IM (9-10); Ben Jones, second, 100 IM (9-10); Shaine Casas, first 100 IM (8 & under); Lauren Vigil, second, 200 Free (15-17); Edwin Jones, first, 200 free (15-17); Jovannie Landero, first, 200 Free (13-14); and Jacob Dooley, first, 200 Free (13-14).

Assistant coaches working with the Mission TAAF swim team are Danielle Billings, Sonya Reyna, Jonathan Landero and Joseph Rice.