On Friday and Saturday evening, February 9th and 10th, the Regional-qualifying Stratford Swimmers traveled once again to the Cy Fair Nat to see all their training and hard work come to fruition. It was the best regional showing Stratford High School has had at a 6A Regional swim meet in the program's history. Coach Casandra Brisbin was named Men’s Regional Co-Coach of the year alongside Seven Lakes’s coach! The Stratford men finished 5 points behind Cy Fair’s men to finish the meet 2nd out of 26 teams with 261 points, and the women finished 5th out of 24 teams with 201 points! These were not easy feats since we are in one of the fastest regions in Texas. For full meet results, click HERE.

The top two finishers in each event automatically advance to State. Call-ups are then made for the next eight fastest times in the event, including all eight regions in Texas.

We have four juniors headed to State competition individually in their events: Elle Burke, Julian Hemmer, Nathan Moss, and Izzy Glover! Our highest point earner was Julian Hemmer, who finished 1st in both the 50 free (21.15) and in the 100 free (46.42). Elle Burke finished 1st in the 100 back (56.65) and also got called up to swim the 100 free with a time of 51.54. And rounding out our individual State qualifiers is Nathan Moss, who finished 2nd in the 200 free (1:42.69), and Izzy Glover, who got called up to swim the 50 free with a time of 24.16.

In addition, we have four relays moving on to the State competition. The women’s 200 free relay finished 1st (1:37.36) with sophomores Sophia Giesecke and Molly Kate Minyard along with Glover and Burke. The men are also advancing in their 1st place 200 free relay (1:25.62) with Hemmer, sophomore Brock Hunter, junior Marin Pavlin, and sophomore James Hackney. The men’s 400 free relay secured their spot at State as well with a 2nd place finish (3:07.95) with Hemmer, freshman Jack Robertson, Moss, and Hackney. The women’s 200 medley relay got a call-up (1:47.08) with Burke on backstroke, Giesecke on breaststroke, senior Lindsay Wong on butterfly, and Glover on freestyle.

Other relays scoring points at the meet were:

• Men’s 200 medley relay finishing 7th (1:37.72) with Robertson (back), Hunter (breast), sophomore Vince Nguyen (fly), and Pavlin (free).
• Women’s 400 free relay finishing 9th in the B final (3:42.19, which was a better time than 2 A-final teams) with seniors Lily Askounis and Emma Jackson as well as Minyard and Glover.

Other individuals scoring points at the meet were:

• James Hackney (sophomore): 4th in 50 free (21.54) and 5th in fly (51.55)
• Nathan Moss (junior): 4th in 500 free (4:38.77)
• Andy Zhuri (senior): 5th in 200 free (1:44.52) and 16th in 50 free (22.14)
• Brock Hunter (sophomore): 6th in 50 free (21.69) and 12th in the 100 breast (1:00.98)
• Sophia Giesecke (sophomore): 7th in the 100 breast (1:06.53) and 10th in the 200 IM (2:10.14)
• Jack Robertson (freshman): 7th in 100 back (52.39) and 11th in 100 fly (52.47)
• Savannah Ceraudo (freshman): 7th in 200 free (1:57.40) and 16th in 100 fly (1:00.06)
• Emma Jackson (senior): 8th in 100 back (59.69)
• Olivia Ceraudo (freshman): 10th in 500 free (5:17.72)
• Molly Kate Minyard (sophomore): 12th in 200 free (2:00.65) and 12th in 500 free (5:23.36)
• Vince Nguyen (sophomore): 12th in 200 IM (1:58.66)
• Sarah Beth Roady (junior): 13th in 500 free (5:27.46)
• Marin Pavlin (junior): 14th in 100 fly (53.39) and 15th in 100 back (55.06)
• Ricky Conticello (junior): 16th in 100 breast (1:02.00)

The Texas 6A State Championship Meet will take place at the Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center at the University of Texas at Austin on February 23rd and 24th. Best of luck to all those that qualified! Go Big Green!