The Stratford Varsity Swimming & Diving Team had great races and impressive diving at the Varsity District Meet this past week. There were several District Champs, and the Boys’ Team beat Memorial to take first place! The Girls’ Team finished strong in second. The top six swimmers/relay teams in each event from this District Meet advance to Regional competition in one week. For full meet results click HERE.

All of our relays are advancing to Regionals, and we had several first-place finishes. In a very exciting, fast 400-freestyle relay, the team of junior Brock Hunter, senior Julian Hemmer, senior Nathan Moss, and junior James Hackney finished in 3:05.80, not only beating Memorial to get first place but also snagging a school record in the relay without tapering or shaving!

The girls’ 400-freestyle relay with senior Izzy Glover, junior Molly Kate Minyard, junior Sophia Giesecke, and senior Elle Burke also looked incredibly strong with their first-place finish over Memorial (3:34.55). Giesecke was also awarded the female District Swimmer of the Year award.

Both the 200-freestyle relays were smoking fast. The girls’ 200-freestyle relay finished first (1:37.70) to beat Memorial with Giesecke, Minyard, Burke, and Glover. On the boys’ side, Hunter, Hemmer, senior Marin Pavlin, and Hackney looked unstoppable with a time of 1:25.15 and a first-place finish over Memorial.

The medley relays were no exception. The boys finished second (1:36.20) with sophomore Jack Robertson (back), senior Ricky Conticello (breast), junior Vince Nguyen (fly), and Pavlin (free). The girls took third place (1:57.36) with senior Sarah Beth Roady (back), freshman Paige Buri (breast), junior Lilli Oteiza (fly), and sophomore Maria Luisa Becerra Arreola (free).

Individually, Burke was District Champ in both the 200 IM (2:08.46) and the 100 backstroke (59.44). Hemmer was District Champ in the 100 freestyle (46.57), and Hunter finished third in that event (47.72). In a crazy-fast race, Hemmer and Hunter went at it again and tied for first in the 50 freestyle (21.20), Conticello finished fifth (22.06), and sophomore Matthew Huntsman secured a sixth-place spot, sneaking in with a time of 22.26 from the third of four heats. Moss was District Champ in the 200 freestyle with an exciting come-from-behind victory (1:42.73). Hackney was the second fastest 100-butterflyer (51.61) and the third fastest 200-freestyler (1:46.00). Giesecke was also highly decorated, winning both the 100 butterfly (56.26) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.24) in stunning fashion.

Glover also had some great swims, finishing second in the 50 freestyle (24.40) and third in the 100 freestyle (54.16). Minyard also put on an awesome display, finishing second in both the 200 freestyle (1:58.05) and the 500 freestyle (5:15.92). Roady also grabbed a Regional spot, finishing fourth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:27.55. On the boys’ side, Moss secured his Regional spot in the 500 freestyle, finishing third with a time of 4:38.12.

In the 200 IM, Nguyen finished fifth for the boys (1:59.92).

In the 100 butterfly, Pavlin got fourth place for the boys with a time of 52.90 and looked good doing it.

In the 100 backstroke, we had two Regional qualifiers for the boys: Robertson, who finished an impressive third (52.27) after battling shoulder injury all season and Pavlin, who finished fifth (53.77).

In the 100 breaststroke, we also had two Regional qualifiers on the boys' side: sophomore Koki Yamamoto, who finished second with a time of 1:00.04, closely followed by a third-place Conticello (1:00.18).

Our divers definitely did their part as well, both qualifying for Regional competition and earning us much-needed points. Junior Makayla Legaspi finished second with 289.60 points for the girls, and senior Korbin Irvine finished third on the boys’ side with 340.60. SBISD Diving Coach George Kutac was awarded District Coach of the Year for his efforts.

The Stratford Swim Team, in some fashion, has a seven-year record of qualifying for State since they were promoted to 6A competition in the 2017-18 season. They intend to make it eight. Come out and support your Stratford Swim & Dive Team as they make their way to State! Go Big Green!

Next up: All upcoming Regional competition will be at the Cy Fair Nat.

• The diving competition will take place on Thursday, February 6th, with the girls’ competition starting at 3:00 pm and the boys’ diving competition starting 30 minutes after the girls’ session concludes.
• Swimming prelims will take place on Friday, February 7th, starting at 9:00 am.
• Swimming finals for those that qualify will be on Saturday, February 8th at 9:00 am.