Swimming Notebook: Flores faces challenge of returning to state

Alberto Flores generated a lot of excitement last February as a junior when he became the first swimmer from Brownsville Rivera to qualify for the UIL state meet. He won the 500 freestyle at the Region VIII-5A meet at Brownsville’s Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center to earn his trip to Austin.

There’s no question Flores would like to qualify for state again.

“I’m a little rusty in a sense right now because I wasn’t able to swim over the summer,” Flores said last week during practice at Clark Aquatic Center. “I’m trying to regain my strength and get back to where I was before. My endurance isn’t what it was right now, but my speed has gotten better (so I may try to go to state in another event).

“I want to do better, and that’s always been my priority,” he added. “Swimming the 500 free not only takes endurance, you have to think positive, which is what I’m trying to do. If you think negatively, you’re just going to go slow. It’s happened to me before. You have to think positively no matter what. You have to be strong mentally and physically.

“What I did last season is definitely a motivation for me. Not only do I want to go back to state (individually), but I’d like to go back with my team (as part of a relay).”

Other members of the Rivera relay that includes Flores are Jorge Gomez, Edwin Villegas and Tomas Sanchez.

Flores also is a candidate to compete in the 100 butterfly.

“Alberto has been working hard when he’s been able to be here,” Rivera coach Ryan Shea said. “At the end of the season (near district time next year), we’re just going to have to see what event he’s going to be doing. I just think he’s going to be a surprise. I think he can surprise himself and maybe some others. We’re looking at maybe switching up his event, possibly something that is shorter where he can swim with more power.”

Flores remains grateful for his coaches.

“I just want to thank Coach Shea and Coach (Julie) Puckett for all their help since this is my senior year,” he said.

CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

This year’s Harlingen Christmas Classic on Dec. 2 and 3 at Pendleton Park Pool attracted 21 teams with the Los Fresnos girls and McAllen Memorial boys capturing team championships.

The Los Fresnos girls (435 points) triumphed over second-place Hanna (364) and third-place Harlingen High (270), while the McAllen Memorial boys (459) finished ahead of second-place Los Fresnos (346) and third-place Roma (234). McAllen Memorial’s boys successfully defended their team title at the meet. Hanna took the girls team championship one year ago.

“Things went real well,” Harlingen High coach Dan Brandon said. “There were a lot of good swims.”

Double-winners in individual events for the girls were Natalie Castillo (100 butterfly and 200 IM) and Carolina Mayen (50 and 500 freestyles), both of Hanna. A double-winner for the boys was Edinburg Economedes’ Rigo Abrego (500 freestyle and 200 IM).

Two of the top athletes for Harlingen High this season are Dino Garcia and Frannie Aparo. At the Christmas Classic meet, Garcia was second in the boys diving and Aparo took first in the 100 breaststroke and second in the 100 butterfly.

Next weekened, Harlingen High and other teams from the Rio Grande Valley are scheduled to compete at a Corpus Christi meet.

CITY MEET

The Brownsville City Meet is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday at Clark Aquatic Center. The defending team champions are the Hanna boys and girls.

Luis Roman Ortega, Porter’s longtime swimming coach, estimates the city meet has been held for 27 or 28 years, dating back to open-air competition more than 20 years ago at Oliveira Pool across from Pace.

St. Joseph Academy’s boys, who had a strong showing at the past weekend’s Pre-Regional meet, will be participating in the city meet this year along with the SJA girls.

“St. Joe at times has been part of the city meet, but for the most part, not on a yearly basis,” Ortega said. “I’d like to think that the city meet is a fun meet for the kids. They’re swimming against competitors from their own city. And as a coach, it gives you the opportunity to swim kids in different events (to experiment). It’s basically a fun-type of meet.”

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.