High School Notebook

ROMA — The conclusion of the District 32-4A swim meet should be a sad moment for Roma coach Calvin Snyder.

His daughter, Anna, has competed in her last competitive event in the Roma pool. Although Anna Snyder has already qualified for the upcoming regional meet, the district meet was an interesting moment for Calvin.

It was also a proud one.

“The strongest girl in the district, it’s not even close, is my daughter. It’s not even close” Calvin Snyder said of his daughter, who finished first in the 200- and 500-meter freestyle races. “She would win any event I put her in.”

Snyder said his daughter swam in the 200- and 500-meter races to give her a better chance to advance through the regional meet. Snyder said watching his daughter compete this year has been fun, but also somewhat bittersweet.

“It’s also going to be sad because this is her senior year,” Snyder said. “She’s been a leader of the team, a really good girl. I mean, you look at it and say, ‘How does that girl that’s 5-foot-2 swim like that?’ She just works really, really hard. And it shows.”

On the mats

The Valley wrestling season is heading into its final stretches this week.

A full slate of matches ends the regular season this weekend before district tournaments begin this week. The District 31 title will be decided Feb. 2 at McAllen High. La Joya, which won both the boys and girls titles this season, will be challenged by Rio Grande City and McHi.

The District 32 championship will be decided Jan. 31, with Weslaco High a strong favorite to win its eighth consecutive title.

Getting into full swing

The Valley golf season tees off second semester play this weekend (weather permitting) with tournaments at Shary Municipal Golf Course and The Club At Cimarron.

Looking at the girls tournament, Sharyland should dominate the field if the first semester is any indication. Seven of the top nine averages from the fall were carded by Lady Rattlers, led by Ale Cantu, who is second at 77.17.

Edinburg North’s Felicia Espericueta sits atop the leaderboard with a sizzling 67.83 average from six rounds, including a 63 she shot at Monte Cristo on Oct. 19 to open the season.

She shot a 66 at last year’s Sharyland tournament to set the course record.

“I’m very excited to get back out there,” Espericueta said. “Hopefully the weather will cooperate. I have the record there so hopefully I can go shoot another good score there.”

Brian Sandalow and Todd Mavreles cover high school sports for The Monitor. You can reach them at (956) 683-4402.