Walker, De La Garza overcoming injury

McALLEN ? For girls who aren?t even in college, McAllen Memorial swimmers Kendal Walker and Dana De La Garza sure can list a lot of injuries. Walker, a junior, won both the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke at last weekend?s regional meet in Brownsville, has dealt with injuries to either her back or shoulders for three years. De La Garza, a senior, finished first in the 100 butterfly and teamed with Walker and Jill Merritt and Tiffany Hernandez to win the 400 freestyle relay, had shoulder surgery as a sophomore. While Memorial coach Roxanne Balducci said De La Garza is completely healthy, she didn?t say that about Walker, who she said would be ?phenomenal? if she weren?t dealing with injuries. ?She would be way up there because, at one morning practice, she was working really hard and doing these awesome sets, and then, two days later, she goes to the doctor and she?s injured,? Balducci said. ?After that, we said we?d have to pull back.? The shoulder and back problems, which started this season, don?t affect Walker when she?s competing in meets. Instead, the various ailments cause her to curtail her practice routine. ?I?ve always had something wrong with me. I?ve had multiple things wrong with me,? Walker said with a smile. ?It?s basically like patchwork. I have to take it easy for about a week, and then the next week I have to take it easy for about a day or two and then I can practice.? Walker will have another year to deal with her injuries at Memorial. But De La Garza will be swimming for the last time next weekend. It will also be something of a first for her, as she had never qualified for the state meet as an individual. She finished third in the event as a junior and second as a sophomore. To make that moment more exciting for her and her team, De La Garza won the 100 fly at the regional meet by only .12 of a second, holding off Christine Green of Corpus Christi King. ?I was really excited because I almost gave everyone a heart attack during my swim,? De La Garza said. ?(State) is probably going to be really nerve-wracking because I?ll be up there myself and I won?t have my teammates with me. It is going to be really nerve-wracking, but I?ve done it this far.? Brian Sandalow covers high school swimming for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.