The swim team continues to race towards state with the regional meet this weekend.

“I thought Districts went really well,” Swim Coach Chesley Kilgore said. “Almost everybody went season best times which is fabulous because that’s what we train for all year. We have ten people who qualified for region with three relays and a couple of people in individual events.”

With state getting closer, the team is changing up its normal training routine in preparation for the regional meet.

“I try to weave in a few days of the week where we do simulations of the event,” Kilgore said. “They can get a feel for how fast they need to be going. Going into championship season, we focus on pacework and having longer rest but with higher intensity so that they feel rested for their big meet.”

Swimmers who place in the top two in each of the events at region automatically qualify for the state meet with the next eighth fastest all across texas also making it to state.

“Obviously the goal is to make state,” Senior swimmer Justin Jung. “It would be awesome if i get top two but if not, I would like to be picked up. I’m really excited for finals. You qualify for finals by swimming in prelims and placing top 8 for the A final and the next eighth would be the B final. Finals is really intense and it’s a really cool atmosphere because everybody is just hyped for it and there’s a lot of fast swimmers at finals so it’s really close and it’s just anyone’s game.”

Kilgore also believes that mental roughness plays a big role in getting ready for the meet.

“Mental toughness is really crucial especially in championship season,” Kilgore said. “You train for the whole year and when you finally have your opportunity to perform you really want to be in the right headspace and encourage your teammates. I’ve been doing little check ins with swimmers this week just to see how we’re doing so we’re prepared for the meet and this will also help with strategies so they can feel confident about relay exchanges and finishes in their events.”
The region swim meet starts tomorrow with prelims taking place at the Bruce Eubanks natatorium at noon and finals on Saturday at 11 a.m.