Top 8 finishes for sophomore and senior at state swim meet

Two+Redhawk+swimmers+had+the+opportunity+to+swim+for+gold+Tuesday+and+Wednesday+afternoon.+The+two+athletes+had+3+top+eight+finishes.+

Sarah Boutouis

Two Redhawk swimmers had the opportunity to swim for gold Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The two athletes had 3 top eight finishes.

Harley Classe, Assistant Sports Editor

A swim season that started back in the fall is finally over, as senior Mallory Showalter and sophomore Maria Oushalkas both brought home top eight finishes in Tuesday’s 5A UIL State Championships in San Antonio. 

Showalter took 4th place in the backstroke, as well as 7th place in the 100 free, while Oushalkas finished 8th in the 200 free.

“I feel that it went well over all and I have been extremely proud of all the effort and determination it’s taken on me mentally and how I was able to overcome it all,” Oushalkas said via text.

Proud of the effort he has seen this season, coach Nicholas Dion is excited for his swimmers and how far they came.

“I think our confidence [this season] was high,” Dion said via email. “We had some really great swims and our team [understood] that we were in a marathon.”

For Showalter, this was the last meet of her high school career, a four year span that saw her make state every year.

“I was a little sad that this was my last state meet,” Showalter said via text. “But I am very happy with how I finished and where I sat in the seeding for state.” 

While both athletes placed among the best in the state this season, Oushalkas is still seeking out bigger and better things for herself and her team for next season.

“I’m hoping to make it to state once again next year and even potentially place in the 200 free and 100 fly,” Oushalkas said.

With hopes set high for the future, the team will continue to push on, proud of their efforts this season.

“Our team did a great job,” Dion said. “We were able to get a lot of folks some good preparation heading into the next season and it allowed most people to come away with some of their best times.”