State bids on the line at 5A Region III swim finals

Haley Ward and Emily Thomas|February 7, 2023

Brian Higgins

With bids to state on the line, the Redhawks swim team competes in the district at the Bruce Eubanks Natatorium on Friday and Saturday.

The Redhawks swim team moves into their second day of 5A Region III meet on Tuesday at the Frisco ISD Bruce Eubanks Natatorium, where they aim to advance to state.

“I am expecting nothing but their best effort,” head coach Zachariah Gnoza said. “I want to make sure that all the kids have a fun time and enjoy these moments. Not everybody gets to come, they have to qualify for it. So just being here is a big accomplishment in itself. I just want to make sure that they embrace the moment, have fun, and feel part of the team.”

For the girls, Maria Oushalkas, Avery Langan, Zoe Schneider, and Izabella Oushalkas have a shot at advancing to state with their 400 freestyle relay.

“I am hoping to win hopefully both the two free and the 100 fly, but it will be close as it is definitely a tight race between all of us,” senior Maria Oushalkas said. “It was easy going into districts but regions got tighter with competition.”

Coming off of a four day break due to the snowstorm, the team is working extra hard to make up for the lost practice.

“I am expecting to go out and try my hardest and then be supportive of my team,” junior Avery Langan said. “We had a snowstorm and had a week off, but we are going to try our best to compete and make it further.”

Freshman Bella Oushalkas is motivated heading into finals.

“I think we are ready,” Oushalkas said. “I think we know who our competitors are and we are excited to go. I would not say we are intimidated.”

Similarly to Bella, freshman Zoe Schneider has confidence in their abilities to make it to state.

“I am feeling ok, but there are a lot of fast swimmers here and it is a really tough region,” Schneider said. “I think we can do it and hopefully get called up for state knowing that we have really fast times.”

On the boys’ side, junior Dionisio Vega feels prepared for the competition.

“I expect me and my teammates to do our job so we can make state,” Vega said. “We are all just focusing on not false starting on any of the relays and for finals we just want to be as tight as possible.”