The swimmers at the Region VI championship meet knew that placing first was their only guarantee of going to the state meet in two weeks.

All other placers will have to wait until late Saturday night, after all eight regions have completed their meets, to find out who had the next fastest times and will go to Austin Feb. 22 and 23.

But nine individuals swimmers, including Merritt Krawczyk (Kingwood), Matthew Barber (Kingwood), Rosa Gentile (Clear Lake), and Randall Smith (Mayde Creek), rested easy Saturday night as they took first place in one or more events.

The overall boys and girls winner, Kingwood, had a great showing as they advanced three teams and three individual swimmers. 

“There is a lot of emotion,” Kingwood coach Russell Duin said. “On the girls side, there were a lot of butterflies (nerves) but they came together and did well tonight. On the boys side it was all determination.”

Kingwood set the tone early, taking first in the boys (1:36.85) and girls (1:48.09) 200-yard medley relay.

Barber then swam for his first of two individual gold medals in the 200-yard freestyle (1:40.15). His second gold came later in the 500-yard freestyle (4:31.17).

“I’m really happy with what I swam today,” Barber said.

Teammate Krawczyk took gold in the 200-yard IM (2:06.79) and later took gold again in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.80).

Kingwood’s boys were the 2007 state champions and know it is going to be a challenge defending their title.

“It’s always challenging coming back as state champions because everyone wants to get another,” Barber said.

Gentile knows how tough the state meet can be. A senior now, Gentile has been to state before, but this year is a little different. This will be her first time going as an individual swimmer. The races that got her there were the 50-yard freestyle (:24.44) and the 100-yard butterfly (:57.12).

“Those were my best times,” Gentile said. “I knew it was going to be hard going in and I just did my best. I’ve been to state before but within the team. This is my first time going as an individual.”

Smith also swam his best times in the 50-yard freestyle (:20.89) and the 100-yard freestyle (:46:17). Smith is a junior who has his eye on what he wants to accomplish at state and in the future.

“Those were all best times for me and by a lot,” Smith said. “At state, I want to place in the top three. And after I graduate I’m hoping to go to Florida to swim.”

After the final results are all tallied from all eight regions, 16 racers in each event will head to Austin and compete for a state title.

First place winners not mentioned above:
Adriana Sepulveda-Clear Brook (1:53.87) 200-yard freestyle
Jason Ting-Cinco Ranch (1:55.01) 200-yard IM
Eric Kaestner-Morton Ranch (:51.34) 100-yard butterfly
Ellen Lobb-Clear Lake (:52.10) 100-yard freestyle
Kim Summers-Kingwood (5:07.50) 500-yard freestyle
Clear Lake girls (1:37.67) 200-yard freestyle relay
Kingwood boys (1:25.59) 200-yard freestyle relay
Ellen Lobb-Clear Lake (:57.22) 100-yard backstroke
Taylor Nichols-Mayde Creek (:52.56) 100-yard backstroke
Jason Ting-Cinco Ranch (:58.13) 100-yard breaststroke
Clear Lake girls (3:37.89) 400-yard freestyle relay
Mayde Creek boys (3:09.37) 400-yard freestyle relay

Team scores:
Boys:
Kingwood-120
Cinco Ranch-103
Mayde Creek-75

Girls:
Kingwood-140
Clear Lake-113
Cinco Ranch-81

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