Aledo swimmers prep for state

A first-time competitor at state last year, Aledo swimmer Victoria Crews, like many, realized it's pretty cool competing under the brightest spotlight high school swimming can offer.

So, of course, she couldn't wait to return. But getting back can sometimes be more challenging than getting there in the first place.

Crews and fellow sophomore Haley Roberson, along with senior Sam Ogden, all did exactly that. They honed their skills even more and, as a result, are once again swimming at the UIL Class 5A Swim Meet at the University of Texas in Austin Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18.

"Being able to return to state is a reflection over the last year and shows how much growth I have had," Crews said. "Last year after state, I learned and was able to see how much I needed work throughout the off season and in season to make it again. Really working on technique and my mental health helped me with that."

Aledo will be well-represented this weekend with eight swimmers competing, twice as many as last season. In 2022, Roberson and Crews were on a pair of relays (200 and 400-yard freestyle) and Ogden competed in the 100 free.

Roberson will compete in the most events of any from Aledo, four. Individually, she will swim in the 200-yard individual and the 500 freestyle, both of which she won at the recent 5A Region II Meet in Mansfield. She swam a time of 2:09.16 in the 200 IM and 5:14.86 in the 500 free.

She will join Crews, sophomore Corah Satterfield, and freshman Natalie Hutson on the regional champion 200 medley relay and the regional runner-up 200 freestyle relay. The 200 medley posted a time of 1:54.40 and the 200 free clocked a 1:46.13.

Ogden will be joined on the regional runner-up boys 200 medley relay by senior Tanner Howse and juniors Porter Lane and Kyle Scharlow. The quartet set a school record at regionals with a time of 1:42.37, eclipsing a mark they set a couple weeks earlier by swimming 1:43.79 at district.

In addition, Ogden qualified for state individually with a runner-up finish at regionals in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.25 seconds.

Crews and Hutson also have individual events after runner-up finishes at regionals. Crews is in the 100 butterfly and Hutson the 100 backstroke after regional times of 1:00.94 and 1:02.22, respectively.

"Having previous experience at state makes me feel more relaxed and confident in my abilities," Roberson said. "I know what to expect the second time around, whereas the first time it was all new and a bit daunting. This time around the nerves aren’t as bad and I can focus on racing instead of the overwhelming environment."

Roberson is seeded ninth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:09.16 and 11th in the 500 free at 5:14.86. The top 16 times from Friday's preliminaries will advance to Saturday's competition.

Hutson said she is glad to be making her first trip to state alongside seasoned veterans.

"The thing I’m most excited about is getting to race with some of the best athletes in the state. It will definitely be a humbling experience," she said. "Getting to partake in such a high level event as a freshman is overall exciting."

Aledo coach Scott Abel said the main thing is for the swimmers to have the experience of a lifetime. Getting to state is an unforgettable experience, whether it's the first or a subsequent trip.

"I’m excited for these kids to have this experience, particularly our seniors," Abel said. "High school period is so quick that opportunities like this allow it to live forever. They earned this moment and it is all about them and their teammates."