High school swimming: Flour Bluff sweeps District 29-5A titles; girls win 17th straight
The Flour Bluff swim team feels a little different this season than it has in recent years.
With the graduation of several of the best swimmers to come through the program, the girls team is turning to a handful of different faces to lead it on its typical quest for state berths, along with district and regional titles.
But in turn the boys, led by returnees Jaden Lopez, Jaden Ferguson and newcomer Yzac Salut have the makings of one of the Hornets' most talented squads in years.
Both cruised to District 29-5A titles on Friday at Corpus Christi Natatorium — the 17th consecutive crown for the girls, and third straight for the boys.
"I wanted to see how we were going to race," Flour Bluff coach Bryan Hutchinson said. "We did have some really good times for being tired right now. I was really happy with that. We had some turns and breakouts and things that can be cleaned up. We have two weeks before region to fine-tune.
"The Jadens and Yzac set the tone. The younger kids feed off all of it. You can see it from the way the JV kids swam, from the freshmen on up. That culture keeps producing."
Lopez claimed titles in the 100-yard butterfly (54.19) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.00), two of the eight events the Hornets captured on the way to a 138-point margin over second-place Veterans Memorial in the boys team title.
"The way we performed today shows how well we are going to do in the future and how much (time) we are going to drop in the future," Lopez said. "Everyone has been pushing each other in practice and we have been trying really hard.
"I feel like I swam pretty good and I feel like going into region and state I can still drop a lot of time."
In addition to Lopez's titles, Ferguson won the 200 free, Salut topped the field in the 200 individual medley and 500 free and all three relays brought home gold.
Victoria East's Nicholas Turner was named Male Swimmer of the Meet after claiming the 100 free and setting a new district record in the 100 backstroke.
Instead of Pena and Orms, the Hornets girls were buoyed by Alexandria Orta, Gabrielle Robinson, Ema Elizondo and Bailey Elwood, all claiming individual events for Flour Bluff, along with a sweep of the relays.
The Bluff girls out-paced Victoria West 269-80 in the team race as their depth shone through. The Hornets had at least two medalists in eight of nine individual events and swept the podium in five events.
King's Emily Hand captured Female Swimmer of the Meet honors after earning four medals, including the district championship in the 50 free (25.19).
"On the girls' side we're deep," Hutchinson said. "We had a much deeper meet this year than last year even without Jenny (Pena) and Patience (Orms) just because we're solid. We may not have that top end, but we have 10 girls that are all really, really solid."
Olivia Boniog, a sophomore who earned medals in the 50 and 100 free, said even as talented swimmers graduate from the program, everyone knows what it takes to be successful and the work that is required.
"We understand what it takes to be district champions," Boniog said. "We do what we can to make sure we reach our goals as a team. We aren't selfish and we care about each other. It is teamwork that gets us to where we need to be."
The top six finishers in each event qualified for the regional swim meet slated for Feb. 9-10 at the Corpus Christi Natatorium.
More: Behind Nisimblat, Tuloso-Midway boys swimming coasts to another district championship
More: High school swimming: 2024 Corpus Christi district meet results
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: High school swimming: Flour Bluff sweeps district titles
