Huntsville freshman Matthew Bitara is going to state and he may have a few of his teammates tagging along with him.
On Saturday at the Class 4A Region V swimming championships, Bitara won the boys 100-yard backstroke in a time of 53.98 seconds. That earned him a trip to the UIL State Swimming and Diving Championships, scheduled Feb. 26-27 at the Jamail Texas Swim Center in Austin.
“Matt was ready to go, especially in the 100 back after getting some nerves out in the 200 (individual medley),” Hornets swim coach Karol K. Smith said happily. “He’s going to state for sure, and we’re still waiting to see the call-up list on some of our other swimmers.
“The winners of each race and the next best eight times qualify for state, and some of our other swimmers have a good shot to get in.”
Smith was crossing her fingers for Sierra Wagner, Colson Slaven and the Hornets’ 400-yard freestyle relay. Wagner finished third in the 100 backstroke, Slaven was fifth in the 100 butterfly and the Hornets’ freestyle relay team finished fifth as well. Bitara teamed with Jaron Wagner, Slaven and Marsh Miller on the 400-yard free relay.
“Sierra has a very good chance, Colson’s a possibility and our boys freestyle relay team may even have a shot,” Smith said. “Our kids were prepared today and they gave everything they’ve got.”
In other girls finals Saturday, Shelby Beverly, Megan Slaven, Rachel Krohn and Melissa Miller turned in a 10th-place finish for Huntsville in the 200-yard medley relay. Sierra Wagner, Ashton McDonald, Krohn and Beverly finished fifth in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Wagner also finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle race. Beverly was fifth in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 50 freestyle.
On the boys’ side, Bitara, Jaron Wagner, Colson Slaven and Jeremy Klespis swam fourth in the 200-yard medley relay. Jaron Wagner also placed sixth in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 200 freestyle. Slaven finished 13th in the 50-yard freestyle race and Klespis took 13th in the 100 free.
“As a team our girls finished eighth overall out of 21 teams,” Smith said. “Our boys finished seventh in the team standings.
“They expected to get into the finals this weekend. They came back here today and swam some great races. These kids put a lot of expectations on themselves, and they usually meet those expectations. To have a definite state qualifier, with the possibility of adding a few more, that’s very exciting for Huntsville swimming.”
Smith said Bitara, who finished third in the 100 backstroke in Friday’s prelims, will be back in the pool Monday afternoon preparing for the premier high school meet in Texas. The coach hopes her talented freshman has some company in the water.
“We’re not going to be satisfied just getting to state,” Smith said. “Matthew wants them to notice little old Huntsville.”
