State swimming qualifying marks already reached

BELEN — A visitor watching the Belen swim team go through a training session at the Eagles Natatorium noticed the water was choppier than last season. It wasn’t a pool malfunction behind the swishing, but more swimmers than usual stroking through the water.

“We have a bigger team this year,” said Liz Jones, BHS coach.

Several new faces come from the high school swim class, an elective that is the last period of the day. Others have joined from the Hurricanes summer swim program under Alysha Coffey, who is now the Eagles’ assistant coach.

The larger roster is welcomed by returning swimmers.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had new people,” said Samantha Gallegos, senior.

More swimmers mean more chances to score points.

“It’s awesome,” said Cole Rodriguez, junior, the top returner for the boys. “We’ve all improved, especially from when we first started in the preseason.”

It will be difficult replacing Dylan Jones, the coach’s son now swimming at Adams State, but the Eagles are optimistic.

“We have a strong group of boys still,” coach Jones said.

Rodriguez was a finalist in the 100 backstroke at the 2024 state meet.

Rodriguez, Diego Vigil and Nehemiah Sanchez return after finishing 10th in the medley relay with Dylan Jones. Already, on Saturday at a Los Alamos meet, the boys’ 200 free relay team of Sanchez, Vigil, Arbin Apodaca and Isaiah Marez recorded a state qualifying time.

Coach Jones is working with a young girls’ squad.

“The times are getting faster. We hope for state qualifications for the girls, too,” she said.

Despite the tough practices, in the water and on land, Gallegos says, “It’s super fun. It’s like the best thing in the entire world.”

Los Lunas and Valencia

While Los Lunas, 5A, and Valencia, 4A, compete in different classifications, they practice together at the Belen facility and are both coached by Marissa Candelaria.

“We never have any issues with the two teams working together,” said Candelaria. “They, for the most part, work as one team.”

Los Lunas, with about a dozen swimmers total, is trying to replace several seniors from last years’ team.

“We’re rebuilding right now,” said Candelaria, who also has some competitors returning from injuries.

Candelaria has seen plenty of progress since the start of practice last year, citing the Tigers Naron Campbell and his improvement during Saturday’s Rio Rancho meet.

“He dropped about a whole minute in his 500 freestyle, and he dropped another 20 seconds from his 200 free,” the coach said.

Although the LLHS girls are “pretty fresh,” Sol Romero brings experience to the Los Lunas girls’ team. Romero, “who has been swimming most of her life,” is expected to lead the Tigers’ 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams. Those events will field several newcomers.

Valencia has a total of 11 swimmers, and Candeleria says the team is “looking pretty good.”

After just one meet, Andres Burkhard has qualified for the state championship in the 100 breaststroke. Burkhard came in 14th in that event last season at the state meet.

For the Jaguars’ girls, Ava Casaus-Carrasco is approaching qualifying times in the 100 and 500 freestyle.

“I do think we can get one of our girls’ relays into state,” Casaus-Carrasco said. “We’ve got some strong female swimmers.”

The NMAA State Swimming & Diving Championship is Feb. 21-22 at Albuquerque Academy Natatorium.