Marble Falls swimming sets new records at regionals

CAPTION: Coach Holly Whittle (left) and swimmers Noe Hall, Brooke Mechum, Jimmy Haggart and Logan Hargraves. Photos by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

The Marble Falls High School swimming team set new personal records at the Class 4A Region IV meet Jan. 30-31.

Leading the way was sophomore Logan Hargraves, who finished eighth in the 100-yard freestyle in 55.36 seconds after qualifying for the championship final by clocking 55 seconds in the preliminaries.

“Which was good,” coach Holly Whittle said. “That showed growth from him from how he did last year making the championship finals, but we’re looking for lots of growth for him next year. I think it’ll be exciting for him. (That’s) really a strength for him. (We’re) looking for lots of promise in the future for him in this race.”

Sophomore Noe Hall set a new personal record in the 100-yard freestyle by touching the wall in 1:05.31 to finish 11th in the finals. She was 12th in the preliminaries in 1:06.25.

“(Her prelim time) was a really good time for her,” Whittle said. “That second day moving up and then that was a new (personal record) for her. So we were really excited about that race.”

Hall also finished 12th in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:20.71 after finishing 13th in the preliminaries by clocking 1:19.33 to set a new season best.

“So we were really excited about that time as well,” the coach said.

Freshman Jimmy Haggart was called for an illegal turn in the finals after clocking 1:27.54 in the preliminaries.

“He just had a tough time in that race,” Whittle said. “He had a turn at a wall that disqualified him. He’ll return next year and I’ll probably see a lot of growth in him. He learned a lot this year.”

Hargraves chose not to participate in the 50-yard freestyle consolation final to concentrate fully on the 100-yard freestyle. He was 14th in the preliminaries in 24.47 seconds.

“He did well,” Whittle said. “He almost beat his (personal record).”

Training for the season began Sept. 1, one month before the MavWood Invitational, the first meet of the year, hosted by the Round Rock Independent School District. Whittle said that meet gave the swimmers a glimpse of what competing at regionals was going to feel like because of the number of swimmers and teams there.

“It was a challenging and intimidating start to the season,” Whittle said. “But I also think it gave us some preparation for regionals.”

The two sophomores made return trips to regionals and that experience helped them post their best times on their events.

“I think we learned a lot this year,” Whittle said. “We’re young. We’re going to work hard this offseason. I think they’re going to put in a lot of time on their own between now and the start of next year. I think we’re going to see a lot of growth in all of them. We’ll have some new teammates that’ll be coming up next year as well from the eighth grade that we’re looking forward to. I think we’re going to have a really good year next year.”