Marble Falls swimmers advance to regionals
CAPTION: Coach Holly Whittle (left) and swimmers Logan Hargraves, Jimmy Haggart, Brooke Mechum and Noe Hall. Courtesy photo
Several Marble Falls High School swimmers are advancing to the Class 4A Region IV meet thanks to their finishes at the District 13-3A meet Jan. 23.
The swimmers are sophomores Brooke Mecham, Noe Hall and Logan Hargraves and freshman Jimmy Haggart.
“We really held our own against the big teams, advancing in five events with just four swimmers,” coach Holly Whittle said.
Few swimmers had a meet quite like Hargraves who set new personal bests in the 50-yard freestyle by clocking 24.43 seconds and in the 100-yard freestyle in 54.43 seconds to earn bronze medals. He will compete in the regional meet in both events after only competing in one event at regionals in 2025.
“So we’re really proud of him,” Whittle said. “He’s a multi-sport athlete, too. He’s in the middle of basketball season, but he puts in the time and he’s determined. And it’s paying off for him. He’s great to watch, a lot of fun to watch.”
She noted that officials created three heats of the 50-yard freestyle swimmers and Hargrave competed in the first heat because of the times coaches had to submit when registering their swimmers for the district meet.
“He finished right where we predicted, where we expected him to finish,” Whittle said. “He stayed in his races, he stayed consistent in both of those really and was just right there in the top few. But setting new (personal records) – that was really exciting to see.”
Haggart, a freshman, set a new personal best in the 100-yard backstroke by finishing in 1:22.22 for fourth place.
Hall set a new personal record by clocking 1:06.21 in the 100-yard freestyle and a season best 1:19.34 in the 100-yard backstroke to finish fourth in both events.
“This time she had to earn it in both, and she did,” the coach said. “She beat out several in both events to advance. She had to improve her times and she had to beat several swimmers.”
All three are advancing to regionals.
“We had a target,” Whittle said. “We had a goal for each of them in each of their races, and they met them.”
Mecham took second in her heat in the 50-yard freestyle in 48.18 seconds.
“Brooke did an amazing job, too,” the coach said. “She’s a beginner swimmer this year. They all pushed. They’re all very studious and involved. They’re hard working. They have to make this a priority. They knew they had to earn it in every one of those races; there was no gimme – they had to earn it and they did.”
The regional meet is Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30-31, at the Southwest Independent School District Aquatic Center, 9290 SW Loop 410 in San Antonio.
