Local swimmer establishes three team records at 2016 TAAF Games of Texas

Michael Vargas established three SBAS
team reacords at the TAAF Games of Texas
in Edinburg. Texas.
Submitted photo, Used with permission.

By Chris Price
Copyright 2016 Texas Aquatics News

EDINBURG, TEXAS (July 29, 2016) In the first day of competition at the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation Games of Texas State Championships in Edinburg, Texas on Thursday, July 28, 2016, two local youths showcased their skills against the top swimmers from around the state. Pasadena's Michael Vargas and Deer Park’s Harrison Brown competed in session one of the annual state games in the boys 11-14 and 13-14 years old age group.

Vargas, who will be a sophomore at Sam Rayburn High School this fall, competed in the 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter individual medley, and the 50-meter backstroke in the boys 13-14 division. Brown competed in the 100-meter freestyle in the boys 11-12 division.

Harrison, who swims for the Deer Park Seals in summer competition placed 19^th in the 100-meter freestyle with the time of 1:23.75. Vargas, who swims for the SouthBelt Area "All Stars" Swimming Team, placed 25^th in the 100-meter freestyle with the time of 1:20.30. In the 50-meter backstroke, his time of 40.51 seconds was good enough for 24^th place in the field. His final event of the day, the 1oo-yard individual medley, he placed 24^th with the time of 1:39.96. All three of Vargas’ performances established new team records for South Belt.

After his record setting performance, Vargas stated “I thought my stroke rate in backstroke was pretty good. I needed to kick more on freestyle and backstroke, but my turns in all my races were better than when I competed in the regionals two weeks ago.”

The Games of Texas continue on Friday morning with the boys 9-10 and 15-17 age groups and the afternoon with the girls 9-10 and 15-17 age groups. The championships are being contested at the Edinburg Water Park Pool.