SBAS foursome places 4th in 200-meter medley relay at Games of Texas; miss out on national berth

The SBAS Mixed 200-meter medley relay placed fourth at the
TAAF Games of Texas State Championships in Edinburg, Texas.
Shown (L to R) Coach Darla Kelly, Alfredo Vasquez, Gabriella Escobar,
Alex Perez, Brian Perez, Coach Robert Kelly. 

By Chris Price
Copyright 2016 Texas Aquatics News

EDINBURG, TEXAS (July 29, 2016 ) On the second day of competition, July 29, 2016 at the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation Games of Texas State Championships, in Edinburg, Texas, four South Belt Area “All Star” Swimming Team (SBAS) swimmers left their mark on the games. The foursome of Gabriella Escobar, Alexa Perez, Alfredo Vasquez, and Brian Perez combined to take fourth place in the mixed 15-17-year old 200-meter medley relay. Their time of 2:13.10 established a SBAS team record and was less than two second from third place and a trip to the State Games of America National Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan in August, 2017.

All four swimmers are swimmers are students at Pasadena High School in Pasadena, Texas and swim for NFHS National Coach of the Year, Darla Kelly. Kelly received the award in 2012 as the top girls swimming coach in the United States and the top female high school coach in the United States.

Individually, Escobar, who will be a senior in high school in August, placed 43^rd in the 50-meter freestyle while Alexa Perez, who will be a junior this coming year, placed 15^th in the 200-meter freestyle and 31^st in the 50-meter breaststroke .

Brian Perez placed 15^th in the 200-meter freestyle and 35^th in the 100-meter individual medley . Vasquez placed 31^st in the 100-meter individual medley , 44^th in the 50-meter butterfly, and 50^th in the 100-meter freestyle . Both Brian Perez and Vasquez will be juniors Pasadena High School. Competition continues on Saturday, July 30 with the 18 and over and eight and under divisions.