UIW’s Ruvalcaba Cruz to Represent Mexico in World University Games

Photo courtsey of UIW Sports Information Department

The sophomore qualified for the 400 IM and may also compete in the 200 IM

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (July 24, 2017) UIW sophomore swimmer, Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz, qualified in the 400 IM and will represent Mexico at the 2017 World University Games, held Aug. 19-30 in Taipei, Taiwan.

“I am beyond glad that I got an opportunity like this,” said Ruvalcaba Cruz. “I am very proud to represent UIW and my country at my first big international competition. I am excited to see what I can do next month!”

“Hector is a jack of all trades,” stated head coach Phillip Davis. “He is the anomaly of a swimmer. He works really hard; he arrives early and leaves late. He deserves all the attention he is getting.”

It has been quite a year for Ruvalcaba Cruz. The Tijuana Baja, Calif., native, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, was named the CCSA Most Outstanding Male Freshman and CCSA Scholar All-America. He was a two-time champion at the conference championships: 400 Fly (3:52.90) and 200 Fly (1:46.35), while finishing second in the 200 IM (1:49.18).

He finished first overall in the men’s 200 Butterfly at the CCSA Conference Championships last February with a time of 1:47.00. Earlier in the season, Ruvalcaba Cruz led all swimmers in the men’s 400 IM with a time of 4:02.00 against Texas A&M on Oct. 19. He also posted the second-best time in the men’s 200 IM with 1:53.36 at the Little Rock Invitational.

“Hector is very close to being in the A standard as being in the Top 50 in the world,” said Davis. “That would give him access to any meet, including the Olympics. UIW swimming and diving has been very fortunate to have two student-athletes on the Mexican National Team. Daniel Torres was the first in 2015-16, but Hector is the first student-athlete in program history to be on the national team while still in school at UIW.”

The Universiade competition is biennial. The 2015 event was hosted by Gwangju, South Korea, and the 2019 Games are scheduled to be in Naples, Italy.

The 400 IM will be held on Day 6 of the swimming events, on Aug. 26, while the 200 IM will be held on either Aug. 22 or 23. The swimming events will be held at the National Taiwan Sport University Arena. Please visit https://www.2017.taipei/home for the most up-to-date information on the Games.

SBAS wins 31 gold medals at TAAF Region 14 Championships; punches ticket to Games of Texas

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 23, 2017) The South Belt Area “All Stars” Swimming Team (SBAS) placed second in the team standings Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Region 14 Championships held at Tompkins High School in Katy on Saturday, July 15, 2017 and qualified 28 swimmers and six relays for the TAAF Games of Texas State Championships in McAllen, Texas on July 27-30, 2017. SBAS tallied 25 gold, 16 silver, and 12 bronze medals in individual events and six gold medals in relays events.

In the girls eight-and-under division, Kirstin Kelly, won silver medals in the 25-yard freestyle and 25-yard backstroke and bronze in the 50-yard freestyle. 2017 will be her first trip to the state championships in individual event, having previously competed in the Games of Texas in the 100-yard freestyle relay in 2015. Nine-year-old Carson Mauk placed second in the 25-yard backstroke and 25-yard freestyle.

In the girls 15-17-year-old age group, Abigail Salazar took gold medals in the 200-yard freestyle and 50-yard backstroke while Kimberly Dutton earned gold medals in the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard individual medley. Veronica Vatau swam to a silver medal in the 50-yard breaststroke with Abigail Lezcano taking silver in the 100-yard individual medley and bronze in the 100-yard freestyle. Daniella Fraga won bronze in both the 100-yard individual medley and 50-yard freestyle with Alexa Perez taking silver in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.

In the women’s 18-24 age group, Gabriella Escobar won gold in the 100-yard freestyle while Marco Castillo taking bronze in the 100-yard individual medley and 50-yard breaststroke in the men’s 18-24 age group. Tristan Morgan won gold in the 50-yard backstroke and silver in the 100-yard individual medley and 50-yard freestyle. Also placing in the men’s 18-24 age group was Eric Leal (silver: 100-yard freestyle and bronze: 200-yard freestyle) and Lewis Cruz (gold: 100-yard freestyle, bronze: 50-yard freestyle and bronze: 50-yard butterfly).

Kristine Kelly, who is the mother of Kirstin, won gold medals in the women’s 25-29 50-yard freestyle and 50-yard backstroke. In the men’s 25-29 division brother Landon and Carson Howard combined for four gold and two silver medals. Landon won gold in the 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle, along with a silver in the 100-yard individual medley. Carson earned his gold medals in the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard individual medley and silver in the 50-yard butterfly. Rounding out the men’s 25-29 division was Brandon Duswalt with silver in the 100-yard freestyle and bronze in the 50-yard breaststroke and Jameson Frey (silver: 50-yard freestyle and bronze: 50-yard butterfly).

Derrick Mauk, who is the father of nine-year old Carson, tallied four gold medals in the 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard butterfly, 100-yard individual medley and 50-yard backstroke in the men’s 40-44 age group. Darla Kelly won gold medals in the women’s 60-64 50-yard breaststroke and 50-yard freestyle, while husband Robert Kelly won his four gold medals in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, and 50-yard backstroke.

In the relay events, Salazar, Fraga, and Lezcano combined with Reanna Bowers to win the gold medal in both the girls 15-17 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. In the mixed 15-17 200-yard medley relay, Perez and Dutton teamed up with Michael Vargas and Alfredo Vasquez to win gold. They also combined to take gold in the mixed 15-17 200-yard freestyle relay.

In the 18-and-over division, Castillo, Morgan, and Leal teamed up with Clayton Melo to win gold in the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay. In the mixed 18-and-over 200-yard freestyle relay, Escobar, Castillo, and Escobar, along with John Long, won gold.