Big Spring swimmers cap off historic season with strong finish at state
Left, Big Spring high school divers (L-R) Elija Long, Christian Pantoja, & Malaki Vaughn pose for a picture at the UIL State Swim meet in San Antonio last week. Right, The Big Spring Lady Steers relay team consisting of (L-R) Malaki Vaughn, Naomi Reyes, Emma Walker, and Arely Cruz-garcia pose for a picture after their race.
The Big Spring High School swim and dive team competed in the UIL State Swim meet in San Antonio last Thursday and Friday and finished the season on a high note.
Big Spring junior Christian Pantoja led the way for the Steers as he finished fifth overall in the men's 1 meter diving event. Sophomore Elija Long followed behind Pantoja, as he finished seventh overall in the event.
Big Spring senior Malaki Vaughn paced the Lady Steers as she finished ninth overall in the women's 1 meter diving event to end her high school diving career. While Vaughn did not medal at state she was still pleased with her overall performance and effort in the competition. “If it was easy everyone would do it,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn would later join her fellow teammates Naomi Reyes, Emma Walker, and Arely Cruz-garcia in the women's 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays in the swim portion of the state meet. Both relay teams would finish 14th overall.
While Big Spring did not place anyone on the podium, their overall performance was still an impressive feat one that should be remembered in the coming years. This season marked the first time in 14 years that Big Spring has qualified a swimmer or
diver to the state swim meet.
The last time Big Spring had a swimmer or diver compete at state was back in 2009 where current head coach Randall Shaw was also the head coach at that time making it a memorable one for Shaw.
“It's been a fun and great season with these group of kids and I'm just so proud of them and all of their hard work,” coach Shaw said. Congratulations to the Big Spring swim and dive team and to head coach Randall Shaw on a great season!
UIL State Swim Meet Results
Feb. 9-10 at Josh Davis Natatorium & Bill Walker Pool
San Antonio
Event: Women's 1 Meter Diving
Malaki Vaughn – 9th overall, score – 212.05
Event: Men's 1 Meter Diving
Christian Pantoja – 5th overall, score – 241.5 Elija Long – 7th overall, score – 205.5
Event: Women's 200 yard Medley Relay
Big Spring (Arely Cruz-garcia, Emma Walker, Naomi Reyes, & Malaki Vaughn) – 14th overall, time – 2:13.41
Event: Women's 200 yard Freestyle Relay
Big Spring (Naomi Reyes, Emma Walker, Arely Cruz-garcia, & Malaki Vaughn) – 14th overall, time – 1:58.76