District 5-5A Meet

Aledo swim coach Meghan Roberson has her sights set on extending a streak of sending swimmers to state. Doing so would be the program's ninth consecutive year.

That process begins with the District 5-5A Meet at the Northwest ISD Natatorium on Friday, Jan. 26. From there, the top six finishers in each event will move on to the Region II Meet Feb. 9-10 in Mansfield.

"Northwest will be our biggest team to beat at district. They have a lot of good swimmers, but so do we," Roberson said. "Once we’re out of district, we continue to race Northwest, but add in Colleyville Heritage, Grapevine, and Granbury. 

"Many of these races come down to the fraction of a second, and the outcome can go either way. Races are about technique, and the minute details of the start, turns, stroke, even breathing. We’ve worked hard this season on those details so that they all come together during championship season."

The Aledo girls 200 medley relay has qualified for state the past two years and Roberson said she's optimistic they can make it a three-peat this year. Last year they also sent the girls 200 freestyle relay that she believes should qualify this year as well. The boys 200 medley relay qualified last year, but graduated some impactful seniors and are in a growing season, she noted.

Junior captain Victoria Crews is looking to reach state for a second year in a row. She qualified on the relays the past two years and added her first individual event last year in the 100 butterfly. Roberson said she will try the butterfly and backstroke this season.

Junior captain Haley Roberson is attempting her own three-peat in both the 200 individual medley as well as the 500 free. 

"She’s been a state qualifier for her entire high school career so far, and she’s working hard to continue the tradition," coach Roberson said.

"Senior captain Porter Lane has really put in the pool work since last year, making huge time drops in both the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, as well as 50 free," coach Roberson said. "We anticipate him making his state debut in both of his individual events this year. He was an important part of the qualifying relay last year and has used that experience to lead our younger swimmers."

In assessing the season so far, coach Roberson noted that the girls team has dropped a few swimmers this season to other activities and injury, saying, "So our numbers haven’t been as strong as in past years."

She added that the boys team has higher numbers, but is young and gaining racing experience.

"It’s tricky because high school is typically the only swimming experience where you can have a 14-year-old boy racing against an 18-year-old man head-to-head," the coach said. "There are a lot of physical differences between the two. 

"We have a strong group of freshmen boys, but they need a little more experience and power behind them. They’re a group to watch over the coming seasons (Brayden DeBoer, Ian Perez, Kale Roberson and Jaxon Robinson)."

Aledo prepared for district and the postseason with some impressive swims against some strong 5A, 6A and teams from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. 

"We’ve won a lot of races this season but lost the meet because other schools just have more swimmers competing and earning points," coach Roberson said. "Aledo has some of the fastest swimmers in the region, but lack the depth of a lot of teams. It’s like winning the battles but losing the wars."

The Northwest 5A Invitational, Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association meet, and the Debbie Weems Invitational, all among the toughest meets around, were high points for Aledo, coach Roberson said.

"We had some fast swims at those events against some fast schools," she said. "Large meets like those are great indicators for us as we’re usually racing at a quality pool in a championship format very similar to what we do for districts and regionals. 

From the regional meet, the top two swimmers individually and relays automatically qualify for state. The next eight fastest in event across all regions will join them in Austin Feb. 16-17.

"So, a swimmer could come in third in their region, but if they’re in the top eight fastest times (excluding those who make it from the 1-2 placing), they could still end up attending state," coach Roberson said. "It is not easy to make state in swimming."