This season for the Aledo High School swim team was a bittersweet one. While they once again sent a strong contingent to the Class 5A State Meet, they also bid farewell to three of the best female swimmers ever to come through the program, seniors Haley Roberson, Victoria Crews, and Avery Faulkner.
Roberson and Crews advanced to state in all four of their seasons at the high school level, while Faulkner reached state in 2024 and was an alternate in 2022 and this season.
“On a personal note, it’s bittersweet to see my daughter graduate from the team, along with six other outstanding seniors,” said Meghan Roberson, Aledo coach and mother of Haley. “Victoria and Avery (Faulkner), who have been with the team for four years, and the rest of this senior group have been great leaders and competitors.”
Both Roberson and Crews are part of the 200-yard and 400 free relay team records of 1:40.75 this season at the state meet and 3:45.06 at the North Texas Zone Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Invitational.
Roberson also holds individual records in the 200 individual medley (2:05.57 at 2024 Region II Meet), 500 freestyle (5:03.91 at 2024 North Texas TISCA Invite), and 100 backstroke (58.84 (2024 Debbie Weems Invitational). At one point, she also held the 200 free and 100 free records, but those were broken by Jacqueline Gruber when she swam for a partial season in 2023-24.
Recapping each of the seasons for Roberson and Crews includes:
Freshmen — Roberson 23rd in state in 200 IM, both 21st in state in 200 and 400 free relays.
Sophomores — Both advanced to state in 200 medley relay, both 22nd in state in 200 free relay, Roberson ninth in 200 IM and 13th in state in 200 IM and 500 free, Crews 24th in state in 100 fly.
Juniors — Roberson ninth in 200 IM and 13th in 500 free at state, both 23rd at state in 400 free relay.
Seniors — Roberson sixth in 200 IM and eighth in 500 free at state, both 13th at state in 200 free relay and 17th in 400 free relay.
“It feels amazing to leave this program on such a high note,” Haley Roberson said. “I’ve seen this team grow to be the powerhouse that it is and it makes me so proud to see them excel in such a high pressure environment.”
Crews added, “I am very blessed to have been able to make state all four years of high school because I know that most people can’t say that. However, lots of work and dedication went into it and I wouldn’t have been able to go if I didn’t have the support from my coaches, teammates, parent, and God that I had.”
Most of the swimmers from this season’s state qualifiers are returning. They include for the girls junior Julia Gordy and freshman Mackenzie Oligschlaeger, who joined with Roberson and Crews to set a school record in the 200 free relay at the Region II Meet, clocking 1:41.57.
Also setting a school record in advancing to state was the boys 400 free relay of sophomores Kale Roberson, Brayden Deboer, and Ian Perez, along with senior Tyler Jackson, posting a time of 3:21.60 at regionals.
Along with Faulkner, senior Evan Bradley, sophomore Jaxon Robinson, and freshman Sydni Kellam were alternates at state.
“I have been so blessed to be part of the Aledo swim state team for three of my four years in high school. My junior year is special to me because I got to swim in the Girls 400 Freestyle Relay at state,” Faulkner said. “However, my senior state trip is closest to my heart as it was my last state trip with the team and I was able to represent us as a captain.”
Coach Roberson said of the 2024 Girls 400 Free Relay, “It may not have set a record, but will go down in my memory as the best, most emotional race that I’ve ever witnessed. They were seeded fourth in prelims and (made up) 10 seconds in finals to take first. It took some of the best swims out of all four of the girls (Victoria, Julia, Avery, and Haley) to get there.
“They swam some of the fastest splits they’ve ever swam, in fact I’m pretty sure it’s Haley’s fastest split ever at a 52.40 100 freestyle. It really came down to Avery’s leg and we needed her to swim a best time, but this exceeded what we thought possible by about three seconds. All four girls left everything they had in the water on that race to qualify for state.”
Faulkner missed much of the season after suffering an injury, but she handled the team’s social media and took photos — and coach Roberson said she “stepped up to help me coach,” adding that she is “an excellent example of a student athlete for the entire team.”
Smart swimmers
Faulkner was also named to Texas High School Coaches Association first-team academic all-state. Haley Roberson was named second team and Jackson was placed on the elite team.
“As our swim season wraps up, I’m incredibly proud of this team’s hard work and dedication. They’ve pushed themselves, supported each other, and shown real grit,” coach Roberson said, adding about the seniors, “While we’ll miss them, I know they’re leaving the team in great hands. With the talent and drive in this group, the future of Bearcat swimming looks bright.”
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here