FAST and Sharks Join Forces as SALT to Shine at TAAF Region 5 Championships

For just a few weekends a year, swimmers from the Fayette Area Swim Team (FAST) and Schulenburg Sharks traded in their familiar team colors to join forces with athletes from across the Small Aquatic League of Texas (SALT). Together, the combined team represented SALT at the TAAF Region 5 Swimming Championships, competing against larger programs from Bryan, College Station, Waco, Navasota, and Hamilton.

To advance to the Games of Texas, the TAAF state championship meet, swimmers had to finish in the top three of their individual events or relays. Although SALT was one of the smallest teams in attendance, its swimmers proved that determination and hard work can compete with anyone.

One of the biggest success stories of the meet was Everett Bounds, who qualified for the Games of Texas for the first time in both of his events. Bounds captured the 6 & Under 25-yard Freestyle title, dropping an incredible three seconds from his previous best to win in 22.75 seconds. He also earned a runner-up finish in the 25-yard Backstroke with a time of 34.06.

Grayson Gartman also punched his ticket back to the Games of Texas for the second consecutive year. Despite moving up into the 8 & Under age group, Gartman continued his impressive improvement, placing third in the 25-yard Freestyle with a personal-best time of 18.69, also shaving three seconds off his previous best.

Avery Gabriel qualified for the Games of Texas in four events after another outstanding performance. Gabriel won the 50-yard Backstroke, finished second in the 50-yard Breaststroke, and earned thirdplace finishes in both the 100yard Freestyle, 50-yard Freestyle and 2nd with the medley and freestyle relays.

SALT also received outstanding performances from swimmers representing the Schulenburg Sharks.

Emily Herzik won the 25yard Freestyle with a time of 16.34. Finlay Prichard-Jones qualified in two events, placing second in the 25-yard Breaststroke (25.66) and third in the 8 & Under 25-yard Backstroke (24.03).

Addison Johnson had a dominant meet, winning both the 9–10 Backstroke (19.04) and 25-yard Butterfly (20.34), while adding a second-place finish in the 100-yard Individual Medley with a time of 1:41.50.

Cora Prichard-Jones also turned in an impressive perfor-mance, winning the 100-yard Individual Medley (1:40.00), placing second in the 9–10 Backstroke (19.13), and second in the 50-yard Freestyle (36.72).

Additional state qualifiers included Levi Morgan, second in the 25-yard Butterfly (25.41); Steven Herzik, third in the 25-yard Butterfly (29.38); and Kalla Billeck, third in the 50-yard Butterfly (34.37).

The 9-10 Girls 100-yard Freestyle Relay team of Cora Prichard-Jones, Brooklyn Gambrel, Addison Johnson, and Emily Herzik captured the regional championship with a first-place finish.

While SALT celebrated numerous state qualifiers, several swimmers who earned Games of Texas berths elected to scratch from the state meet in order to compete at the State Games of America, the national championship event, which is held the same weekend.

Among those swimmers was Adalyn Emmel, who earned first-place finishes in the 50-yard Backstroke (37.19), 50-yard Butterfly (34.68), and 100-yard Individual Medley (1:26.09), while also placing second in the 50-yard Freestyle (31.83) and helping her relay teams to a second-place finish.

Makenna Emmel helped lead her relay teams to a firstplace finish in the mixed medley relay and a third-place finish in the mixed freestyle relay.

Adysen Janacek was a member of the first-place mixed medley relay and thirdplace mixed freestyle relay while also placing second individually in the 100-yard Freestyle (1:03.43) and 50-yard Breaststroke (36.56).

Everett Kubenka earned runner-up finishes in both the 50-yard Backstroke (37.50) and 50-yard Freestyle (31.09).

One of the closest finishes of the day came in the 8 & Under Butterfly, where Oliver Mao tied for third place. In TAAF competition, ties are determined by averaging the touchpad, plunger, and handtimed results. Mao narrowly missed qualifying for the Games of Texas by just 0.20 seconds.

Other SALT swimmers competing at the regional meet included Dani Vasquez, who finished 13th in the 8 & Under 25-yard Freestyle and 12th in the 25-yard Backstroke; Hannah Garza, eighth in the 100yard Freestyle; David Collins, who placed 10th in the 50yard Backstroke, eighth in the 50-yard Breaststroke, ninth in the 50-yard Butterfly, and 10th in the 50-yard Freestyle; Daniel Hromadka, who recorded sixth-place finishes in the 50yard Backstroke, 100-yard Individual Medley, and 50-yard Butterfly; and Gunner Gartman, who placed ninth in the 25-yard Freestyle, fifth in the 25-yard Backstroke, and 11th in the 25-yard Breaststroke.

The coaches were especially encouraged by the tremendous improvement shown throughout the team. Many swimmers dropped between three and six seconds from their personal-best times, highlighting the dedication and effort put in throughout the season.

“We couldn’t be prouder of how our swimmers represented SALT,” the coaching staff said. “Whether they qualified for the Games of Texas, are preparing for the State Games of America, or simply achieved personal bests, every swimmer showed tremendous heart. Watching them step up against some of the strongest competition in the region and give everything they had is what makes us proud to be their coaches.”