Marble Falls Tsunami has two top-10 finishes at state games
Marble Falls Tsunami swimmers Jessica Parsons (left) and Taylor Ashbaugh finished in the top 10 of two events at the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation State Games of Texas on July 31-Aug. 3. Parsons was ninth in the 15- to 17-year-old girls 50-yard freestyle, while Ashbaugh came in fifth in the 9- and 10-year-old girls 25-yard breaststroke. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
COLLEGE STATION — The Marble Falls Tsunami swim team wrapped up the 2014 summer by sending 17 athletes to the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation State Games of Texas on July 31-Aug. 3.
“Competition was just as challenging as past years with times varying from five seconds to only 10th of seconds in some events,” head coach Martha Montoya said. “All Marble Falls swimmers swam their best times and even improved from the regional competition held two weeks earlier.”
Taylor Ashbaugh turned in the team’s best finish: fifth place at 18.88 seconds in the 9- and 10-year-old girls 25-yard breaststroke.
Ashbaugh said the finish was the result of one thing.
“I was determined, and I had that goal for a very long time,” she said. “Next summer, I’m going to nationals.”
The other top-10 finish was turned in by Jessica Parsons in the 15- to 17-year-old girls 50-yard freestyle. She was ninth in 26.84 seconds.
“I was having fun this summer,” Parsons said. “I made it to state, swam my best that day. I put in a lot of work this season. It felt good.”
Coach Tyler Gary attributed the success of the summer to practices.
“We’ve been training really hard this year,” he said. “I was proud of them all. They all did a great job.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
RESULTS: Boys — 6-and-under: 23, William Slyker, 28.28; 9-10 year olds: 25-yard butterfly – 22, Jadon Jones, 18.87; 13-14 year olds: 50-yard breaststroke – 23, Jake Gary, 36.63; 100-yard individual medley – 14, Jake Gary, 1:08.07; 200-yard freestyle – 13, Jake Gary, 2:16.68; 200-yard individual medley relay – 12, Marble Falls (Joshua Bryer, Jonathon Montoya, Jake Gary, Tristan Johnson), 2:15.29; 200-yard freestyle relay – 13, Marble Falls (Joshua Bryer, Jake Gary, Tristan Johnson, Nathan Ortiz), 1:55.62; 200-yard medley relay – 12, Marble Falls (Jonathon Montoya, Jake Gary, Tristan Johnson, Joshua Bryer), 2:15.29; 15-17 year olds: 50-yard breaststroke – 18, Joshua Montoya, 32.94; 67, Jonathan Reyes, 42.25; 50-yard butterfly – 59, Johnathon Reyes, 33.47; 50-yard freestyle – 50, Joshua Montoya, 26.26; 95, Jonathan Reyes, 30.87; 18-24 year olds: 50-yard butterfly – 18, Aaron Jones, 26.95; 50-yard freestyle – 15, Aaron Jones, 24.70.
Girls — 9-10 year olds: 25-yard breaststroke – 5, Taylor Ashbaugh, 18.88; 100-yard individual medley – 15, Taylor Ashbaugh, 1:29.25; 13-14 year olds: 50-yard backstroke – 29, Sarah Williams, 37.47; 50-yard breaststroke – 25, Sarah Williams, 41.81; 27, Christine Ashbaugh, 43.38; 50-yard freestyle – 30, Christine Ashbaugh, 31.68; 100-yard individual medley – 24, Christine Ashbaugh, 1:21.71; 15-17 year old: 100-yard freestyle – 13, Jessica Parsons, 1:00.74; 50-yard backstroke – 15, Jessica Parsons, 33.34; 30, Mariah Jones, 36.41; 50-yard butterfly – 21, Jessica Parsons, 31.67; 50-yard freestyle – 9, Jessica Parsons, 26.84; 100-yard individual medley – 39, Mariah Jones, 1:19.97.
Mixed 15-17 year olds: 200-yard medley relay – 14, Marble Falls (Mariah Jones, Joshua Montoya, Jessica Parsons, Jonathan Reyes), 2:08.27; 200-yard freestyle relay – 16, Marble Falls (Mariah Jones, Joshua Montoya, Jessica Parsons, Jonathan Reyes), 1:55.47