Jennell Higgs splashes backward into the water during an individual medley race at the Socorro Stingrays’ final home meet Saturday in Socorro. Photo by Demetria Fenzi-Richardson
“We’ve never looked better,” Vinson said of the swim team. “We can actually have a relay team for each age group. I think we’ll break into the top 10 this year. We’re really excited for Thursday.”
Vinson said 94 swimmers have been competing for the Stingrays this summer, one of the largest teams in the Sundance Aquatic Association.
Sundance includes about 1,350 swimmers in 17 teams, broken up into four districts. Swimmers between 5 and 18 compete in the league.
The Stingrays will compete in the district meet Thursday, July 17, along with swimmers from Albuquerque’s YMCA, Rio Rancho, Four Hills Country Club and Sandia Heights. That meet is hosted by Rio Rancho.
On Saturday, 16 kids in each event will compete in the state championship meet at the West Mesa Aquatic Center in Albuquerque.
Vinson said her swimmers have made a lot of progress over the summer and have become faster with every practice.
“The first-year swimmers come to both practices and they improve tremendously. Their accomplishments are so huge,” Vinson said. “Then we have the seasoned veterans who just get better and better.”
Vinson said a big advantage for Socorro’s Stingrays is the pool facilities they use.
“We have the 50-meter pool. There are a lot of teams who like to come down here just because they like to practice in an Olympic-sized pool,” Vinson said.
She said the City of Socorro deserves a lot of credit for having a good facility and she said it is always very clean with great water quality.
“The pool is amazing and the lifeguard staff is great,” Vinson said.
The Stingrays held their final home meet Saturday with swimmers from Belen and Del Norte. Vinson said it was a packed pool and the staff was able to open up the picnic area so people could sit in the shade and watch.
“I was particularly proud of the fact that my swimmers showed excellent technique,” Vinson said. “To me, it doesn’t matter how fast they swim as long as they use proper technique. If they get that down, the speed will follow. Technically our swimmers did very well and from what I saw Saturday, we’re looking great.”
Vinson said she is proud of the first-year swimmers who have endured the pain and struggle in learning.
“Our first-year swimmers are doing remarkably well. I have so much respect for them,” Vinson said.
Vinson has several high school swimmers who have played the role of coaches this summer for different age groups. They were Alyssa Higgs, Gaetano Stanzione, Katie Welch, Carlie Licha, Derrick Vinson, Jennell Higgs and Frank Grider.
