Nacogdoches, Lufkin & Hudson Swimmers Punch Ticket to State Meet

Friday and Saturday, February 4th and 5th, the UIL Conference 5A - Region IV Regional Swim Meet was set to take place at the Lewisville ISD Eastside Aquatic Center.  That didn't happen.

Although we didn't get much wintry weather in Deep East Texas late last week, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex was turned into an icy landscape.  Area schools were canceled and organizers of the regional swim meet were forced to move the state qualifying event to Monday and Tuesday, February 7th and 8th.

Region IV encompasses a large area of East Texas and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, plus includes perennial powerhouse Dallas Highland Park.  After all the splashing and screaming, several swimmers from Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Hudson had punched their ticket to the UIL State Meet in Austin.

Here's a look at those teams/individuals that will be competing in Austin next week:

Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay

• Nacogdoches (Alister Jackson, Kaden Packard, Tread Woodard, Daniel Chandler)

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle

• Lufkin - Sean Sullivan

Boys 1-meter Diving

• Lufkin - Carter Wood

Boys 100 Yard Butterfly

• Lufkin - Sean Sullivan
• Nacogdoches - Tread Woodard

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle

• Nacogdoches - Alister Jackson

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

• Nacogdoches (Alister Jackson, Daniel Chandler, William Hinson, Tread Woodard)

Girls 100 Yard Backstroke

• Hudson - Olivia Bachman

Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

• Nacogdoches (Alister Jackson, Daniel Chandler, William Hinson, Tread Woodard)

Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay

• Hudson (Olivia Bachman, Kasie Lopez, Hannah Slusher, Cullen Merrell)

I also have to take this opportunity to brag a bit about my daughter (Cullen Merrell) and the Hudson swim team.  Cullen accomplished two major feats in this video. She touched the wall just ahead of another competitor to help send her team to state, and she somehow turned her mom (taking the video) into a screaming pile of jelly.

A shout out also to the Nacogdoches High School Girl's Swim Team who took the second-place team trophy at Regionals.

Good luck to all the area state qualifiers and good luck in Austin!