Del Rio swimmers qualify for Region VIII-6A Championship Feb. 6-7

The Del Rio High School swim team will have competitors in six solo events and six relay events at the Region VIII-6A Swimming Championship Feb. 6-7 after the team’s showing at the recent District 30-6A Swim Championship in Laredo. Regionals are scheduled at the UISD Natatorium with sessions listed at 11:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

District results produced a mix of individual champions and relay qualifiers. "Carolina Stell and Riley Ellison each captured district championships for Del Rio. Stell won the 200 Free while Ellison was first in the 50 Free." Stell also placed second in the 100 Butterfly, while Ellison finished third in the 100 Free. "Stell and Ellison had their names called multiple times throughout the meet as they teamed up for two other events individually and as part of two relay teams that finished second in their respective events."

Relay squads supplied much of Del Rio’s regional representation. "The girls then teamed up with Victoria Franco and Kalissa Sanchez to finish second in the Girls 200 Free Relay and the Girls 400 Free Relay." A second girls relay also advanced: "The Girls 200 Free Relay team of Ariana Morales, Avery Leverett, Isabella Franco and Sophia Cardenas took fourth at district to advance. Morales will also compete in the 50 Free after she was fifth in the race at district."

On the boys side, Del Rio qualified multiple relays and an additional individual. "The Boys 200 Free Relay team of Joaquin Arredondo, Tiago Gallegos, Arturo Lopez and Harrison Stell took fourth. That same group also finished fifth in the Boys Medley Race to earn two spots at regionals." Joaquin Arredondo "would also qualify for regionals in the 200 Free after finishing sixth at district." Another boys relay advanced when "Elijah Joo, Coltyn Ellison, Emilio Sotelo and Gerardo Camacho took fifth in the Boys 400 Free Relay to move on to regionals."

The meet advancement follows the district rule that "The top six finishers in each event advanced to the regional meet." Del Rio’s entries therefore span confirmed events that include the 200 Free, 50 Free, 100 Butterfly, 100 Free, 100 Breast and another 50 Free, as well as six relay slots earned through second- to sixth-place finishes.

Roster and timing records on public meet tracking list additional names and personal bests. The team’s top swimmers are listed as Nina Stell, Riley Ellison, Arturo Lopez, Joaquin Arredondo, Tiago Gallegos and Victoria Franco; Swimcloud personal bests include Elijah Joo’s 50 Back at 35.26 and several entries for Anthony Villanueva in 100 Free and 200 Free times preserved in meet files. The Del Rio schedule and staff listing show Head Coach Dariela Gallegos and Assistant Coach Vicky Perez among school athletic personnel.

Some roster details remain inconsistent across records: given names tied to the surname Stell appear as Carolina, Nina and Harrison in separate listings, and Anthony Villanueva’s personal-best entries include a duplicated 100 Free time and two different 200 Free times. Those points await team confirmation.

For Val Verde County residents, the regionals offer a chance to support local student-athletes and follow which Del Rio swimmers may advance toward a tentative 6A state meet at the UT-Austin Swim Center. Fans can plan to attend regional sessions Feb. 6-7 at the UISD Natatorium and expect updated lineups and times once Del Rio ISD posts final entries and verified roster details.