Valencia's Casaus-Carrasco Wins Two Freestyles as Team Finishes Eighth

Ava Casaus-Carrasco delivered a standout performance Saturday at the Belen Invitational, winning both the 100 and 200 freestyle races and joining Ava Marie Burkhard, Angeline Batista and Lillyana Wheeler to win the 400 freestyle relay as Valencia High School finished eighth overall among 10 teams.

St. Pius captured the combined boys-and-girls team title at the meet in Belen, with Belen High School placing second and Los Lunas High School taking third. Boys results bolstered Belen High School’s finish: Cole Rodriguez, Arbin Apodaca, Nehemiah Sanchez and Diego Vigil won the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay. Diego Vigil also won the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly, Cole Rodriguez won the 100 backstroke and Nehemiah Sanchez won the 50 freestyle. Los Lunas’ boys were led by Oen Martinez, winner of the 100 breaststroke.

Belen High School coach Liz Jones reported that 14 of 17 BHS swimmers posted personal records for the season, a sign of midseason progress across the valley. Los Lunas-VHS coach Marissa Candelaria said Oen Martinez, Luke Hetes and the 200 free relay team lowered their times significantly and are edging closer to qualifying for the state championships.

The meet matters beyond podium spots and medals. Local swim programs such as Valencia High School, Belen High School and Los Lunas provide structured physical activity, teach water safety and create opportunities for scholarships and higher education. Casaus-Carrasco’s individual wins and Valencia’s relay success are tangible outcomes of athlete development in the county’s schools, but the broader measure is healthier youth and stronger community ties that come from team sports.

Valencia County faces persistent questions about equitable access to recreation and athletic resources. Successes at the Belen Invitational underscore the value of investing in coaching, pool maintenance and transportation so more students from Belen, Valencia and Los Lunas can participate. Rising personal records at Belen High School and improved times at Los Lunas suggest gains in training and support, but consistent funding and facility access will determine whether those gains translate into state-qualifying performances for more swimmers.

For Valencia residents, the week’s results offer both neighborhood pride and a reminder of what sustained support can produce. As the season moves toward district and state qualifying meets, watch for Casaus-Carrasco and other local swimmers to carry momentum forward and for school athletic programs to press for the resources that keep kids active, safe and on a pathway to success.