Belton, TX - October 8, 2024 — The New Tech Dragons Swim Team debuted their abilities at their co-hosted Quad meet vs. Belton HS, Lake Belton HS, and Austin HS. A team born from a mix of young talent and seasoned swimmers, the Dragons showcased not only their speed, but their unity in and out of the pool. Their determination and camaraderie were evident as they took on seasoned competitors with remarkable performances across every event. With a strong start, The Dragons have set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
Record Breaking Performances:
Miller Epperson (09) set a new team record in the Girls’ 100 Yard Backstroke with a 6th place finish and final time of 1:19.43.
Niylah Nett (09) grabbed her first individual team record of the day in the the Girls’ 200 Yard Individual Medley with a 3rd place finish and final time of 2:34.65. Her second team record came later in the Girls’ 100 Yard Butterfly with another 3rd place finish and final time of 1:09.59
Jayden Stilley (10) picked up his first team record of the day in the Boys’ 200 Yard Individual Medley with a 4th place finish and final time of 2:31.75. He secured his second team record in the Boys’ 100 Yard Breaststroke with a 5th place finish and final time of 1:19.75.
Zayne Williford (10) secured a 2nd place finish and a new team record in the Boys’ 200 Yard Freestyle with a 2:04.47. He nabbed his second individual team record and 2nd place finish of the day in the Boys’ 500 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 5:36.1.
Girls’ 200 Medley Relay. The relay, composed of Epperson, Benavente, Nett, and Thomas smashed the previous team record by 48 seconds. Lowering their time to a 2:20.36 and securing a 3rd place finish.
Boys’ 200 Medley Relay. Hermann, Williford, Tort-Negron, and Stilley came together and secured a 4th place finish while also setting a new team record of 1:58.27 which was a staggering 27 second drop.
Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. Thomas, Epperson, Benavente, and Nett, came together for a second time and smashed the previous team record by 37 seconds with a new time of 2:00.86 and a 3rd place finish.
Boys’ 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. Led by Stilley, Johnston, Tort-Negron, and Williford came together and secured a 4th place finish while also setting a new team record of 1:58.27 which was a staggering 27 second drop.
Notable Performances:
Alexa Benavente (11) started her morning off with a 5th place finish in the Girls' 100 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 1:20.09. She finished 4th in the Girls' 100 Yard Breaststroke with a new personal best time of 1:40.31.
Miller Epperson (09) finished 6th in the Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 2:28.22.
Beauregard Hermann (09) placed 6th in the Boys’ 50 Yard Freestyle with a new best time of 29.08. He finished his day with a 5th place finish in the Boys’ 100 Yard Backstroke with a new best time of 1:07.81.
Deion Johnston (11) placed 7th in the Boys' 200 Yard Freestyle and dropped 22 seconds for a new best time of 2:28.22. He went on to finish 6th in the Boys' 100 Yard Freestyle with a new best time of 1:07.24.
Claire Thomas (11) picked up a 4th place finish in the Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 2:16.83. She finished the day with another 4th place finish in the Girls’ 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 6:06.78.
Caleb Tort-Negron (11) placed 3rd in the Boys' 100 Yard Butterfly with a final time of 1:05.13. He finished his day with the Boys’ 100 Yard Backstroke where he finished 9th with a final time of 1:09.49.
As the New Tech Dragons wrapped up their first meet, the sense of accomplishment was palpable. With several personal bests, strong relay performances, and 11 team records, the team is poised for a season filled with growth and success. The Dragons’ journey is just beginning, and if their opening performance is any indication, this squad is destined to make waves. Fans and competitors alike will be keeping a close eye on them as they continue to evolve, aiming higher with each stroke toward a standout season.
About Belton New Tech Dragons Swim Team:
The BNT@W Dragons Swim Team is a dynamic and competitive group of student-athletes dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the sport of swimming. Representing New Tech with pride, this team is known for their outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and commitment to personal growth. With the guidance of their coach and the New Tech community, they continue to make their mark in the world of competitive swimming, consistently achieving remarkable results at meets.
For more information about the New Tech Dragons Swim Team and their upcoming events, please visit the Team’s Homepage.
The Dragons return to the pool on October 12th when they co-host the Belton ISD Fall Invitational at the Roy & Jean Potts Swim Center.