The New Tech Dragons took their skills to the big stage at the 2024 Northeast Texas TISCA Invite, a two-day event that brought together top talent from across the region. Prelims on Friday set the tone, as the Dragons battled through intense heats to secure spots in Saturday morning’s finals. With high stakes and fierce competition, the team rose to the challenge, showcasing grit, determination, and teamwork. From strong individual races to standout relay performances, the Dragons made their mark in this prestigious meet, proving they can compete with the best.
Friday Prelims:
-Alexa Benavente (11) placed 41st in the Girls’ 50 Yard Freestyle with a new best time of 33.80. She went on to secure a spot in the B final for the Girls’ 100 Yard Breaststroke with a new best time of 1:35.63.
-Miller Epperson (09) finished 21st in the Girls’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 1:07.83. She finished the day with the Girls’ 100 Yard Backstroke where she placed 24th with a final time of 1:21.52.
-Deion Johnston (11) placed 45th in the Boys' 50 Yard Freestyle with a new best time of 29.54. He went on to finish 27th in the Boys' 100 Yard Backstroke with a new best time of 1:19.96.
-Niylah Nett (09) secured her spot in the A final in the Girls’ 100 Yard Butterfly with a new best time and team record of 1:08.90. She went on to claim a spot in the B final for the Girls’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:02.71.
-Jayden Stilley (10) squeaked into the B final in the Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 56.41. He finished the day with a 17th place finish in the Boys’ 100 Yard Backstroke with a final time of 1:07.01.
-Claire Thomas (11) secured a second swim in the B final in the Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 2:14.61. She went on to claim a spot in the A final for the Girls’ 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 6:05.08.
-Caleb Tort-Negron (11) claimed a spot in the B final in the Boys' 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 1:04.67. He finished his day with the Boys’ 100 Yard Backstroke where he finished 20th with a time of 1:10.68.
-Zayne Williford (10) secured his place in the B final in the Boys’ 200 Yard Freestyle with a new team record at 2:00.11. He went on to grab another B final swim in the Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a new team record of 54.71.
-Tristen Wright (11) placed 44th in the Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 1:12.33.
-Girls’ 200 Yard Medley Relay: Epperson, Benavente, Nett, and Thomas secured their spot in the B final, stopping the clock at 2:21.50.
-Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Thomas, Benavente, Epperson, and Nett picked up another B final together with a time of 2:00.98.
-Boys’ 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Williford, Wright, Tort-Negron, and Stilley grabbed a spot in the B final with a new team record of 1:45.51.
-Boys’ 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: Tort-Negron, Johnston, Stilley, and Williford picked up a second swim in the B final with a time of 3:57.44.
Saturday Finals:
-Alexa Benavente (11) finished 14th in the Girls’ 100 Yard Breaststroke with a final time of 1:37.39.
-Niylah Nett (09) placed 6th in the Girls’ 100 Yard Butterfly, lowering her team record to 1:07.90. She went on to finish 10th in the Girls’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 1:02.68.
-Jayden Stilley (10) finished 15th in the Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle with a new best time of 56.05.
-Claire Thomas (11) finished 10th in the Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 2:16.80. She went on to finish 6th in the Girls’ 500 Yard Freestyle with a final time of 6:04.54.
-Caleb Tort-Negron (11) finished 16th in the Boys' 100 Yard Butterfly with a final time of 1:07.23.
-Zayne Williford (10) finished 9th in the Boys’ 200 Yard Freestyle, lowering his team record to 1:58.93. He went on to finish 12th in the Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle, lowering his team record to 54.34.
-Girls’ 200 Yard Medley Relay: Epperson, Benavente, Nett, and Thomas finished 11th with a final time of 2:21.52.
-Girls’ 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Thomas, Benavente, Epperson, and Nett finished 11th with a new team record of 1:59.68.
-Boys’ 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Williford, Wright, Tort-Negron, and Stilley finished 15th with a final time of 1:46.04.
-Boys’ 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: Tort-Negron, Johnston, Stilley, and Williford finished 13th with a final time of 3:57.92.
As the 2024 Northeast Texas TISCA Invite concluded, the Dragons celebrated a weekend of hard-fought races and valuable experience. Finals day saw the team deliver standout performances, with athletes stepping up under pressure to achieve personal bests and earn crucial points. The Dragons would like to thank the event organizers, competitors, and supporters for making the meet an unforgettable experience. Armed with the lessons and momentum from this two-day event, the team is more motivated than ever to continue striving for excellence as the season progresses.
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 January 7th when they compete in the Belton ISD Senior Day Meet.
