Junior High Swim Wins Overall Title at East Texas Aquatics Meet

April 20, 2026 – The Grace junior high swim team delivered a standout performance April 11 at East Texas Aquatics, posting strong finishes across the board in a meet filled with energy and competitive racing.

The Grace girls team captured first place with consistent scoring and depth across multiple events. The boys team also turned in an impressive showing, finishing second place in a close battle with Whitehouse, coming up just 11 points short of the top spot. When combined team scores were totaled, Grace earned the overall championship, winning the meet by more than 100 points.

The meet featured swimmers from Grace, Whitehouse, King’s Academy and Brook Hill, creating a competitive atmosphere throughout the afternoon. Coaches were especially encouraged by the performance of Grace’s fifth-grade swimmers, many of whom competed in their first meet and showed confidence and enthusiasm.

Grace swimmers showed significant improvement, with 88% of swims resulting in personal best times.

On the girls side, Lydia Martinez placed first in the 50 backstroke and second in the 50 breaststroke. Hannah Jenks won the 50 butterfly, while Audrey Stephenson earned first in the 50 breaststroke and second in the 50 butterfly. Elizabeth Russell won the 100 individual medley, and Evy Buess placed second in the 50 backstroke and third in the 100 individual medley.

The boys were led by Christopher Allgaier, who won the 50 backstroke and placed second in the 50 butterfly. William Martin finished second in the 50 breaststroke, while Ethan Lawson placed third in the 100 individual medley. Daniel Lomax took third in the 50 breaststroke.

Grace also had a strong day in relays. The A team won both the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. The medley relay team included Allgaier, Jenks, Martinez and Stephenson. The freestyle relay team included Allgaier, Elizabeth Russell, Martinez and Jenks.

The Cougars will close the season this Saturday, April 25, at the Boys and Girls Club in Nacogdoches. That meet will feature only seventh and eighth grade swimmers.