STATE CHAMPIONS
There's nothing more motivating for Westwood junior KyAnh Truong than swimming for something bigger than herself.
Truong swam a lightning-quick final leg in the Girls' 200-Yard Freestyle Relay on Saturday afternoon at the UIL State Swimming & Diving Championship, helping the Warriors' team including Ayame Castel, Emma Bierley and Sadie Runeman bring home a gold medal.
"I love my team a lot, and we're really close," Truong said. "It's nice that no matter what the results are, we're always happy. My individual events weren't great, but that's not the most important thing for me."
Truong swam the final leg in a blistering 22.49 seconds - the fastest leg in the relay - and the team finished with a time of 1:34.35, nearly half a second faster than the time they had in prelims.
The junior also won finished one place better than she did last year in the 50-Yard Freestyle, winning a silver medal with a time of 23.08.
With one more year left in high school swimming, Truong has a couple of things she's focused on improving in the pool, but one thing she also committed to getting better at is improving her confidence.
"It's always my mind that is negative, and blocks me from doing what I know I can do," Truong said. "I'd rather go into next year feeling more confident, and trusting in (my team and my coaches)."
Round Rock senior Vincent Ribeiro was the standout swimmer for the Dragons, winning his second straight gold medal in the 200-Yard IM, and bringing home a silver medal in the 100-Yard Breaststroke.
Peyton Marvin competed in her first and last state meet for McNeil, finishing fourth in the 200-Yard Freestyle, and winning a bronze medal in the 500-Yard Freestyle.
"I loved it, I love the team atmosphere," Marvin said. "It's a lot different than anything I've ever experienced. I was so excited to swim at state, and I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity."
Coming into the season, a medal at the state meet was on Marvin's mind.
Marvin, who will swim at Auburn next season, competed against one of her future teammates in Maggie Gholston, who finished just over half a second behind the McNeil senior in the 500-Yard Freestyle.
"I really wanted a podium, that was my goal all season," Marvin said. "I know a lot of the girls just from racing them all season, and you kind of keep up with them. Getting the team experience really makes me excited for college, and I think it'll really set me up for next year."
Westwood
Boys' 200-Yard Medley Relay (Andrew Seale, Benjamin Truong, Joshua Louie, Caleb Farris), 12th place, 1:34.66
Nathaniel Early, Boys' 200-Yard Freestyle, 10th place, 1:30.09
Sadie Runeman, Girls' 200-Yard IM, 12th place, 2:04.94
KyAnh Truong, Girls' 50-Yard Freestyle, 2nd place, 23.08
Sonny Wang, Boys' 50-Yard Freestyle, 12th place, 21.20
Caleb Farris, Boys' 50-Yard Freestyle, 9th place, 20.35
KyAnh Truong, Girls' 100-Yard Freestyle, 8th place, 51.92
Girls' 200-Yard Freestyle Relay (Ayame Castel, Emma Bierley, Sadie Runeman and KyAnh Truong), 1st place, 1:34.35
Sadie Runeman, Girls' 100-Yard Backstroke, 5th place, 55:81
Girls' 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (Emma Greene, Ayame Castel, Sadie Runeman and KyAnh Truong), 9th place, 3:32.08
Boys' 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (Sonny Wang, Joshua Louie, Caleb Farris, Nathaniel Early), 10th place, 3:05.92