Making waves

Manteca high school swim team, dives into the season

By CHRISTIAN AMBRIZ
The Tower   

Peter Esponiza is swimming towards the finish line in the Manteca High swimming pool in Manteca CA. (Photo Contributed) 

MANTECA – With every powerful stroke and fast turns, the Manteca High school swim team dove into the season determined to make waves.  

In a sport where athletes compete in separate lanes, the Manteca high school swim team builds culture and goes beyond individual races. Practices help bring the swimmers together, mixing hard practices with moments that build trust, helping teammates push themselves.  

Coach Cynthia Valdez brings the swimmers together through lighthearted but completive “Fun Friday’s” turning practices into bonding moments and chemistry building, with creative things you wouldn’t normally see going on, in the pool.  

At the same time, there's a strong focus on growth. Encouraging the athletes to become well-rounded swimmers, who can take on all four strokes, not just the strongest event.  The balance paid off with a successful season including multiple wins and a second place JV finish at VOL. 

But for the coach, the bigger impact went beyond results, watching her swimmers go from not knowing how to swim, becoming confident in the water. Stepping away from that routine of being in the classroom to connect with the students in a different, more personal way.  

“One of my main goals was to at least win one swim meet, we ended up winning two.” Manteca high Swim coach Cynthia Valdez said.  

Manteca's High schools swim teams dominated against East Union: varsity girls, 73-57; Manteca won, JV girls, 78-12; Manteca won, varsity boys, 53-21; Manteca won JV boys, 53-6. 

And Central Catholic: varsity Girls, 85-10; Manteca won, JV girls, Manteca won since no JV from CC, varsity boys, 53-38; Manteca won, JV boys: Manteca won since no JV from CC.  

The JV boys team earned second overall in VOL’s, while some individual swimmers got recognized. Adrian Valdez got first place in the 100 IM for JV. Peter Espinoza led the Varsity squad with a first-place finish in the 100 fly.   

Peter Espinoza Brayden Kicenski, Andres Barajas, and Oswaldo Suarez secured 3rd in the 200 Free Relay.