Thirteen members of the varsity swim team of TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas — including freshmen in their first year of competition — qualified for state competition in individual and team events at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Regional Championships, held Jan. 30 at Palo Alto College.

“This year, both girls’ and boys’ teams scored double the points they did last year,” said TMI Head Swim Coach Stephanie Barnes. “Team was the focus from start to finish. The top swimmers learned from those less-experienced, watching them improve and push themselves and were never allowed to back off, knowing their teammates were coming after them.”

TMI individual qualifiers, whose times all earned Top 5 places, were: Emilee Bassett, 50 free; Jonathan “JAC” Clark, 50 free and 100 fly; Brooks Freeland, 100 breaststroke; Armando Martinez, 200 free; Sarah McCafferty, 500 free and 100 fly; and Christopher Clark, Eric Gibbons and Grace Metz, 100 back.

TMI qualifying teams were: girls 200 medley relay, Bassett, McCafferty, Metz and Tori True; boys 200 medley relay, Clark, Freeland, Gibbons and Martinez; girls 200 free relay, Marisol Esquivel, Johanna Kullenberg, Margaret Vassar and Anna Webb; and boys 200 free relay, Christopher Clark, Jonathan “JAC” Clark, Gibbons and Martinez.

The TAPPS State Swimming and Diving Championships will be held Feb. 15 and 16 in the Josh Davis Natatorium at Blossom Athletic Center.