Juarez and Ochoa Medal in Great Bend

Ismael Carrillo

Lady Red Swimmers Compete at Great Bend Invitational

With a small, young team of 13, the Liberal High School Lady Red swim team traveled to Great Bend on Thursday to compete in a competitive multi-team invitational, finishing 8th overall with 141 points.

Liberal was led by standout performances from sophomore Jyzelle Juarez, who turned in one of the top swims of the day with a runner-up finish in the 50-yard freestyle, earning 17 points for the team. Juarez also added a strong 5th-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, contributing another 14 points.

The Lady Redskins found additional success in the relay events, particularly in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Juarez, Yaretxi Delacruz, Lyla Anderson, and Nathalie Ortega placed 7th, while Liberal’s second relay team of Marilyn Ochoa, Naomi Lizarraga, Gisell Martinez, and Yaretzi Rosas added points with a 12th-place finish.

Individually, Nathalie Ortega scored valuable points with an 8th-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and later added another scoring swim in the 100-yard breaststroke. Marilyn Ochoa also delivered a strong performance in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing 5th overall.

Lyla Anderson contributed across multiple events, placing 8th in the 200-yard freestyle and 9th in the 50-yard freestyle, while Jordyn Myers added points in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke.

Additional scoring came from Gisell Martinez, Yaretzi Rosas, and Carla Diaz in the 100-yard freestyle, helping the Lady Redskins maintain steady point production throughout the meet.

Despite not fielding entries in several events, including the 100-yard butterfly, 500-yard freestyle, and 400-yard freestyle relay, Liberal was able to stay competitive thanks to balanced contributions and strong individual efforts for the 13 athletes that traveled today.

The meet also highlighted the continued growth of the program, as several younger swimmers gained valuable experience and contributed in both scoring and exhibition heats.

The Lady Redskins will look to build on this performance as they continue through the final meet of a busy week this Saturday at the Maize Invitational.