Lamar Consolidated coach Toni Schramme’s head was still swimming with excitement days after the Region VI-4A swim meet.

Her boys won the team championship, the girls placed second, and Lamar boys and girls combined to win 17 events and qualify in 12 for the UIL Swimming & Diving State Championships.

The Mustangs’ team title was particularly sweet for Schramme, who called the win “unbelievable.” They scored 367 points to squeak past Friendswood (334) and defending champion Foster.

“This team has probably been one of my most rewarding teams because it’s not all talent,” Schramme said. “It was true heart that won that regional meet because there were so many of those events they weren’t expected to win, and they did.”

They were underdogs all season, then stepped up to win the district team title before having their best day of the year at the regional meet.

The Mustangs claimed a total of 18 medals in nine events, including gold in the 200-yard medley relay (1:44.35) and 400 freestyle relay (3:22.96) and bronze in the 200 free relay (1:35.31).

“It’s huge,” Schramme said.

Senior Trent Thome was named the boys swimmer of the meet. He qualified for state and won gold medals in four events: the 200 medley and 400 free relays, 50 free (21.865) and 100 free (48.49).

The boys diver of the meet was Lamar junior Matt McKinnerney, who won gold in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 364.80.

The girls finished second in the team standings with 332 points, well behind Friendswood (518), but they broke several school records en route to claiming a total of 14 medals in eight events.

Senior Kaitlyn Layne, the girls swimmer of the meet, set new marks in the 100 butterfly (57.71) and 100 backstroke (57.70) en route to grabbing four gold medals, including the 200 free relay (1:41.84) and 400 free relay (3:43.08), which also set school records.

Layne is seeded first in the 100 fly and second in the 100 back for the state meet, which is set for Feb. 26 and 27 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center in Austin.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Schramme said. “Of course she’s nervous as heck now.”

Senior Leah Espey swam the first leg of the 200 free in a record 25.13 seconds, which would have been good enough to win the 50 free. She later was called up in the event after finishing second with a 25.33.

The regional champs in each event automatically qualify for state, followed by the next eight fastest times across all regions.

Espey also won silver in the 100 free (55.43) and gold in the 200 and 400 free relays.

The girls diver of the meet was Lamar junior Holly Heussner, who won the 1-meter dive with a 327.70.

Foster has fun, too

The Foster boys and girls teams both finished third in the team standings. The Falcons scored 277.5 points and the Lady Falcons scored 214.

They combined to win 14 medals in eight events and qualify for state in five events after two silver-medal call-ups.

Senior Price Taylor led the boys with individual gold in the 100 fly (55.96), relay gold in the 200 free (1:29.87) and silver in the 400 free relay (3:23.27) that was added to the state-meet qualifiers.

Senior Nathan Ward took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.33) and silver in the 400 free relay and 100 free (49.50).

Sophomore Amanda Acosta led the Lady Falcons with a silver medal in the 1-meter dive (184.50), which also qualifies her for state. The top two divers in each region make the trip to Austin.

Clements dominates VI-5A

Clements defended the boys and girls team titles it won last season at the Region VI-5A meet last week at Don Cook Natatorium.

The Rangers won with 327 points, finishing ahead of Clear Lake (248) and Elkins (226). They medaled in eight events, with gold in four.

Bui Harrison, Kyle Yu, Andrew Owens and Christopher Kalmbach teamed to win the 200 medley relay (1:38.11), Yu won the 200 individual medley (1:57.41) and 100 breast (57.46) and Bui won the 100 back (53.68).

The Lady Rangers medaled in 13 events, placed first in five and claimed the team title with 462 points. Clear Lake was second with 401 and Clear Brook (224) was third.

Colleen Lord, Romy Landeck, Jordan Hancock and Kyle Krueger combined to win the 200 medley relay (1:48.34), Landeck won the 200 IM (2:05.51) and 100 breast (1:04.00) and Hancock won the 500 free (4:58.60).

The Lady Rangers also took first in the 400 free relay (3:34.52), which included Lord, Landeck, Hancock and Carrie DeGroot.

Landeck’s time in the 100 breast was a pool record, and Hancock also was called up in the 100 fly, which she finished second in with a 56.75.

Other 23-5A teams

The rest of the teams from District 23-5A combined to medal in 15 events. Elkins placed in six and Fort Bend Austin in four.

The Knights’ Tony Miller won the 100 fly (53.55) and their 200 free and 400 free relays took gold.

Dulles junior Madeline Locus, who was named girls swimmer of the meet, won gold in the 50 free with a pool-record 23.32 and in the 100 free (51.00).