Orms scorches with record-setting day as Flour Bluff sweeps Region VIII-5A titles

Patience Orms has been determined to go faster this season.

Already one of the top swimmers in the state in her events, Orms put in the work this season and it was on display Saturday in the finals at the Region VIII-5A meet at CCISD Natatorium.

The talented Flour Bluff senior not only bettered her regional record times from last season in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke, but she dropped a 24.00 split on her lead leg of the 200 free relay, despite feeling under the weather.

The Hornets swimmer will return to the UIL State Meet in Austin in two weeks brimming with confidence after an impressive day.

Her meet record of 1:04.02 in the 100 breaststroke was more than one second better than her regional record set in 2022, and pushed her to tears.

"I was so shocked, I actually started crying," Orms said. "I didn't think I was going to do that at all today. It didn't even hit my mind that I could go that time today.

"And with a 24-flat on my leg of the relay, I'm excited to see what I can do at state."

Flour Bluff coach Bryan Hutchinson said Orms had a sour taste in her mouth after last year's state meet, when she fell short of the podium.

"Patience has been determined to get faster this year," Hutchinson said. "She had a bitter taste in her mouth after not bringing home an individual medal last year. She has really put in the work. She wants to swim (in college) next year. Every time she swims she is making herself a little bit more marketable.

"I expect big things. She and Jenny (Pena) aren't shaved or rested for this meet. Their focus has been on that state meet."

Pena was named girls Swimmer of the Meet after cruising to regional crowns in the 100 backstroke (56.36) and the 100 butterfly (56.95), just off her own regional record pace in each.

The Hornets girls captured their seventh straight Region VIII-5A team title as the boys won their second straight crown, powered by sophomores Jaden Lopez and Jaden Ferguson.

All six of Flour Bluff's relays advanced to the state meet with Top 2 finishes.

After near misses King's Hand heads to state

King junior Emily Hand finished second in the girls 500 free as a freshman in 2021.

Most years, that would have automatically qualified for the UIL State meet. But due to COVID-19, the UIL pared down the size of the state meet and only took the top finisher to state that year.

Last year Hand was third in the 100 free, again missing a state berth by one slot.

Saturday she made amends for her near misses, fulfilling a dream she's had since middle school when she started to take swimming seriously, by qualifying for state in the 50 free (second, 25.01) and the 100 free (first, 55.01).

"I've always loved swimming and this is a huge moment because the last two years I've been so close," Hand said. "This year, I get to go to state and it is going to be amazing."

Hand said she realized that getting to state was attainable when she was a freshman and made the podium in the 500.

"It made me push my limits," Hand said. "Even if I was tired I gave it my best. I would go 100 percent even if it has been a long day and a long week."

Veterans Memorial junior Dabeluchi Isiofia fell short in the 50 free, capturing fourth in the race, but rebounded to tie for first in the 100 freestyle with Pioneer's Emilo Guajardo after each touched in 48.72 to send both competitors to Austin.

Flour Bluff had nine individual state qualifiers including Bailey Elwood (200 free), Ferguson (200 free, 100 backstroke), Orms (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), Christabel Martin (200 IM), Lopez (50 free, 100 butterfly), Julia Volesky (1-meter diving), Angela Going (1m diving), Pena (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke), Mona Zhang (500 free) and Nicholas Ames (100 breaststroke).

Ray's Ian Corey and King's Anthony Perez also qualified for state in 1-meter diving.