Special to the Leader & Times

The Liberal High School girls swim team delivered a strong performance Tuesday at the Hays Invitational, finishing fifth overall out of seven with 104 points while showcasing both depth and continued improvement across the lineup.

The Lady Redskins were led by a standout effort in the 400-yard freestyle relay, where the team of Alexis Ugalde, Lyla Anderson, Nathalie Ortega, and Jyzelle Juarez placed fourth with a time of 5:04.13, marking Liberal’s top finish of the meet.

Liberal also opened the meet with a solid relay showing in the 200-yard medley relay, as Nathalie Ortega, Jordyn Myers, Jyzelle Juarez, and Alexis Ugalde combined for a 7th-place finish in 2:30.02.

Individually, Jyzelle Juarez led the way with a pair of top finishes. She placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle (29.73) and added a sixth-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:09.18), continuing to be one of Liberal’s most consistent contributors.

Alexis Ugalde also scored valuable points, finishing eighth in the 50 freestyle (31.43) and 9th in the 100 freestyle (1:12.97), while swimming on both of Liberal’s top relays.

Nathalie Ortega added a strong performance in the 200 individual medley, placing 7th in 3:04.92, and also contributed to multiple relay teams. Valeria Mera provided additional scoring with a ninth-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:43.51) and a 15th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:46.93).

The 200-yard freestyle relay teams also contributed, with Liberal finishing 9th (2:21.72) and 10th (2:32.24), highlighting the team’s depth and ability to field multiple competitive relay groups.

In addition to the scoring performances, Liberal brought a large roster to the meet, with many swimmers competing in exhibition heats. The high participation, especially in sprint events like the 50 and 100 freestyle, demonstrated the program’s continued growth and development.

With a mix of experienced leaders and developing swimmers gaining valuable race experience, Liberal continues to build momentum as the season progresses.

The Lady Redskins will look to carry that momentum into their upcoming meets with a small group going to Great Bend Thursday and a bigger squad Saturday to Maize.