The 2022-23 Socorro Warriors and Lady Warriors swimming teams.
Submitted photo

Socorro swimmers Sky Sessions and Gilbert Armijo were honored with their team’s Shark Award after successfully competing in every event this season for the Warriors and Lady Warriors.

The pair competed in the 50, 100, 200, 500-meter free style events as well as the 100-back, 100-breast, 100-fly and 200-IMs for teams that are busy reloading and improving.

“We’ve made a lot of progress for a young team. Our team performed well at the district competition and swimmers set many personal records and supported each other as they competed,” Warriors coach Denise Gilson said.

This year’s swim teams don’t have any seniors and only two juniors and its numbers have waved up and down with Covid having an influence, too. Three years ago, the teams had 27 athletes, then the numbers dipped to seven and has now swelled back up to 13.

One of the off-season assignments for swimmers is using some positive peer pressure to lure two new swimmers each to the New Mexico Tech pool where the teams hold practices.

“That’s part of their assignment in the off-season,” Lady Warriors coach Kirstin Dow said.

The makeup of the Socorro swim teams include: Juniors—Gilbert Armijo, Tig Baker, Kaden Dow, Mia Apachito, Christin Armijo. Sophomores—Eryn Esquibel and Sky Sessions. Eighth-Graders—Ben Watkins, Connor Johnston, Rylan Hicks, Jacob Savedra, Alytecia Chavez and Caissie Gieger. Seventh-Graders—Timur Aitbayev, Riley Sewell and Abby Cadol.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor