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TMI junior Robby Devlin felt as if he was getting closer to reaching his goal with each passing year, trying to pinpoint the aspects needed to get over the hump. One year, it was about getting stronger. The next, it was about increasing his endurance.

The payoff came Friday at the Davis Natatorium, when TMI finished second in both team standings.

Devlin collected three gold medals and one bronze at the TAPPS Division II state swimming meet. He won the 50-yard freestyle and swam on victorious 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Devlin, third in the 100 butterfly, combined with Victor Alejos, Nathan Romo and Thomas Anderson to win the 200 medley relay in 1:44.08. The foursome bettered its seeding time by 14 seconds. Anderson, Alejos — who was second in the 100 backstroke and third in the 200 freestyle — Santiago Martinez and Devlin won the 400 freestyle relay.

“I feel like I’m stepping up with the big boys now,” Devlin said. “Being on the big stage, I’ve been able to get over the nerves a little bit and that’s really helped me perform super well. Those kinds of things definitely come with experience.”

TMI’s Elizabeth Holmes entered the meet burden-free after claiming two golds in 2016. She wanted to have fun and be the biggest cheerleader in her final high school meet. She did much more, winning the 200 individual medley in a meet-record 2:06.53, bettering the previous mark of 2:07.32 set in 2014 by Katy Pope John XXIII’s Cameron McHugh. Holmes was second in the 100 butterfly, the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. She also cried when teammate Isabella McCafferty, also a senior, placed third in the 100 breaststroke, claiming her first individual medal.

“This has been the funniest meet for me because the pressure’s off and I get to watch and pay attention to all the other incredible swims that my team has — something that I haven’t really gotten to do before,” Holmes said.

Division III: Lutheran’s Claire Rankin won two gold and two silver medals, winning the 500 freestyle in 5:08.52 and combining with Lila Williams, Allison Penton and Devin Treadway to win the 200 freestyle relay. She was second in the 200 freestyle and combined with Abbey Penton, Williams and Allison Penton for second in the 200 medley relay.

Lutheran’s Phillip Williams won the 50 free (22.21), wa third in the 100 backstroke and teamed with Justin Tilt, Benjamin Ghawi and Luke Terry for third in the 200 freestyle relay. Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills’ Maeva Junker was second in the 50 free. Ella Junker was third in the 100 free and 100 backstroke.

tthomas@express-news.net

Twitter: @en_terrence

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