Danny's Picks: Swimming

RIO RANCHO — The swimming season is still young, and it is time to highlight two swimmers from each program. Swimming is one of the hardest sports that requires endurance, speed, great breathing and strength. Here are some swimmers to keep an eye out for, and thank you to all the coaches who helped with this. Note: Bernalillo High School does not have a swim and dive program.

Cleveland High School

Boys

Swimmer Lucas Espinosa (junior): Espinosa is one of the captains, a versatile swimmer, elite at any of the four main strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. With that being said, expect Espinosa to dominate individual medley races.

Swimmer Guha Hari (sophomore): The young swimmer thrives in freestyle and butterfly. In freestyle, he has great arm strokes and a powerful kickoff. In butterfly, he has lethal leg kicks and well-coordinated arm pulls.

Girls

Swimmer Ava Schlosser (senior): Schlosser is a fifth-year swimmer for the program, a captain, the social media manager on the team, and crushes the 50-meter freestyle on any given day. Expect Schlosser to be one of the favorites to win the state championship in the 50-meter freestyle.

Swimmer Lucia Pena (sophomore): One of Cleveland's long-distance swimmers who recently won first place in the 500-meter freestyle, Pena has endurance, is incredibly strong and has fantastic pacing.

Rio Rancho High School

Boys

Swimmer Xavier King (junior): King towers well over 6 feet and is built to swim: speed, endurance, he's got it all. A hard worker with a nice demeanor, he's a Ram who should place well at the state competition.

Swimmer Jacob Rice (junior): Everything is clicking for Rice, and he looks ready to make a big splash this season. He has great kicks, flexibility, technique and an unmatched work ethic. All of his tools and traits should launch the junior into new heights.

Girls

Swimmer Yamileth Marquez (senior): a team captain who has been with the program since her freshman year who will be heavily relied on as a voice in the locker room — and in the water as a talented backstroke swimmer. Expect Marquez to place top three in just about any 100-meter backstroke race and for her to do some damage in other strokes as well.

Swimmer Kendal Moody (freshman): Despite only being a freshman, Moody looks primed to be a contender come state competition. She can compete — and thrives — in just about any of the four main strokes. Moody has a bright future ahead of her.