Cathedral Swim Team Awes All of Texas

It won’t come as a surprise to say I love sports. I’ve been writing about them since a freshman in college. Youth sports, however, have held a special place in my heart.
I bring this up because after I learned one of my grandsons had made it to the finals of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) State Swimming and Diving Championships in San Antonio last week my wife and I hopped a plane to attend.
To see these scores of youths giving their all for their particular schools was a sight to behold. No matter how far ahead or how far behind they were swimming their hearts out.

ONE OF THE biggest surprises to me was the complete awe in which Cathedral High School of El Paso is held by parents, coaches and participants from all over the state. When the folks I met while there found out I was from El Paso, they immediately wanted to talk about the Irish. Why is the school so dominant in the sport, some asked. A couple of them simply shook their heads when they found I was from El Paso as if to say, “Oh, no, here goes Cathedral again.”
Sure enough, Cathedral won the team championship again. For the 27th time, and in a romp.

THE BEST answer I could give as to Cathedral’s dominance was that swimming has been a major sport at the school since I can remember. And it seems like it’s had a swimming pool forever. I recall swimming there even before I was a teenager in the 1940s.
And through the years the school has had a succession of outstanding swimming coaches, not the least of which is the present one, Jack White.
In short, Cathedral High School has always put an emphasis on swimming, built up a tradition and they’re reaping the benefits.

AND HOW DID did my grandson, Carlos Sanchez, do? He did great, thank you. A junior, he swam the third leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay team for Nolan Catholic High School of Fort Worth. When he jumped in his team was fourth but he got them up to second, just half a second away from first, and the team eventually finished fourth.
Regardless of the outcome, my heart was pounding with pride and brought a tear to my eyes. Like the other youths, he had given his all for his school.

TRIVIA question: Who is the shortest player in NBA history to win the rebounding championship? Answer at end.

SEVEN MORE candidates for induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame were nominated last Monday. The next, and last, nominations meeting will be held March 4 at 5:15 p.m. at First Christian Church, 901 Arizona Avenue. Nominations are open to the public.
The latest nominees:

Larry Hernandez, one of UTEP’s biggest fans who has helped plan events and trips for El Pasoans. His supporters made what is perhaps the liveliest presentation ever at the meetings. It included video, a huge banner and many folks speaking on his behalf.
Buryl Baty, the late Bowie High School football coach who turned in one of the greatest coaching performances in the history of El Paso but died in an automobile accident.
Shawn Lehigh, veteran baseball umpire and basketball referee.
Gary Crossland, former athlete, coach and football official.
Bob Azar, one of El Paso’s greatest sports promoters.
Matt Simon, former University of Washington and Baltimore Ravens assistant coach.
Frank Del Toro, former youth, high school, college and professional baseball player.

ANSWER to trivia question: Charles Barkley at 6 feet 6 inches.