By Alyssa Peters
The Chadron Sharks Swim Team is making a splash in the winter season, with swimmers already posting impressive results in several competitive meets. Over the past month, three dedicated swimmers—Fabiola Benitez-Socarras (age 12), Valeria Benitez-Socarras (age 16), and Carter Peters (age 15)—have traveled to regional competitions, each showing notable improvement and setting personal bests along the way.
CCA Pentathlon in Cheyenne, WY
The Sharks kicked off their winter season on November 2 at the CCA Pentathlon in Cheyenne, WY. This challenging event requires swimmers to compete in all four strokes—Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle—along with the Individual Medley (IM), testing their all-around swimming skills.
Fabiola Benitez-Socarras finished 8th overall in the 11–12-year-old girls’ category. She posted
personal best times in all events: the 50-yard Butterfly, 50-yard Backstroke, 50-yard Breaststroke, 50- yard Freestyle and 100-yard IM, showing remarkable progress across her events. Valeria Benitez-Socarras delivered a stellar performance, securing 2nd place in the 15–16-year-old girls’ group. She clinched 1st place in both the 100-yard Butterfly and the 100-yard Breaststroke, while also finishing 2nd in the 100-yard Backstroke, 100-yard Freestyle and 200-yard IM.
Carter Peters earned 2nd place overall in the 15–16-year-old boys’ category. His top finishes included the 100-yard Butterfly and 200-yard IM, among others.
Fall Harvest Invitational in Laramie, WY
From November 15-17, the Sharks traveled to Laramie, WY, to compete in the Fall Harvest Invitational, where they joined teams from across Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado. With 171 swimmers in total, the competition was fierce, but the Sharks made their presence known. Fabiola Benitez-Socarras continued her strong performance with personal bests in the 100-yard Backstroke and 100-yard Breaststroke and posted solid times across all her events. Valeria Benitez-Socarras earned her top finishes in the 100-yard Freestyle, the 200-yard Breaststroke, and the 100-yard Breaststroke, further solidifying her status as one of the top swimmers in her age group.
Carter Peters posted personal bests in the 50-yard Free, 400-yard IM, and the 200-yard Breaststroke, continuing to improve across multiple disciplines.
BH Gold Invitational in Sturgis, SD
The Sharks’ next competition came at the BH Gold Invitational in Sturgis, SD, held on November 23-24. This meet featured 169 swimmers from teams around the region, and the Sharks once again impressed with their performances.
Fabiola Benitez-Socarras placed 6th overall in her age group, with strong results in the 50-yard Back and 100-yard Free, and a personal best in the 100-yard Breaststroke.
Valeria Benitez-Socarras had a standout performance, claiming 1st place overall in her age group. She won the 100-yard Breaststroke, 400-yard IM, and 200-yard Breaststroke, while also finishing 3rd in the 100-yard Free and earning personal bests in several events. Carter Peters had an exceptional meet, earning 1st place in the 400-yard IM, 2nd place in the 200-yard IM, and top finishes in the 100-yard Breaststroke and 100-yard Back, where he placed 1st.
Winter State Championship Qualifying Times.
The Sharks are already making waves with Winter State Championship-qualifying times. Valeria Benitez- Socarras has qualified in the 50-yard Freestyle, while Carter Peters has qualified in seven events: the 50, 100, and 200-yard Freestyle, 100 and 200-yard Breaststroke, and the 200 and 400-yard Individual Medley.
Looking Ahead
The Sharks; winter season is far from over, with several exciting meets scheduled throughout December. The team will compete in Gillette, WY (Dec. 6-8), Rapid City, SD (Dec. 13-15), and Spearfish, SD (Dec. 21). Their first home meet will be held on February 1-2, 2025, at the Chadron Aquatics and Wellness Center. The public is invited to attend this event, free of charge, to support the Sharks as they continue to show their strength in the pool.
With their strong start to the season, the Chadron Sharks are poised for even greater success as they move through the season. Their commitment, teamwork, and continued improvement are sure to make waves in the competitive swim scene.