WOLVERINES MAKE A SPLASH AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

11/10/2026
CJ Cristobal ’16 | Communications Specialist

The Belen Jesuit Varsity Swim Team capped off another strong season with record-breaking performances at the FHSAA Class 3A State Championships on November 6th.

The Wolverines opened the meet with a second-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. After a slow start, Alec De Angulo ’28, Juan Diego Leañez ’27, Manny Melcon ’27, and Andy Plasencia ’27 rallied from eighth place to finish within half a second of gold.

Plasencia and Ariel Gutiérrez ’28 posted strong swims in the 200 Freestyle, setting the stage for De Angulo’s gold-medal performance in the 100 Butterfly. Gutierrez returned for the 500 Freestyle, finishing 8th, followed by a podium finish in the 200 Freestyle Relay from Plasencia, Melcon, Michael Weglarz ’27, and De Angulo.

De Angulo claimed his second state championship of the meet in the 100 Backstroke. The Wolverines closed the night with the 400 Freestyle Relay, featuring freshmen Joaquín Amador ’30 and Gianluca Polo ’30 alongside Weglarz and Gutierrez.

In a tightly contested championship with many lead changes, Belen finished seventh overall.

De Angulo broke two school records during the meet, setting new marks in the 50-yard Freestyle (20.73) and 100-yard Backstroke (49.15), and earned three All-American times. Next, he will compete at the USA Swimming U.S. Open Long Course National Championships at the University of Texas at Austin, December 2–6, 2026, and the Winter Junior Nationals in Indianapolis, December 10–12, 2026.

“The team’s seniors swam the best meet of their careers,” said Head Coach Andres De Angulo '93. “Their leadership, effort, and brotherhood shaped this program, and they will be missed. Formed in the pool as they are in the classroom and chapel, these young men carry the magis forward, and the future of Belen swimming remains bright.”