Shaine-Mania in full swing hours before competition

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Shaine-Mania is in full swing right now as people across the Rio Grande Valley prepare to watch the swimmer compete.

One of the biggest watch parties is in Brownsville at the pool where he competed and broke records while in high school.

“I am bringing my kids because it is a time to share," said Brownsville resident, Jude Benavides. "When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.”

Benavides and his family will be attending the Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center watch party on Thursday to show support. He says that South Texas has a big swimming community and says this highlights how much it has grown over the last few decades.

“I am super proud that someone from the Valley is representing us and it is not often that we get that chance," Benavides said. "And, I think it represents the proud tradition of swimming in South Texas that we have had for many decades.”

Benavides says Casas's success can help many Valley students pursue their dreams and get into swimming.

Kids like 15-year-old Santiago Perez, look up to the Olympian ever since he saw him in a meet about seven years ago. Now, he wants to beat the pool records that Casas has set and still hang on the aquatic center’s wall.

“His 100 butterfly record is 47 point something and that was a few years ago," Perez said. “I still have three more years to break that record, I am at 59.8, so I am like a couple of seconds in.”

Aquatic Center Coordinator, Monica Rosales says she sees a spike in kids wanting to swim after every summer Olympics. She expects an even bigger rise this year.

She reports that she has already seen a spike in adults wanting to get into swimming. One of them is Norma Gonzalez who is proud of Shaine’s accomplishments.

“Es un orgullo para nuestra region," she says in Spanish as to how he is the pride of the region.

Rosales says everyone is invited to watch Shaine compete on Thursday, and will open more space for those wanting to join. They will also install several monitors, including one in the water, for all watch-goers to see.

“These bleachers, right here, we can seat 750 people, and then we put out some more bleachers here, and also on the deep end over there, I'm thinking we could squeeze in another 250," Rosales said.

Security will be available and prohibited items include weapons, tobacco, alcohol and drugs. People also do not need to take chairs or ice chests as they will have water, aguas frescas and popcorn for those attending.

If Casas qualifies on Thursday, there will be another watch party at 1:45 p.m. on Friday for the finals.

McAllen High School is also hosting a watch party tomorrow in support of their alum.