Esther Gonzalez

Photo by: Brad Marquardt

Photo by: Russell James/Texas A&M Athletics

Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics

Position:
Breast/IM
Class:
Senior
High School:
Ross Sheppard
Hometown:
Torreon, Mexico

2016 first-team All-American (200 breaststroke)

2016-17 (Junior):

Placed 18th in the 200 breaststroke, 27th in the 200 IM and 35th in the 400 IM at the 2017 NCAA Championships
At the SEC Championships, Gonzalez placed sixth in the 200 breaststroke, 16th in the 200 IM and 23rd in the 400 IM
Logged season bests of 1:02.43 in the 100 breast, 2:09.99 in the 200 breast, 1:57.93 in the 200 IM and 4:13.24 in the 400, which were all NCAA B cuts

2015-2016 (Sophomore):

Earned first-team All-America honors with a seventh-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships
At SECs, Gonzalez placed 10th in the 200 breaststroke, 16th in the 100 breaststroke and 17th in the 400 IM
Had season-bests of 1:01.06 in the 100 breast, 2:07.93 in the 200 breast and 1:59.06 in the 200 IM at the NCAA Championships
Had her season best of 4:13.95 in the 400 IM at the SEC Championships.

2014-2015 (Freshman):

Enjoyed a busy summer before her first year in College Station, swimming in multiple international events
Joined Team Mexico at the Central American and Caribbean Games to swim the 200 breast (2:32.62) in a second-place effort
Swam the 50 breast (34.35, 7th), 100 breast (1:13.81, 6th), and 200 breast (2:33.94, 2nd) at the Mexican National Championships
Participated in the Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario
Made her mark early in the year in the dual meet against Houston and North Texas where she finished first in the 200 breast (2:17.79)
Had a career day at the University of Florida Last Chance, finishing on the podium in all three of the events she competed in: first in the 200 IM (2:00.17) and the 200 breast (2:11.23) and third in the 100 breast (1:01.59), all personal bests
wam the A-final 200 breast (2:28.43, 7th) at the 2015 Phillips 66 US Nationals where she was also a part of the 400 medley relay (4:08.98) that earned sixth place for the Aggies; her time in the 200 breast during preliminaries (2:28.09) set a new Mexican national record

High School/Club:

2014 graduate of Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Was the long course Mexican National champion in the 200 and 100 breaststroke
Short Course Mexican National Champion in 50, 100, 200 breaststroke, 50 fly, 100 fly, and 200 IM
Also competed for the Olympian Swim Club team under coach Dave McDonald for three years receiving Most Improved Swimmer in 2011-2012 and Club MVP in 2012-2013.

Personal:

Esther González Medina is the daughter of Guillermo Eduardo González Duarte and Margarita Maria Medina Pegram of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Born on June 26, 1996 in Torreon, Mexico
Majoring in kinesiology and applied exercise physiology
Her younger brother, Mateo, is on the Texas A&M men’s swimming team
Gonzales chose to come to Texas A&M because “the team, staff and school environment are amazing. I felt at home when I visited and can’t picture myself going anywhere else.”

Close Up:
Favorite TV Show: Chuck
What do you drive? Purple Schwinn bike
What I’m Currently Reading: Do No Harm by Henry Marsh
Worst Habit: Overeating
Superstition: Getting on block from the left
Favorite City to Visit: Barcelona
Favorite Athlete in Another Sport: Novak Djokovic
Talent I’d Most Like to Have: Hand-eye coordination
Dream Date: Paddle Boarding
Favorite Tradition at Texas A&M: War Hymn or Aggie Ring

Describe in one word:
Coach Bultman: Wise
Coach Jamison: Strict
Coach Calanog: Energetic