Swimming preview: Cousins hope to lead Belen Jesuit to glory
Chris De Angulo didn’t say a word – at least not until the deed was done.
Last year, on November 16 in Ocala, De Angulo won Belen Jesuit’s first individual swimming state title in five years. Better yet, his time of 57.24 in the 100-meter breaststroke broke the Belen record.
The old record of 58.0 had stood for 31 years and was held by Andy De Angulo, who is Belen’s coach and Chris’ uncle.
“If he ever tries to trash-talk me,” Chris said of his uncle, “I have the school record.”
It’s easy to see how that would be an argument-ender. But, in reality, Chris De Angulo comes across as a serious young man and someone more focused on team success as opposed to individual glory.
De Angulo clearly wants Belen to improve on its 2024 results, which include an eighth-place finish in Class 2A.
“Rather than try to set records, I’m competing with my own potential,” Chris said. “My approach is to figure out how I can best benefit our team.”
Winning another individual state title would be a good start, and De Angulo is coming off a great summer. For perspective, consider that, as a sophomore, his best time in the 100 breast was 1:01.00.
Then, after setting the record at 57.24, De Angulo got his time down to 55.70 earlier this year.
De Angulo, who swam his first club meet when he was just eight years old, is the son of another ex-Belen swimmer, Dr. Guillermo De Angulo.
“Swimming is in my blood,” Chris said. “I’ve been doing it almost my whole life, and I’m very happy to keep doing it.”
In addition to those family connections, Andy De Angulo’s son, Alec De Angulo, finished fourth at state as a freshman last year, competing in the 100 backstroke.
Chris and Alec are hoping this year to lead Belen swimming to what would be its eighth state title and the program’s first since 2013.
No other Miami-Dade boys’ swim program has won more state titles than Belen, and the Wolverines have more than just the De Angulo cousins.
Senior Ben Fanjul, for example, is a returning district champion. He is also the son of Arturo Fanjul, who swam at Belen with the aforementioned Dr. Guillermo De Angulo in 1990.
As for Chris and Alec, they grew up just a 10-minute car ride from each other, and they are as close as brothers.
“He’s like my best friend,” Alec said of Chris. “We’re always racing each other. I look up to him because I want to be a state champion, too.”
Chris believes that can happen.
“Alec has some of the most insane potential I’ve ever seen,” Chris raved. “He’s improved his time by two seconds from last year.”
Part of the reason for that improvement may be because Belen spent two weeks this past summer in Hawaii, doing some intense training on the island of Maui.
Alec De Angulo said he and his teammates practiced eight hours per day.
Their days started with a 4:45 a.m. wakeup call, a two-mile run and then hitting the pool from 5:30 to 8:30. After breakfast, the boys were allowed free time, which was mostly spent surfing, snorkeling and jumping off rocks.
The p.m. practice was even harder as the boys went from 5:00 to 8:30.
“It was a great experience,” Alec said. “Hawaii is six time zones away. We were able to disconnect from distractions, bond with our teammates and get better.”
Now that the swimming season is upon us, we’ll see how much the trip to the “Aloha State” helped.
Coach De Angulo believes that Jacksonville’s Bishop Kenny – which has won three state titles in the past four years – is the 2A favorite for 2025.
Chris, meanwhile, wants his prep career to end on a high note.
“This is my last season swimming with my cousin and the rest of my teammates,” Chris said. “I’m appreciating not just the destination but the journey.”
MORE BOYS’ OUTLOOKS
Columbus is led by senior Lucas Franchak (50 free, 100 free, 100 breast); junior Gianmarco La Nevee (seventh at state in diving); and sophomore David Guerra (50 free, 100 free). Sophomore Marcel Cowley (100 back, 500 free) is one to watch for in the future.
Archbishop McCarthy returns three district champs: juniors Oleksii Vlazmetinov and Frank Vincze and senior Javier Guardia. Junior Ryan Harries was second in district relays.
Gulliver Prep is led by freshman Eric Macedo (100 back); senior Jonas Schoenwald (sprint free); and junior Eric Rivera (middle distance).
Coral Gables is led by a pair of sophomores who qualified for regionals last year: Oscar Kramer (200 free) and Jacob Ellis (200 IM).
Palmetto is led by junior Oliver Cannings (100 breast).
South Dade is led by junior Ricky Tietig.
GIRLS’ OUTLOOKS
Gulliver Prep is led by three middle-distance swimmers; freshman Theresa Lara Nogueira Milano and sophomores Antonia Moreno and Laird Galvin.
Archbishop McCarthy returns a pair of district champs in junior Kayla Chacon and Marlena Groves. Both were on the 200-free relay.
Coral Gables is led by senior Sofia Abril, a regional qualifier in the 100 breast.
This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM.