There are no District 2-5A diving champions in the Ruiz family.

After today, though, there might be two of them.

Coronado’s Adam and Audrey Ruiz have a good chance to become the first siblings from Lubbock ISD to win district diving titles, according to LISD coach Penny DiPomazio. Both are on the short list of favorites heading into today’s 2-5A meet at the Pete Ragus Aquatic Center.

“It’d be really cool,” Adam Ruiz said of both winning their 1-meter competitions. “We’d have like a brother-sister tag-team thing going on.”

This will be the last chance for Adam, a senior who finished second at last year’s district meet. It’s also one of his last opportunities to beat Midland Lee’s Will McCraney, the defending 2-5A champion.

Adam has yet to beat McCraney in the four years they’ve been competing against each other, but the difference in their scores this year often has been 10 points or less. DiPomazio said today’s competition is “anyone’s ballgame,” and Adam said he plans to finally break through.

“I’ve been in his shadows for a very long time,” he said. “I am ready to beat him.”

Audrey, a sophomore, also is aiming for her first district championship. She finished fourth a year ago, but this year she’s consistently been the best diver in 2-5A and is coming off a victory at the Lubbock Invitational two weeks ago.

“I think it’d be pretty cool,” she said of capturing the district crown.

To do so, she’ll have to fight off a friendly foe from Lubbock High. Senior Abigail Nebb was the runner-up at last year’s 2-5A competition, and she bested Audrey earlier this season at a meet in the Dallas area.

Nebb also is determined to win a district championship before her career is over, even if that means her good friend from Coronado will have to wait a little longer.

“All the other years I’ve been in diving, there’s always been people older than me and who have been diving longer who are naturally able to do better,” Nebb said. “So it’d be nice if I could have my chance to win. I’ve got to continue the tradition of the senior beating the younger kid.”

Nebb and Audrey Ruiz said they’ve pushed each other to improve all season, and regardless of who wins today, they said they’ll continue to support each other. They also can take comfort in the fact that both are near shoo-ins to qualify for the Region I meet on Feb. 12-13.

In fact, most of the 13 divers from LISD will advance. The top six boys and top six girls will qualify for the regional meet, and all but three of the 15 divers in 2-5A are from Coronado, Lubbock High or Monterey.

The District 3-4A meet will be held simultaneously today, and Estacado diver Ben Jackson is assured of winning his second consecutive league title. He’s the only diver in the field.

“It’s nice because there’s a lot less stress,” DiPomazio said. “You know you’re going to (the regional meet).”

Prep swimming & diving

• What: District 2-5A and 3-4A meet

• When: Today

• Where: Pete Ragus Aquatic Center

• Schedule: Diving, 10 a.m.; swimming, 1 p.m.

• At stake: Top six in each event advance to Region I meet

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