By Satina Tolman
For The New Era
Coach A. Jay Bronson praised his swimmers for their outstanding performances at the Sweet Home High School Swim Team Awards Banquet, held the evening of March 19th.
Bronson noted that this marks the 12th consecutive year the team has earned a state swimming championship trophy in either the boys or girls or both categories. Additionally, the girls team claimed its 13th consecutive district championship, and this year marked the 50th consecutive year the boys, girls, or combined teams have won the district title. Both the boys and girls teams finished the season with an 8-1 record.
Most Valuable Swimmer awards went to seniors Kirsten Sautel and RJ Abbott.
Sautel set a new district record in the 100 Breaststroke with a time of 1:05.84 and earned five state championships during her career, including three consecutive wins in the 100 Breast. Bronson highlighted Sautel’s selflessness in prioritizing team success over individual achievements.
Bronson explained that Kirsten, “took first place at districts in the 200 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke and was willing to take herself out of the 200 freestyle (at state) to make sure those relays got a little bit better and got second place (at state). Not an easy thing to sacrifice and do especially your senior year but she did that for her team.”
Abbott’s commitment was evident throughout the season, as he was the only swimmer to not miss a single practice and “consistently delivered strong performances,” the coach said.
Bronson pointed to Abbott’s victory in the 200 Freestyle at districts, where he broke the 1:50 mark with a time of 1:49, as well as his “key role in securing state qualifications for all three relay teams”.
Most Improved awards went to sophomore Kylie Melkvik and freshman Grayson Savri. Bronson commended Melkvik for her “hard work and adaptability”, noting her willingness to take on any role required by the coaches. Bronson recognized Savri for his “remarkable improvement, both mentally and physically,” while also praising his “dedication and positive attitude.”
Freshman Khloe Sautel and sophomore Austyn Hogan were named Underclassmen of the Year. Sautel, the state champion in the 500 Freestyle, was acknowledged for her contributions to the team’s success. Bronson credited Hogan for his flexibility in switching events based on the team’s needs, which helped in both district and state competitions.
Abbott was named Teammate of the Year for his leadership and dedication. The award was created last season, making Abbott only the second recipient of this honor. Abbott was recognized for his willingness to work hard, inspire teammates, and provide consistent support to the coaching staff.
Seventeen athletes earned varsity letters this season. Fourth-year letters were awarded to seniors Kirsten Sautel, Peyton Markell, RJ Abbott, and Shayne Schuster.
Third-year letters were earned by Juniors Kylie Melkvik and Andrew Tolman, along with seniors Armon Marble and Daisy Lalonde.
Second-year letters went to sophomores Ella Haggas, Lexie Rundell, Henry Jones, and Austyn Hogan, along with senior Timber Nobles.
First-year letters were awarded to freshmen Grayson Savri, Emma Whitten, and Khloe Sautel, as well as senior Emerson Martineau.
In addition to athletic achievements, six swimmers were honored with the 1st place Boys’ 4A OSAA Academic All-State award for maintaining a combined GPA of 3.81. The recipients — Abbott, Marble, Schuster, Tolman, Hogan, and Henry Jones — were recognized for their excellence in the classroom. This achievement ranks Sweet Home second among all Boys’ High School Swim Teams in Oregon, trailing only Franklin High School’s (6A) 3.82 GPA.
Looking ahead, Bronson announced the team captains for next season: Kylie Melkvik will lead the girls team, while Andrew Tolman and Austyn Hogan will co-captain the boys’ team. Bronson expressed confidence in the new captains, “We are excited about them helping us move forward and getting us to where we need to go.”
Despite the loss of seven seniors, Bronson remains optimistic about the team’s future, noting the presence of strong swimmers and the potential for new recruits. The team encourages anyone interested in joining next season to try out, regardless of their swimming experience.
“No experience is needed,” Bronson said. “It takes hard work and dedication, but it’s worth it. The most important thing is attitude.” He encouraged those unsure of their abilities to give it a try and join the team. “Come try something new and be part of a great team! We’ve developed champions with zero experience as freshmen.”
Senior Shayne Schuster, who joined the team after learning how to swim during the summer before eighth grade, shared his journey on his Instragram: “Prior to 14 years old I wasn’t aware of my athleticism, or the discipline it took to excel at a sport.”
Schuster continued, “I had a lot of fun in these short four years and became a more grounded and disciplined human being. The most important thing I learned from swimming is to set big goals and dream a little, because goals that feel far-fetched will always be accomplished if the necessary steps are taken to achieve it.”
Bronson continues in his optimism for the future of the team.
“We’ve all grown in some way, shape, or form. We worked hard and accomplished great things together. I hope we can continue to build on this success moving forward.”