By Satina Tolman
For The New Era
Though Sweet Home’s swimmers did not earn a district title this year, they left with something equally telling about the state of the program: 32 personal records set across the meet.
That performance was a reflection of a team that rose to the challenge despite a smaller roster and emotional swings that tested even veteran swimmers.
They also qualified swimmers in three relays and eight individuals in four events for the state meet, this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21, at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.
Qualifiers for Sweet Home include the girls 200 medley relay team of Lexi Rundell, Kylie Melkvik, Emma Whitton and Khloe Sautel; the boys 200 medley relay team of Andrew Tolman, Austyn Hogan, Henry Jones and Grayson Savri; and individual entries in key events including the 200 freestyle (Hogan and Tolman), 500 freestyle (Sautel, Hogan and Savri), 100 backstroke (Tolman and Rundell) and 100 breaststroke (Savri). The girls 400 freestyle relay team of Ella Haggas, Melkvik, Rundell and Sautel also advanced.
In the team race, the girls placed second with 166 points, behind Marist (226) and ahead of Cascade (131), Salem Academy (124) and Stayton (120).
The boys were fifth with 145 points, as Stayton took the team title with 200 points, followed by Marist (195), Philomath (175), Crosshill Christian (158). .
Head coach A Jay Bronson said his swimmers demonstrated both preparation and grit, especially with a roster of just 16 swimmers competing against programs like Philomath and Marist, who each brought over 30 kids.
“As with every year, we carefully pick which events will score the most points and make sure we give our kids the best potential to do well,” Bronson said. “It’s hard when we don’t have the numbers.”
Individual Standouts Lead Charge
From the opening races, the Huskies showed flashes of dominance.
Sautel, a sophomore, led the charge, touching first in the girls 50-yard freestyle in 25.47 seconds before returning to win the demanding 500 freestyle in 5:18.96.
“It felt so good to win both of them because of all the hard work I put into the season finally paid off,” Sautel said. “I was super excited to drop time in both events; overall, I felt so good about them.”
Sautel said the season has reshaped her confidence as an athlete.
“I learned to believe in myself and trust myself,” she said, adding she’s eager for another opportunity at state. “I’m super excited to swim the 500 free again because I know how I can do better and I’m excited to see where I can place this year.”
Tolman, a senior, dominated in the boys 100 backstroke, pulling out a win in 1:01.34. The race, he said, was a study in precision.
“During the 100 backstroke I was just focused on not messing up,” Tolman said. “There is a lot of technique in swimming, and one slip-up could cost you the race. Specifically, I was focused on my flip turns, trying to get in and out of the wall as fast as possible.”
Tolman said his attention now shifts entirely to the next stage.
“My focus while heading to state is entirely on my backstroke,” he said. “Only three days of practice is not a lot of time, but I’m hoping it is enough.”
Hogan, a junior, delivered a breakout moment in the boys 200 freestyle, surprising even himself with a winning swim.
“For the 200 free I was not expecting to do so well,” Hogan said. “I was just trying to get second, but I surprised myself and beat the kid with a 1:58 by going a 1:55.”
Later, Hogan and teammate Grayson Savri provided a highlight-reel finish in the boys 500 freestyle, going one-two for the Huskies – Hogan first in 5:25.77 and Savry second in 5:29.07.
Bronson said those efforts reflected smart strategy and determination despite a smaller roster.
“As with every year, we carefully pick which events will score the most points and make sure we give our kids the best potential to do well,” he said. “Marist was able to have four scorers in every event. We had to make sure we were still scoring points even though we didn’t have the numbers.”
High-Stakes, High-Emotion Relay
The meet’s most dramatic moment came in the relay events, where early disqualifications threatened to derail the team’s momentum.
Tolman said the emotional toll was immediate when the boys A medley relay was initially disqualified.
“At first, when the relay was DQ’d, I was so disappointed in myself and couldn’t believe that I false-started as a senior,” he said. “My coaches and teammates were also in disbelief because I’ve never done anything like that before. It was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever felt.”
Then came a sudden reversal.
“When coach A Jay came up to me saying the DQ was voided, my crying went from disappointment and guilt to joy,” Tolman said. “The rest of my relay teammates were also relieved.”
Bronson said officials overturned the call after another coach reported swimmers playing with rubber ducks on deck and squeaking them at the moment the movement was judged.
“It was heartbreaking,” Bronson said. “It’s a top-five relay at state and it crushed us. Luckily, the meet ref said a distraction like that is a reason to overturn the DQ. It was a huge break.”
Team Depth and Final Results
Despite the emotional roller coaster – and several disqualifications elsewhere, the Huskies remained competitive throughout the meet.
Lexie Rundell placed third in the girls 100 backstroke in 1:10.91, and Kylie Melkvik added another podium finish with third in the girls 100 butterfly in 1:27.62.
Hogan said the team battled through challenges created by a smaller roster.
“The smaller team numbers did lead to us not doing great in districts,” he said. “We were still competitive, but due to the amount of DQs we had on the first day, we just didn’t have enough people swimming enough events to score well.”
Historic Streak, New Perspective
For Bronson, the meet represented both an ending and a continuation. While the program’s 50-year district title streak came to a close, he framed the result in broader historical terms.
“Fifty straight years of a first-place trophy either on the boys’ side, girls’ side or both,” Bronson said. “So while this is the first year without a first-place trophy, we view it as the 51st year with a trophy. It’s an incredible accomplishment.”
He said his post-meet message focused on reflection rather than disappointment.
“We discussed how proud of them we are, and how for them to reflect on how their hard work related to their accomplishments,” Bronson said.
Looking Ahead to State
The season now shifts to the state stage. The OSAA state championships will be held Feb. 20-21 at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center, where Sweet Home will send a strong contingent aiming to extend the program’s tradition of postseason success.
Bronson said success at state will be measured by advancement and continued growth, but he stressed that the foundation of the program remains unchanged.
“All of this is possible through the kids’ hard work,” Bronson said. “Coaches are there to support them, but they are the ones putting in the hard work, and it shows.”
