The week before the state swimming competition came and went for members of the Klamath Union boys and girls swim team.
For many, 6 a.m. is the time one’s alarm clock goes off to wake up for the day. For Klamath Union’s swim team, at 6 a.m., they were swimming at their home pool, preparing for the OSAA Class 4A/3A/2A/1A 2025 Swimming State Championships, held Friday and Saturday at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center.
After a more than memorable district meet, Klamath Union junior Max Hendricks stood tall, along with his fellow 400 freestyle relay team, Kamron Bouma and Jack and Wyatt Jensen.
The four KU boys’ swimmers have forever been engraved in school history. Hendricks earned a new school record while competing in the team’s district competition last weekend in the 100 backstroke, while he, Bouma and Jack and Wyatt Jensen, also punched in a new school record in the 400 freestyle relay at the same event.
Hendricks was itching, tasting what it would be like to earn a school record at Klamath Union since the beginning of the season. He hinted at his goal after his team’s lone home swim meet at the Henley Freeze last month, having his eyes set on Klamath Union’s 100 backstroke record.
Before last weekend, Hendricks tasted the record on the tip of his tongue, knowing just how close he had come to making school history. At Klamath Union’s conference meet three weeks ago, Hendricks was 0.3 seconds off the school record.
He did not remain in dismay after he did not get close to the school record during his team’s ensuing swim meets, finishing right at or just under the time of 1:02.
What came next was Klamath Union’s swim meet at its district competition, a day which will be remembered for a long time in the KU community. During a preliminary race in the 100 backstroke event, Hendricks swam 1:01:09, knowing how close he finally was.
During the finals, he reached the mountaintop, earning the time of 1:00.54, a new school record.
“I just think it is a really cool experience to know you are the best that has ever done it at this school. It is a huge milestone for any athlete ever,” Hendricks said. “When we also broke the school relay record, I did not even think we were going to do that … we did not even realize that until two hours later. It shows the heart this team, all the guys, are made of.”
KU girls swimming earns third place in district meet
For the KU girls swim team, the school’s 400 freestyle relay team will also compete in the state tournament, which includes Hazel Squibb, Elly Amos, Elsie Baumann, and Gretchen Lindecamp.
“It is really loud and noisy but you have to stay focused and stay with your group and realize you made it here; you are here to swim and do your best. Understanding I deserve to be here,” Baumann said.
“I love them so much; they are amazing. My team is amazing. I am really proud of all the great swims I have been able to have with them. We had a big PR (personal record) for our relay. It was one of the most exciting parts of our season to realize all the hard work paid off. I think we can do well at our state meet. We have a great team and we are all together, from our coaches and with all the male swimmers also. We are excited to make our school proud of us.”
