Columbia River turns out record swim meet at 2A district

LONGVIEW — The Columbia River boys swimming team wants to have its highest ever finish next week at the state championships.

As a warmup, the Chieftains had one of the best showings in the history of the Class 2A District 4 meet on Saturday at Mark Morris High School.

River swimmers and relay teams won nine of 11 races. More impressively, the Chieftains accounted for five of the six meet records set on Saturday.

That has Columbia River hoping to surpass its fourth-place finish at last year’s state meet, the best in program history.

“I feel like the team should perform really well,” Josh Bottelberghe said. “We’ve got good relays going in. I’m looking at some of the meet records and feeling like it’s going to go well.”

Bottelberghe, a senior who will swim at Notre Dame, looks primed to defend his state titles in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Saturday, he shaved 1.6 seconds off the district meet record in the 100 breast, winning in 56.71 seconds. He also won the 200 free.

Bottelberghe wasn’t the only Chieftain to shine Saturday. Rob Mead set meet records in the 100 free (46.88) and the 100 backstroke (50.71).

Mead is looking to repeat as state champ in the 100 free and make a title push in the 100 back, where he placed second last year.

“We’re really motivated to come here and swim,” Mead said. “We train really hard. Also we support each other. That always contributes to us swimming fast.”

Bottelberghe and Mead also helped set two meet records in relay races. They teamed with Elijah Parish and Ben Phelps to set a 200 medley relay meet record by nearly four seconds (1:39.44). The joined with Phelps and Simon Parish to set the 200 free relay meet record (1:29.78).

Washougal’s Isaiah Ross also has his sights high for the state meet. The junior set a meet record in the 100 butterfly by nearly two seconds, winning in 51.90. He also placed second in the 200 free.

“I just wanted to see how fast I could go before state, when I really get riled up,” Ross said. “I want to win the 100 fly at state, for sure. In the 200 free, I want to be right up there with Josh.”

Washougal also had Daniel Brown reach state by placing second in the 50 free.

Joe Dodd of Hockinson won the 50 free and placed second in the 100 fly.

2A District 4 Championships

At Mark Morris High School, Longview

Team scores – Columbia River 315, Mark Morris 290, Hockinson 170, R.A. Long, 143, Aberdeen, 102, Washougal 70.

Top two to state

200 medley relay – 1, Columbia River (Rob Mead, Josh Bottelberghe, Elijah Parish, Ben Phelps) 1:39.44; 2, Mark Morris 1:53.73.

200 free – 1, Josh Bottelberghe (CR) 1:43.74; 2, Isaiah Ross (W) 1:45.41.

200 IM – 1, Elijah Parish (CR) 2:10.48; 2, Simon Parish (CR) 2:12.04.

50 free – 1, Joe Dodd (H) 22.44; 2, Daniel Brown (W) 23.02.

100 butterfly – 1, Isaiah Ross (W) 51.90; 2, Joe Dodd (H) 53.20.

100 free – 1, Rob Mead (CR) 46.88; 2, Ben Phelps (CR) 50.49.

500 free – 1, Sam Walker (CR) 4:56.77; 2, Daniel Ishchuk (CR) 5:16.70.

200 free relay – 1, Columbia River (Josh Bottelberghe, Simon Parish, Ben Phelps, Rob Mead) 1:29.78; 2, Hockinson (Will Bradley, Gabe Martinez, Sam Morris, Joe Dodd) 1:36.16.

100 backstroke – 1, Rob Mead (CR) 50.71; 2, Daniel Ishchuk 58.71.

100 breaststroke – 1, Josh Bottelberghe (CR) 56.71.

400 free relay – 1, Columbia River.