Josh Bottelberghe, like the most serious swimmers, is up before the sun.
Without fail, his daily ritual at 5 a.m. starts with a heavy helping of eggs, bacon and toast prepared by his mother, Sheri.
It’s not so much the breakfast as it is the love and gratitude the Columbia River High School junior has for the person he views as helping him get to where he is today: now a three-time individual high school state champion swimmer.
“I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it without her,” the 17-year-old said.
Bottelberghe, The Columbian’s All-Region boys swimmer of the year, is part of a long line of standout swimmers in his family. His older sisters, Jessica and Monica, also won state swimming titles at River, and while Josh is continuing the family legacy, he’s also creating his own.
He earned Class 2A’s swimmer of the meet at last month’s state championships, setting meet-record times in the 200 free (1 minute, 39.87 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (55.01) and also swam the leadoff leg of the Chieftains’ state title-winning 200 free relay (1:30.71).