Outlaws produce records at state swim meet

Justin Hedemark, Casey Meudt, Kyle Whipps and Byron Womack swam personal records in almost every race segment they entered at State Championships at the Mt. Hood Community College Pool.

They entered two relays and two individual events. Their individual and combined efforts earned them top finishes and a fifth place in the final team rankings.

Casey Pyke and Tyler Young accompanied the relay team as alternates.

In the first event of championship finals, the 200-yard medley relay, Sweet Home’s Larry Coulter and Astoria’s Andrew Ellsberg attacked the Outlaws’ backstroke segment with force and put the Outlaws foursome close to sixth.

Kyle Whipps, with a perfect relay exchange, made up some distance in the breaststroke. Justin Hedemark passed Sweet Home’s Ian Parks in the butterfly, and came within 0.4 seconds of Astoria’s Ben Lilley and anchor Byron Womack, swimming a lifetime best of 22.83 seconds, secured fourth place for Sisters High School. Cottage Grove finished third in a time of 1:50.53, the Outlaws touched the pad at 1:51.29 and Astoria clocked 1:51.48.

Justin Hedemark qualified for second-day competition as the number-three seed in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.26. Byron Womack was eligible as second alternate in the same event.

In a dramatic championship final on Saturday, district contender Michael Cobarrubias, who had outtouched Hedemark at district championships by 0.07 seconds, gave the Outlaw another race to remember.

Both swimmers churned the water stroke for stroke, flipped simultaneously and ended up tying for the bronze with a time of 23.20. This time also marks a new Sisters High School record.

“Only individual times or starting segments on a relay may be considered for records,” said Coach Isolde Hedemark. “Relay segments by swimmers two, three and four give the competitors an unfair advantage, as they may be in motion before their feet leave the platform. Starters however, may not move until the start signal is sounded.”

Justin Heath of Phoenix was first and Daniel Stowers from Seaside took second.

The last competition for the Outlaws featured Hedemark in the 100-yard backstroke. Hedemark won bronze, improving his own best by over one second and setting a new Sisters High School record. Matthew Grimes from Sherwood finished first, Cottage Grove’s Eric Elliott was second.