Outlaws swimmer is state champ

Freshman Mary Stewart stole the show last weekend at the OSAA Swimming State Championships at Mt. Hood Community College.

Stewart earned the title of state champion as she re-broke her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.70.

It was a tight race, with another swimmer challenging Stewart. The Outlaws swimmer sensed that she was swimming very fast as she came out of the turn and drove for the finish.

"I touched the wall and everybody started screaming," she said.

Stewart is still coming to grips with the realization that she's a state champion.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet," she said. "But it feels awesome."

Stewart was one of two Outlaws swimmers setting new school records. Junior Ian Baldessari also re-broke his own school record, set the previous weekend in the 100-yard breaststroke, with a time of 1:07.94. Baldessari swam to an eighth-place finish. Also competing in individual events were freshmen Karly Vial and junior Brennan Miller. Coach Brittany Baldessari reported that Vial "raced her heart out" to two seventh-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle. Miller placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke.

The girls and boys 200-yard medley relays also broke school records. The girls finished fourth with a time of 1:58.33, taking down the record they had set last weekend at District Championships. The boys were able to take down a record set in 2005 with a time of 1:50.82. The boys finished sixth.

Baldessari acknowledged that it is exceptional for a freshman to attain state champion-level success as Stewart has done. The coach cites Stewart's work ethic.

"She just comes to practice every day and puts her heart and soul into every workout," the coach said.

For her part, Stewart credits her coach.

"My coach, Brittany Baldessari, is pretty demanding," she said. "It paid off, obviously."

In the 50-yard, the turn is critical; it can either propel the swimmer into the final leg or bleed off time. Stewart said that considerable practice is devoted to making turns perfect.

Stewart calls her sister Katie, a senior, her inspiration. Is there a sibling rivalry in the pool?

"No, absolutely not," Mary says emphatically. The sisters support each other.

Stewart plans to swim through high school. If she's still enjoying it as a junior and senior she'll decide if she aims to swim competitively in college.

"We'll see where it takes me," she said.

Stewart's presence for the next few years will provide a spark for what should be a very strong Outlaws program.

"The team is looking forward to next season," Baldessari said. "With only losing three seniors, the team will remain strong for years to come."