Clackamas County's boys swimmers back and ready for 2021-22
There was a lot missing from the 2021 high school boys swim season.
Full regular season schedules. District meets. State championships. Fans.
There were more shortcomings, too, but that's all in the past now. The best high school boys swimmers from Clackamas County are back less than six months after the end of the pandemic-abbreviated 2021 spring season. They're working hard, improving, racing and enjoying the return to a full seasons.
That is definitely the case for the varsity boys teams at Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, Oregon City, West Linn, Clackamas, Nelson, La Salle, Milwaukie, Putnam, Wilsonville and Gladstone.
Read more about each team's 2021-22 prospects below.
Three Rivers League
Lake Oswego
Head coach: Geoffrey Marsden
2021-22 outlook: "We have a lot of great swimmers and I'm looking forward to seeing what they can achieve this season." — Geoffrey Marsden
League contenders: Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, West Linn
Top swimmers: Senior James Kang, junior Jonathan Bell, senior Doyhun Kim, junior Tylor Kim, senior Steven Peng, senior Hudson Schneider, senior Max Spurr, junior William Thistlethwaite, junior Derek Wu, junior Jiyu Yang.
Lakeridge
Head coach: Derek Abbott
2021-22 outlook: "We have a strong team with good depth in our high school swimmers. Our team chemistry is really coming together and they are working hard in the weight room and the pool, and we should see that reflected in our meet scores." — Derek Abbott
League contenders: Lakeridge, Lake Oswego, West Linn
Top swimmers: Senior Andrew Huang, junior Aaron Tran, senior Sean Davitt, junior Henry Sturges, junior Rocco Lepiane, senior Gideon Barnes.
Oregon City
Head coach: Bryan Watt
2021-22 outlook: "(We're) looking forward to a great season where we can compete in district as well as state." — Bryan Watt
League contenders: Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, West Linn
Top swimmers: Senior Wilson Riley, senior Zack McDonald, senior Calvin Swan, senior A.J. Bell, senior Garrhett Bell.
West Linn
Head coach: Tom Weltchek
2021-22 outlook: "(We) do not lack for an abundance of team spirit and camaraderie. It is our intention to work hard together and compete on the highest of levels in our district." — Tom Weltchek
League contenders: Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, West Linn
Top swimmers: Senior Zachary Cozart, sophomore Matthew Sexton, sophomore Gabriel Schreiber, junior Timothy Varga, senior Alexander Tye, senior Max Parisio.
Mt. Hood Conference
Clackamas
Head coaches: Jenn Jervis, Allen Larson
2021-22 outlook: "We have great leadership and some wonderful upcoming talent. We also have a lot of promising new swimmers this year. However, our school split to Adrienne Nelson really took a hit on our depth. We went from a team (combined) of 80+ to 40." — Jenn Jervis
League contenders: David Douglas, Nelson
Top swimmers: Senior Wolf Cribbs, senior Jacob Bollacker, senior Reinier Haich, junior Mason Liu, sophomore Cyrus Vance.
Nelson
Head coach: Sam Nelson
2021-22 outlook: "(I'm a) first-year coach, so (I'm) still gauging the competition." — Sam Nelson
League contenders: David Douglas, Barlow, Clackamas, Central Catholic
Top swimmers: Sophomore Mason Hopper, junior Quinlan Gould.
Northwest Oregon Conference
La Salle
Head coach: Paul Dreisbach
2021-22 outlook: "The boys are a small but committed bunch. We have a lot of young swimmers who are motivated to achieve and excel." — Paul Dreisbach
League contenders: Wilsonville, La Salle
Top swimmers: Junior Robert Brotherton, junior Aiden McCarthy, junior Charlie Dougherty, junior Eli Struyk-Bonn, junior Raphael De Leon, junior Gabriel De Leon, junior Nic Jelusic, junior Emilio Silva.
Milwaukie
Head coaches: Kelsey Balint, Mark Bentz
2021-22 outlook: "We are excited to have a growing team of new swimmers. This is the biggest team (we've) had in many years and we look forward to growing our program." — Kelsey Balint
League contenders: La Salle, Wilsonville
Top swimmers: Sophomore Harley Schaeperloetter, junior Dionisios Zoppi, Kerman Gobela Flores.
Putnam
Head coach: Steffany Bixby
2021-22 outlook: "As it's my first year being the head coach, it's a growing year for all of us. We have amazing swimmers in the pool and out and because of this, I know we'll have a great season no matter what." — Steffany Bixby
League contenders: La Salle
Top swimmers: Sophomore Brycen Cappoen, sophomore Cuyler Merten, junior Miles Thran.
Wilsonville
Head coach: Brett Rodgers
2021-22 outlook: "We've been working to build up our boys team over the last two years and are hopeful we'll make it to state this year in our relays." — Brett Rodgers
League contenders: "It's truly anyone's meet."
Top swimmers: Senior Jay Thomas, senior Anthony Hilweh.
Tri-Valley Conference
Gladstone
Head coach: Charlotte DeBaltzo
2021-22 outlook: "With only two returning swimmers and five new swimmers, we are ready to build a strong boys team. We have great leadership and are looking forward to competing in relays for the first time in two years." — Charlotte DeBaltzo
League contenders: La Grande, Madras
Top swimmers: Senior Luke Roberts, junior Zachary Schwartz.
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