Facing some of their top competitors in the 3A district, the Outlaw swimmers competed on December 16 against Sweet Home, 3A State Champion Sherwood, Philomath, Stayton, and newcomer to District 3A, Blanchett. Powered by their own size and expertise, the Outlaw boys set the tone for a very successful meet from the very beginning.

 Contested by Casey Meudt in the backstroke, Tyler Young in the breast, Justin Hedemark in the butterfly and anchor Byron Womack in the freestyle, the Outlaws swam to a new Sisters High School record in a time of 1:56.03 and left their top competitors Sweet Home and Stayton behind. The old record of 1:58.00 was set last year at District Championships by Casey Meudt, Morgan Mansker, Justin Hedemark and Kyle Whipps.

 The next Sisters High School record fell when Justin Hedemark competed in the 100 yard butterfly and finished with a time of 1:02.53 behind Rieniets from Sherwood and Contreras from Blanchett. Kevin Carlsmith had set the old record of 1:14.47 during the 2001/02 season.

 In the100 yard freestyle event, Casey Meudt and Byron Womack swam into the top competition with excellent sprints for the beginning of the season. Only Sherwood’s J. Grimes had a better time in this race. Casey Meudt swam a best time in 57 seconds and Byron Womack, racing this distance for the first time, finished in fourth place overall in 59.18 seconds

 Event 16, the 200 yard freestyle relay, was the race that even stunned 2004 District 3 Champion Sherwood. After Justin Hedemark exploded off the blocks, Kyle Whipps followed with a great segment of 25.5, Byron Womack in 24.6 and anchor Casey Meudt in 24.8 for a combined time of 1:38.4, which put the Outlaws ahead of Sherwood by four seconds and Sweet Home by five seconds. Hedemark’s 50 yards split of 23.5 replaced Casey Meudt’s old Sisters High School record of 24.5 seconds. “These times are great starting times for the season”, coach Hedemark commented, “as 1:38.4 would have won Districts last year.”

 Casey Meudt swam into fourth place in the 100 yards backstroke behind swimmers from Sherwood and Sweet Home and Kyle Whipps competed in the 100 yard breaststroke for the first time in a very respectable time of 1:19.00

 Jessie Swaner and Kate Canja were the two top individual swimmers on the girls’ side. Canja set a fast pace in the first 100 yards of her favorite event, the 200 yards freestyle. Lack of conditioning did not let her sustain that pace and she finished in 2:27.41, three seconds off her best time. Jessie Swaner finished third behind Sweet Home and Philomath in well-swum 100 breaststroke race. Her time of 1:25.34 was eight seconds faster than her best time at District Championships last year.

 The girls’ 200 yard freestyle relay with Jessie Swaner, freshman Chelsea Flanders, Rachel Pilliod and Kate Canja placed fourth with a time of 2:06.96. Anchor Canja swam the fastest leg with a personal best of 28.9 seconds.

 The Outlaws next meet will be January 13 against Cascade at the Stayton Community Pool