Columbia River senior wins three more titles; Papermakers are champs again

Columbia River’s Josh Bottelberghe wrapped up his prolific high school swimming career Saturday with three more state championships, and the Camas Papermakers defended their team title at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Bottelberghe broke the state meet record in the Class 2A 100-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 54.43 seconds. Earlier in the day, he won the 200-yard freestyle.

He was also part of Columbia River’s 200 freestyle relay championship. Bottelberghe, Simon Parish, Ben Phelps, and Rob Mead combined to set a new meet record in that one at 1:27.29.

Bottelberghe, who will be swimming for Notre Dame next academic year, won a total of seven state titles in his career with the Chieftains.

In Class 4A, the Papermakers won two of the three relays, helping Camas to another overall team championship.

Eric Wu, Jaden Kim, Xia Christopher, and Mark Kim combined to win the 200 freestyle relay. Christopher, Jaden Kim, Mark Kim and Finn McClone teamed up to take the 400 relay.

In all, the Papermakers scored 232 points to beat Kamiak, in second place with 182.

Other highlights

Class 4A meet

Four Papermakers medaled in individual events at state. Wu finished second in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. Mark Kim was second in the 200 free and third in the 500 free. Jaden Kim was third in the 100 butterfly. And Christopher was fifth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 free.

Union’s Val Tikhomirov finished seventh in the 100 breaststroke.

Class 3A meet

Ilia Zablotoviskii of Evergreen took sixth in the 100 backstroke.

Class 2A meet

Mead of Columbia River finished second in the 100 free and third in the 100 backstroke. The Chieftains also finished second in the 200 medley relay.

Washougal’s Isaiah Ross finished second in the 200 butterfly and fourth in the 200 freestyle.

Hockinson’s Joe Dodd took seventh in the 100 butterfly.