Wilsonville swimming: destiny at districts

The Wildcats NWOC districts meet before state

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Greg Artman

A member of the Wilsonville Swim team focusing in during his swim. This was at the NWOC districts meet.

Swimming is a unique and special sport, competed by amazing athletes who devote their time and energy into their passion. Wilsonville High School is lucky enough to have a team with such outstanding athletes, who support each other.

This past weekend, the Wilsonville swim team traveled to Parkrose High School and participated in the OSAA 5A District swim meet. This meet will determine who will go and compete at the biggest meet of the season: the OSAA state meet. These final two meets are what our swimmers have strived to work for- for their entire season. 

Wilsonville had gained six first place finishes at the NWOC District meet; which included senior Georgia commit Helena Jones and junior Steve Khamvongsa. Both of them won individual district titles. While Jones, and Khamvongsa both had amazing days in the pool, the rest of the team did as well. The boys 200 yard medley relay team, swam by Steve Khamvongsa, Max Buchwald, George Heilig, and Gabriel Melo came out victorious and will be heading to state. Many other Wilsonville swimmers were very significant and made a big contribution to Wilsonville’s success.

The seniors at Wilsonville High School also got special recognition during the meet. Our seniors are: Helena Jones, George Heilig, Gabriel Melo, Hope Williams, Jesse Dietz, and Blanca Garcia-Lacueva. Helena Jones, was named one of the swimmers of the meet. “Winning swimmer of the meet was an awesome way to end my final season and senior districts meet.” Helena Jones has had a very successful season thus far, and is looking to break state records this upcoming weekend. “Districts was a really fun meet overall! A lot of people swam really fast and was overall super positive!” said Jones. 

Steve Khamvongsa, another member of the Wilsonville Swim team also found a lot of success at districts. The junior managed to qualify for all of his events, which include: the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and both of his relays. Steve Khamvongsa says, “My goal for state is to get as many personal bests as I can!”

The Wilsonville Swim team achieved so much greatness, at one meet and we are all very excited to see what they are able to accomplish at state. The OSAA state meet will be held at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18 2023.