Klamath Union High School’s swim teams delivered a statement performance at the Skyline Championships, reclaiming conference titles on both the boys’ and girls’ sides through a combination of depth, discipline, and standout individual efforts. Competing against a strong field, the Pelicans finished first in the women’s standings with 170 points and captured the men’s title with 146 points, underscoring the program’s continued dominance at the conference level.
Click Here to be directed to the KFCS Facebook To See A Full Photo Gallery
Senior leadership played a major role in the boys’ success, highlighted by Kamron Bouma’s explosive showing in sprint events. Bouma delivered one of the meet’s defining moments by winning the 50-yard freestyle in a school-record time of 22.47, breaking the previous mark of 22.69 set by Marich Sikes in 2013.
In addition to his individual success, Bouma anchored both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays to first-place finishes and posted personal bests in butterfly events, further underscoring his impact on the Pelicans’ championship performance.
“It’s always an exciting feeling, putting your name on the board,” Bouma said. “I’ve been working for it for a long time and really wanted to get that record. Now it’s something I can be proud of, but also something to move past and keep improving.”
KU senior Max Hendricks played a pivotal role in the Pelicans’ success, earning first place in the 100 backstroke with a personal-best time of 1:00.06 while helping lead both freestyle relays to victories from the leadoff position. Hendricks said reclaiming the Skyline title after falling short last season carried added significance for him and his fellow senior swimmers.
“It’s fun to win, especially after losing it last year,” Hendricks said. “We’ve been one of the top programs for a long time, so getting it back our senior year feels good. Individually, you always want to perform well, but winning as a team is something special.”
Additional points came from strong performances by Jonas Southwell and Finley Chase, both of whom contributed to winning relay efforts while earning podium finishes in individual races. Together, the boys’ team showcased depth across multiple events, positioning themselves well heading into district competition.
The Klamath Union boys were also on the brink of another historic moment in the 200-yard freestyle relay, posting a season-best performance that finished just 0.7 seconds shy of the school record. Hendricks noted that the relay’s progress has been a major focus throughout the season, and the narrow margin highlighted how close the team is to rewriting the record books.
With continued training and refinement heading into districts, Hendricks and his fellow swimmers believe the record is well within reach.
On the girls’ side, Klamath Union’s dominance was equally impressive, with multiple swimmers sweeping events and relays. Elsie Baumann captured first place in the 500 freestyle and helped lead winning efforts in the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay. Baumann credited the team’s chemistry and shared commitment for their continued success.
“It feels really good because we all work so hard and push each other,” Baumann said. “Seeing everyone succeed and watching all that effort pay off is really rewarding.”
Gretchen Lindecamp added to the Pelicans’ medal count with first-place finishes in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, while anchoring both freestyle relays to victories. Lindecamp acknowledged the pressure that comes with sustained success but said it has become a motivating force for the team.
“There’s definitely pressure when you’ve won before, but I think it pushes us to do our best,” Lindecamp said. “We enjoy competing with that expectation and continuing to live up to it.”
Other standout performances included Hazel Squibb’s pair of individual wins in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Elly Amos’ victories in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley, and Quinlynn Spivey’s runner-up finishes in freestyle and butterfly events.
