Josh Bottelberghe knows as well as anyone the importance setting high goals plays in success.
In his four years at Columbia River he’s set some high goals. And he’s achieved many of them.
His approach it different than most, he claims. He focuses on the process, not the results.
“I feel it’s best to look at personal growth, becoming the best swimmer I can be, developing strength, technique is most important,” he said.
That approach has worked out well for him.
Five high school All-American nods. Seven state titles. Four 2A state meet records. Eight program records at Columbia River, while helping the Chieftains to two top-5 finishes in his four years–including a program-first top-4 finish in 2017.
For those reasons, Bottelberghe is The Columbian’s All-Region Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive year.
And his next step, attending Notre Dame on a swim scholarship, was merely a goal at this time last year. Now, with his season concluded and his collegiate dreams in line, it’s his top focus.
“I’m super excited to move on and take the next step,” the 18-year-old said. “I feel like I wrapped up my season good and I’m ready to take the next step in my career.”
He always knew he wanted to swim at a Division-I college, but when Notre Dame first reached out to Bottelberghe in September 2016, he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
The Fighting Irish were persistent, and, Bottelberghe learned, held academic standards consistent with his. The senior is in Columbia River’s International Baccalaureate program and hopes to study engineering.
In the classroom, it was a perfect fit. In the pool, two particular club swim meets raised eyebrows on the recruiting trail.
Bottelberghe finished second in the 200 breast at the Futures meet at Stanford in summer 2016, in between his sophomore and junior years.
That’s where top-25 schools, such as Notre Dame, took notice, according to Jody Braden, Bottelberghe’s club coach at Portland Aquatic.
Then at the World Championships in Indianapolis last July, he finished second in the 18-and-under division 100 breast stroke, which piqued the interest of several more major D-I programs. Bottelberghe was highly sought-after.
Notre Dame’s persistence paid off.
“They were there all along,” Bottelberghe said. “I didn’t put a whole lot so thought into it, but as it continued I started to like them more and more. … It was appealing all the way through.”
At Columbia River, Bottelberghe will leave a legacy.
He’s youngest of three, and his two older sisters, Jessica and Monica, swam for Division-I Boise State. And his parents are both in University of North Dakota’s swim and dive hall of fame. His mom, Sheri, was a standout in the breast stroke and his dad, Rollie, was on the diving team.
Josh Bottelberghe is the first in his family since his mother to specialize in the breast stroke.
At River, his legacy began when he placed third in the 100 breast as a freshman. As a sophomore he won the 100 breast in class 3A.
He would go on to win the 100 breast two more times in 2A, clocking 55.01 as a junior (a meet record) and 54.43 as a season (beating his own meet record).
For his prep swan song, the 2A state swim meet at the King’s County Aquatic Center in Federal Way on Feb. 17. He helped set a new school record as a part of the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:36.34, and in the 50 free with a 20.76 lead-off time–both a school and 2A state meet record.
And in the 200 free at state, his 1:40.13 time earned All-American consideration. He broke the state meet record the year prior.
As a junior and senior, he earned “swimmer of the meet” honors at the 2A state meet.
His imprint on River’s program went farther than his meet times.
On senior night, Columbia River coach Alyssa Manlow has the team describe each of the seniors in one word. Many of Bottelberghe’s teammates said he is “helpful,” and taught them a lot about the sport.
“He has an ability to verbalize and communicate those things,” Manlow said.
According to Manlow, he brought a laser focus, high expectations, a drive to succeed and a dry sense of humor that, she said, can easily be missed if you’re not paying close enough attention. You wouldn’t hear the joke from the tone, but “he’s a funny, smart kid.”
“He obviously has the talent to continue to succeed in swimming,” Manlow said. “A lot of it lies in passion and drive to continue working and doing something different. … The excitement … with Josh, working with him, you can tell he still has that.”
Now Bottelberghe looks forward to taking that excitement for the sport to the next level.
Mark Kim, Camas
Senior and West Point commit was second at 4A state in 200 freestyle and third in 500 freestyle.
Rob Mead, Columbia River
Senior was second at the 2A state meet in the 100 freestyle and third in the 100 backstroke.
Isaiah Ross, Washougal
Junior was second at 2A state meet in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 200 freestyle.
Eric Wu, Camas
Junior was second at the 4A state meet in the 200 individual medley and second in the 100 butterfly.
Christopher Xia, Camas
Junior was fifth at the Class 4A state meet in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 freestyle.
Ilia Zablotoviskii, Evergreen
Sophomore was sixth at 3A state meet in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 200 freestyle.
