Hermiston Swim Club’s Colette Edmiston swims in the 13-14-year-old 200-meter freestyle Sunday at the Pendleton Invitational at Pendleton Aquatic Center.

Though the state of Oregon still doesn’t recognize the Hermiston Swim Club as an official team, the boys and girls on the squad made sure everybody at the Pendleton Invitational knew what they could accomplish, coming away with fourth place in the meet and several first-place finishes.

“For just starting the kids are doing just wonderful,” Hermiston coach Kevin Hamblin said. “The kids we have are actually competing with the kids that swim year round so it’s nice to see kids in the first second and third places.”

Hermiston finished with 462 points combined, behind Pendleton Swim Association (1,678), La Grande Swim Club (1,354) ad The Dalles Swim Team (1,248).

The team did the bulk of their scoring on Saturday, as only one swimmer remained in the water on Sunday, and once again showed the future is very bright for the young program.

Five swimmers finished first in one ore more race and the same number finished with times fast enough to put them in the ‘A’ Division for the Inland Empire Long Course Championships starting this Thursday in Spokane should they choose to compete.

The 9-10-year-old age group proved the most balanced, led by Samuel Colbray and his three golds and two silvers. Colbray won the 100-meter freestyle (1:26.36), the 200 freestyle (3:09.81) and the 100 butterfly (1:58.90). He was second in the 200 individual medley (4:05.56) and the 50 backstroke (51.14).

His times in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly all qualified at the top level. He came into the meet with no qualifying time in the 100 butterfly.

“He’s a stud,” Hamblin said of the second-year swimmer. “He’s beginning to realize what it takes. If he’s neck and neck with somebody he just muscles his way through the water to beat the kid. He did that at The Dalles last week and (in Pendleton) Friday.”

Also in the 9-10 age group for the boys, Luke Clupny won the 50 backstroke (50.01) and the 50 breaststroke (58.25) while Jacob Snell placed second in the 100 butterfly (2:12.34) and fourth in the 50 backstroke.

Not to be outdone, the 9-10 girls put on a show to remember too.

Jansen Edmiston was dominant with four firsts and one second, qualifying for the ‘A’ Division three races – the 100 freestyle (1:27.82), the 50 breaststroke (51.20) and the 200 freestyle (3:14.31). She was second in the 200 freestyle and added a top finish in the 200 individual medley.

Olivia Hankel also had a strong showing in the 9-10 group, placing second in the 200 individual medley (4:33.42) and winning the 100 butterfly while knocking an impressive 27 seconds off her qualifying time to finish in 1:57.37 and make the jump up to the top level.

In the eight and under class, Britt Braithwaite was second in the 50 backstroke with a time of 58.43 that moved her up to the ‘A’ Division and was third in the 100 freestyle (1:59.73) – both in the ‘B’ Division.

At the 13-14 age level, Madison Hankel won the ‘B’ Division of the 100 freestyle and moved up with a time of 1:14.30.