Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Carson Sandstrom, Havre High Swimming

With the Hi-Line in the middle of another cold winter, many would not think about taking a dive in the pool. But for the past few months, that has been the focus of senior Carson Sandstrom of the Havre High swimming team. While some would not want to put in the this kind of work during the winter, Sandstrom finds it rewarding with the friendships he has made through swimming.

"It's an individual sport when you're in the pool but when you're out of the pool, there's a large family aspect and a lot of friends that you can meet," Sandstrom said.

With two older brothers who swam before him, Sandstromg grew up around the pool. Some of his earliest memories at the pool were him watching his older brothers swim in meets. As soon as he could, he got in the pool and never looked back. As he began his own swimming career, he made sure to learn from his older brothers.

"I learned from my brothers that swimming is a great outlet, whether it be a physical or mental outlet," Sandstrom said. "It's something that you can put a lot of effort into and it has a great effect on your life."

Sandstrom is in the midst of his senior season with the Blue Ponies. This past weekend, he swam in his final home meet of his career where he took first in the boys 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:23.46. He also finished second in the boys 50-meter freestyle with a time of 28.13.

He only has three more meets this season before the state meet in Bozeman in February. With his high school swimming career soon coming to a close, Sandstrom will cherish his last weeks with his friends on the team.

"I've enjoyed all the compliments that I get from friends and the cries that I've had with the other seniors about it being our last year," Sandstrom said.

While he will say goodbye to the HHS swimming program, Sandstrom is getting set to take the next step following his biggest passion in life: music. During his four years of high school, Sandstrom has played the saxophone for the marching band, the jazz band and the pep band.

Over the years, he has made many great memories with the high school bands. Just these past two years, he and the marching bands have traveled for competitions in Bozeman and Idaho. Along the way, he has made many friendships and relationships that he will not soon forget.

"Just like swim, music also has a family aspect and there's a lot of camaraderie there as well," Sandstrom said.

Once he finishes high school, he will not be done with music as he plans to study jazz at the University of Montana in Missoula. After college, he hopes to either become a professor of the saxophone or a professor of jazz studies at a college.

Before he heads off to college to continue his musical career, Sandstrom will look to finish strong in his final year of swimming. Sandstrom will next swim at the Class A meet in Hardin this weekend, so the Havre Daily News asked him five questions before he dives back into the pool.

HDN: Do you have any favorite swimming memories?

Sandstrom: "A couple years ago, I went to Washington with Audrey Taylor and that was probably the largest meet that I've ever been to and it was just a whole lot of fun. We were the only two people from Havre there and we were just meeting a lot of new people from all over the place."

HDN: What is your favorite event to compete in?

Sandstrom: "The 200. I like it because it's not a sprint but it's not necessarily a relaxed time either. You're going as hard as you need to for a good while and then the 500 free just gives you time to reflect.

HDN: What's the hardest thing about swimming?

Sandstrom: "Just doing it every day. The consistency of getting in the pool every morning or every night and stretching every morning and every night. The consistency of it is a little hard for me."

HDN: Who is your favorite athlete?

Sandstrom: "I guess my favorite athlete in general would be Mondo Duplantis. He's a pole vaulter for LSU and he's held the world record for a while now and his dedication is what I aspire to."

HDN: What does music mean to you?

Sandstrom: "It's an outlet for me to express myself emotionally but then it's also something that I can just do without thinking too much during it. It helps calm my mind when I'm playing. My mind goes blank from all the stress and everything else and it's a way for me to stay focused on the things that are important."