Oh brother, these guys can really swim
Evan and Colin Hedrick set the pace for ACHS boys' team
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers TWO OF A KIND- Camarillo High senior Evan Hedrick, left, and his younger brother, sophomore Colin Hedrick, are standouts for the Scorpion boys' swim team. Evan excels in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle event, while Colin specializes in distance races.

For the past few years, glancing at a Camarillo High boys' swimming stat sheet has been like looking at a quilt of the Hedrick family tree.

This season the Scorpions are led by senior Evan Hedrick and his younger brother, sophomore Colin Hedrick. Evan is the Pacific View League record holder in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, while Colin finished eighth last year at CIF in the 500 and in 10th place in the 100-yard breast stroke.

Aside from Evan and Colin, Ryan Hedrick had a successful swimming career at ACHS before graduating in 2006. The family's youngest son, Austin, will attend Camarillo next fall.

"Right now, I'm begging Tim Hedrick (the father) for more kids," Camarillo boys' head coach Matt Doyle said with a laugh.

Evan Hedrick

"Ryan had his own legacy here, while Evan and Colin have been great this season. From what I hear, the youngest brother may be better than all of them, so you're going to be seeing Hedricks in the paper for a while."

Both Evan and Colin agreed that their father has a lot to do with their success in the water.

"You don't get away with anything, that's for sure," Colin said. "Even though he's constantly switching from dad mode at home to coach mode at the pool, he's always there for us."

When they're not swimming for ACHS, both Colin and Evan are instructed by their father on the Pleasant Valley Swim Team.

Evan said he appreciates his father's advice.

"He's not one to be loud at meets, but I always know he's there offering quiet encouragement," Evan said. "To tell you the truth, he doesn't need to say anything. If his arms are crossed, that means you could be doing better. If he has his arm raised in the air with a watch, then you know you're doing well."

Colin Hedrick

Tim Hedrick's arm has been raised high a lot lately.

When Evan broke the Pacific View League record for fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle last year, his time was 1:46.96. Evan would break the record again with a mark of 1:44.07 at CIF, but the previous mark is still considered the PVL record because the 1:44 time wasn't at a PVL meet.

"I had been eyeballing that record for two years," Evan said. "I came close my freshman year with a 1:47.02, so I knew I was close to breaking it."

Evan also broke the PVL record for quickest time in the 500-yard freestyle last year with a time of 4:56. That mark was also broken later in the year by Evan, but not at a PVL event, so the 4:56 time still stands.

"To be honest, I was a little nervous when I started at Camarillo, because Ryan was already such a good swimmer," Evan said.

"He had his own reputation already, and I just wanted to make a name for myself. I think I've done a good job of doing that."

While Ryan had a big influence on Evan, Colin has been mentored by Evan.

"Not that Colin is a bad kid in any way, but I do think because he is a sophomore Colin is at an age where he's testing the barriers of high school and what he can and can't get away with," Doyle said.

"Evan does a good job of keeping him in line. There's an aspect of a brotherly competition going on there, and neither one of them likes to lose."

While Evan may have league records, he's quick to point out that Colin will have some of his own soon enough.

"He's more of a distance swimmer than I am," Evan said of Colin. "He's good right now, but by the time he's a senior he's going to be a force to be reckoned with."

Doyle called the two Hedricks on the current roster the "heart of Camarillo's lineup," and said their leadership has the Scorpions gunning for a league title. Last year, Camarillo finished third in league behind Rio Mesa and Pacifica.

"Not only do they lead by example in the pool, they lead by example out of the pool," Doyle said. "They're always respectful; they're always listening, and the other kids take notice of that.

"They're always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'No, sir,' even when this program doesn't call for that sort of thing. You can tell they've been raised very well."

Evan will be attending UC San Diego in the fall. When the time comes, it will be Colin's turn to be a mentor to his younger brother, Austin.

"Austin is more of a sprinter than I am, but he's also pretty good in the breast stroke," Colin said.

"I take a lot of pride in being the No. 1 breast stroke swimmer in the family, but in two years Austin is going to be real close to me. I'm looking forward to that challenge."