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Karen Bottger represented her family well during her four-year career with the Weston High School swim team. Given the success her brother and sister had during their careers at Weston, that was no small accomplishment.
Karen, a senior, concluded her swim career by leading the Trojans to the Class S title, its first crown since 2006. Bottger played a big part: She took second in the 200 freestyle, third in the 500 free, anchored the first place 200-free relay and swam leadoff for the second place 400-free relay. That's four events, four top three finishes and a team state championship. "For us to win, I don't know that there are words to describe it," Karen says. "It was awesome."
Karen's swimming success followed in the footsteps of her siblings Ashley (class of 2005) and Henry (class of 2007). Ashley held a school a Weston school record, went on to a standout career at Colgate University and is now a coach at Kenyon College in Ohio. As a senior at Weston, Henry anchored the Trojans' 200-medley relay team to a state title and the 400-free relay to a second place finish. He is a senior on Colgate's swim team. All of the Bottgers excel in the freestyle.
"It gives you something to shoot for,'' Karen said about her siblings' accomplishments. "I wanted to do my own thing, but at the same time I wanted to make them proud."
Coach Tom Grace said Karen wanted to establish her own identity and accomplishments. Watching Karen achieve that while upholding the family heritage was one of the highlights of coaching her. "I saw her mature as a swimmer and as an individual over the past four years," Grace said. "She's willing to sacrifice and put the team first. That growth from the time when was a freshman until now has been amazing."
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