True Champion and Record Breaker

The following article has been submitted to Roseville Press Tribune for their consideration.

A true champion is one that faces adversity, overcomes and excels.

Local Swimmer, Justin Sutter, has been an exemplary champion and record breaker for his recreational swim team, the Roseville Sugarbears.

Swimming for the Sugarbears since age 6, he was part of the dynasty that was both dual and VFCAL league champions for 14 straight years. In 2005, with an expansion to the Granite Bay Gators swim team, in which the entire coaching staff, parent board and 80% of the swim families exiting, Justin was one of only 30 swimmers returning as a Sugarbear.

Justin recalls “It was hard when most of my teammates left for the Gators, especially since a lot of us had known each other for so long. An era had definitely ended.”

While not the most desirable situation, Justin demonstrated leadership and stuck it out with the recreational program that is based at the Oakmont Community Pool. He has been a key contributor to the resurgence of the Roseville Sugarbears Swim Team. The Sugarbears now boast well over 200 swimmers that have been greatly inspired by Justin and his long-time friend and team mate, Nick Bennett. The Roseville Sugarbears have moved up each year within their league standings and took 3rd place this past weekend at the VFCAL Championships.

At the VFCAL Championships Justin set both a new Sugarbear Team record and VFCAL Meet record by posting a 21.76 in the 50 Free. Justin’s seed times for the 50 Backstroke and 100 Free would have been lower than the current VFCAL records had he swam those individual events. Instead, Justin unselfishly swam for his team in both the Medley and Free Relay and not the individual events.

While this is Justin’s last year of eligibility for recreational swimming, Justin made the best of the opportunity by setting new team records for all of the individual events of his age group (15-18 Boys). To break and hold all the records of a swim team of strong aquatic stature that has existed for over 40 years is quite an accomplishment.

Roseville Sugarbear Team Records (15-18 Boys)
50 Free
21.76
19-Jul-08
Justin Sutter

100 Free
48.53
7-Jun-08
Justin Sutter

50 Back
24.90
31-May-08
Justin Sutter

50 Breast
28.72
16-Jun-07
Justin Sutter

50 Fly
24.12
31-May-08
Justin Sutter

100 IM
56.06
28-Jun-08
Justin Sutter

Sugarbear President Jeff Huber shares “Our team was blessed to have Justin Sutter and Nick Bennett return this year. While it was a thrill to watch their performances, the real joy is in our younger swimmers being surrounded by such positive and inspiring role models”.

Justin’s mother Tammy explains “Justin, being rather shy, was flattered by all the enthusiasm from the younger swimmers and the kind words from their parents. Things like this make for lifetime memories and who knows, maybe someday, far in the future, Justin will be able to bring his own kids to the pool and see if they too, are Sugarbear material!”

The Sutter family motto being “"Once a Sugarbear, always a Sugarbear".

Tammy also adds “Many happy memories were made being a Sugarbear, both for Justin and ourselves. As his mom and team mom every year he swam, it was so fun to watch the boys grow each year, to go from throwing Lego's at each other as 6-and-unders, to flirting with and texting girls as 15-18's, and especially the camaraderie of being teammates.”

Justin is a 2007 graduate of Oakmont High School and placed top 10 in the 50 Free in section finals his senior year for the Oakmont High School Swim Team.

Justin Sutter swam this past year for Sierra College as a freshman and anchored their team’s 200 freestyle relay with a 21.0 split at the Big 8 Conference to help break the Wolverine’s school record (final record time of 1:25.87) and place 3rd in the Big 8.

Justin is using his swim skills as a lifeguard at Sunsplash this summer and is working on his Master Certification in Automotive Tech at Sierra College.