On Wednesday afternoon at Park City High, two Miners aquatics athletes Anna Klug and Julian Bastick committed to continue their athletic careers in college.
Klug committed to swim at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Bastick to play water polo at Chapman University in Orange, California.
Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Chapman compete at the D3 level. Wisconsin-Eau Clair women’s swimming and diving went 4-2 in dual meets this season, finishing second of five teams in their conference. Chapman men’s water polo team went 9-18 this season.
At the state swimming meet this season, which the Park City girl’s team won for the second-straight time, Klug was part of the winning women’s 200 yard medley and 200 yard freestyle relay race teams, which set 4A records.
Bastick was a first-team all-state selection for his work in goal during Park City’s run to the boy’s water polo state championship game in the fall.
“She’s been an incredible leader with the program,” Miners assistant swim coach Heather Flynn said about Klug. “And friend to all of the athletes regardless of their level of swimming.”
Flynn, also the head water polo coach, continued, “She has worked very hard, set her goals high and achieved those goals. She really is a role model for all of those swimmers coming after her.”
Flynn said Bastick’s game took a leap this season, with the senior starting to rely on his strong instincts.
“Julian has been playing water polo since he was very little,” Flynn said. “He’s always been a very good goalie, but this year he absolutely burst onto the scene.”
She added, “He’s so great at stealing the ball and is a great blocker. … He’s also a really good shooter; he’s scored goals for us.”
Flynn said Bastick wasn’t sure about competing in college before watching his sister Nina Bastick’s water polo games at Chapman. He got to take in all the scenes and meet with the coaching staff on those trips. Nina is a sophomore at Chapman.
“This just continues the foundation that we are setting with aquatics in Park City,” Flynn said about the two commitments. “There were probably 40-50 swimmers and water polo players there at the high school to watch Anna and Julian sign. … Having role models signed to colleges just accelerates the level of our programs and gets the younger athletes excited.”