At 5 a.m., most high school students are fast asleep, but Summit senior Landon Egeland is already up and preparing for swim practice. He drives to the pool in the dark and swims for two straight hours, focusing on aerobics, speed and power to ensure peak performance at his next meet. Egeland then rushes home to eat breakfast and have coffee with his mom before heading to school for the day. After a second two hour practice in the evening, he finally returns home to eat dinner, do his homework and savor a few hours of free time before bed.
Swimming has been the center of Egeland’s life since he was 8 years old. He initially tried the sport in order to prepare for a triathlon, and quickly discovered that he preferred swimming to running and biking. He now swims competitively for Bend Swim Club and has made Summit’s varsity swim team every year of high school. He won second place in both the 200 yard freestyle and 500 yard freestyle at the OSAA 5A Swimming Championships two years in a row and has raced in numerous meets from Illinois to Hawaii.
“I’ve just put so much time into [swimming] and it’s taken me cool places so I’ve stuck with it,” said Egeland.
In addition to his athletic achievement, Egeland is a dedicated student and will be attending University of California, San Diego next fall. A Division 1 athletic school, Egeland will continue his swimming career while studying business economics or finance. He has greatly enjoyed his time at Summit, a particular highlight of which has been forging positive relationships with teachers.
“I don’t know if I know a single teacher that I haven’t enjoyed,” said Egeland. “The teachers are great here and they carry the experience for me.”
Summit social studies teacher Marni Spitz has had similarly positive experiences teaching Egeland in her U.S. History class and having him as a teaching assistant.
“He’s a very strong presence, but not one that’s super loud,” said Spitz. “He’s really, really kind, super smiley. [He has] calming energy.” Spitz also noted that many of Egeland’s classmates viewed him as a leader and role model, and he used his popularity to set an example for those around him.
When he’s not at the pool or in class, you can find Egeland involved in numerous outdoor pursuits around Bend such as mountain biking, skiing and river surfing. Many people in Egeland’s position would allow this wide range of talents to go to their heads, but Egeland makes a point of not taking himself too seriously.
“I think I’m a pretty normal John,” he explained. “I don’t do anything too crazy.”
It is this humility and positive attitude that his friends and family appreciate about him. After all, many high schoolers are well-liked, excel in sports and get good grades, but it’s a rarity for someone to carry themself with the kindness and inclusivity that Egeland so often displays. He is not just an athlete or a student but a leader, and that is what sets him apart from the rest.
As he enters his fourth and final year at Summit, it goes without saying that Egeland has made incredible contributions to the Summit community, both athletically and academically. He has received positive recognition as a talented swimmer, dedicated student and, above all, a loyal friend, brother and son. Egeland is the type of person who easily puts a smile on the faces of those around him and makes Summit High School a more positive and welcoming place.
