Strokes of good will

Mayor Bob Crowell called Ryan Hogan and Tatum Boehnke's swim across the English Channel "a remarkable feat," while honoring them at Thursday's Board of Supervisors meeting.

"This is a wonderful project these two folks engaged in," he said. "What a great thing for Carson City. What a great thing for our country."

The two 18-year-olds swam across the English Channel on June 13 in 10 hours and 40 minutes as a fundraiser for Caden Huarte, a 3-year-old Carson City boy with a malignant brain tumor.

Hogan and Boehnke met while training with the Carson Tigersharks under coach Gaby Phalan. Boehnke, who graduated this year from Carson High School, said she first introduced Hogan, who graduated from Bishop Manogue High School, to open-water swimming.

"It got to the point that no one would do it with me but him," she said.

After completing the 1.5 mile Escape from Alcatraz swim last year, the two "spontaneously" decided to try swimming the English Channel.

However, they wanted to find a cause to support. Then they learned about Caden, who was diagnosed in November.

"It definitely became more meaningful, especially because we were able to build a relationship with Caden," Boehnke said. "It was more personal than working with a national foundation."

A picture of Caden on the boat, she said, inspired them to push beyond what they thought possible.

"It was such motivation," she said. "I don't think anything would have gotten either of us out of the water."

The duo's swim helped raise $4,500 for Caden's medical expenses.

The two flew to England the day after their high-school graduations.

They left Dover, England at 2:30 a.m. with Boehnke starting the relay. She swam for two hours in the dark before Hogan took over at 4:30 a.m. They alternated two-hour swims until the last leg in which Hogan swam for 40 minutes, ending their crossing in 10 hours and 40 minutes.

The water was about 55 degrees and they are one of only a handful of successful attempts in the month of June, with most swims coming in August when the water is at its warmest. Most June attempts fail because of hypothermia and bad conditions.

"I definitely think it was harder than we thought it was going to be, but we were ready," Boehnke said. "I think being 18 and naive played to our advantage."

She was honored to receive the recognition by city supervisors and the mayor, who gave her a copy of the proclamation lauding her efforts.

Hogan's proclamation was given to his father, Kevin. Ryan was unable to attend because he is at the Air Force Academy, where he recently completed basic training.

He plans to compete on the water polo team there.

Boehnke will leave soon for the University of Northern Colorado, where she will compete on the swim team as a distance freestyler and butterfly specialist.