Carson High senior Katarina Klatt signs her National Letter of Intent to swim at Northern Arizona University. Klatt has set three Carson High swim records.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Katarina Klatt made her collegiate plans official Wednesday at the Carson Aquatic Center, signing to swim at Northern Arizona next year.
Klatt has been swimming since she was 5 years old.
“It means so much to me,” she said. “When I was little I had dreams of being an Olympian and all that, but as I grew up, swimming and I had a complicated relationship. As I grew, I realized that this was something I wanted to do and I am very proud of this moment.”
Klatt holds school records in the 50-yard freestyle (24.61) and the 100-yard breaststroke (56.49).
She was also a part of the record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:41.15) alongside Larkin Russell, Brynn Russell and Alexandra Llamas-Cruz.
This season, she holds the quickest times in the Class 5A North in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle.
Klatt will join a Northern Arizona team coming off a Western Athletic Conference title from the 2023-24 season, competing in Division I.
Sprinting events are Klatt’s forte and distance is saved specifically for training.
“My favorite is the 50 freestyle. It comes down to perfection and how well you can do it from start to finish. There is no redemption on that one. I enjoy that pressure,” said Klatt.
The soon-to-be Lumberjack says she practices up to eight times a week, spending most of her training in the pool focusing on times and mechanical improvements.
The habits she’s formed as a teenager are a big reason why she’s able to call herself a division I swimmer.
“I get up at 5 (a.m.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays to swim. I don’t do it cause I want to, it’s just habit at this point,” said Klatt. “Once I formed the habit of going to practice and stretching, it got a lot easier.”
Klatt plans to study mechanical engineering with a minor in environmental science.
Competing alongside her elder brother will go down as one of her favorite moments from high school, along with recently wrapping up her final club meet.
“I got to do that with some amazing people around me. The last day was just so emotional,” Klatt said. “It was just an amazing memory to have.”
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