Freshman Max Hunter starts his week by going to speech therapy on Monday, then again on Wednesday with the added cranial treatments by a doctor that he must endure. Then he does that all over again on Friday. After going to school and going through these lengthy treatments, he still finds time to go to swimming practice to accomplish more than anyone could expect.

“He works harder than anyone else I know, he is my inspiration and my hero,” junior Hailey Hunter said about her brother,  who despite many disabilities and obstacles, has set out and worked hard to become one of the best swimmers in the state.

Hunter, you see, has been diagnosed with mild mental retardation, ADHD, receptive and expressive language disorder, and he is on the autism spectrum.

Hunter finished third in both disability swims, 50-meter freestyle and 50 backstroke, at the 4A Boys Swimming State Meet on Feb. 22 at the King County Aquatics Center.

Two weeks prior, Hunter finished the first-ever disability swim in the District 5-7 meet at CWU Aquatics Center.

“Max is always positive and upbeat, he simply loves to race and that showed through all of his training and definitely through his performance at the State meet,” Head Swim Coach James Elwyn said.

Hunter achieved all of these things and much more in other sports, like skiing, despite the many disabilities he has, which makes his accomplishments and successes that much more impressive and inspiring.

Even though his condition is hard to treat, Hunter is able to come to swim practice every day and even finds time to ski at Mission Ridge on weekends with help from his sister, junior Hailey Hunter, his mother, and his grandparents.

His teammates also look up to him although he is just a freshman. “He’s just always so enthusiastic and happy to be there and it’s pretty inspiring and cool that he’s so positive,“ said senior swimmer Tommy Higley. “At one of our meets this year, my relay did really well and won first, but the most proud and excited of all of us was Max, even though he wasn’t even in that race.”

Hunter has been skiing with his sister and mother for the last six years, and has competed in the Winter Special Olympics and has won many medals along the way, mostly in downhill alpine skiing. He has yet to win gold, but his family has high hopes that this year he will do better than ever. He will compete in the first week of March at Mission Ridge. He has also competed in the Summer Special Olympics and won many gold medals in both 50 free and 50 back.

Hunter plans on swimming for the WHS swim team and competing in the Winter and Summer Special Olympics for many years.

“Growing up with max is just like growing up with any other sibling,” Hailey said. “We play, laugh, fight, and tease each other just like any other brother and sister. Max makes me a better person because he is always so happy and cheerful. You can learn a lot from his way of life.”