Ian,

I can't believe I only met you just last year at the leadership summit, it always felt as though we had know eachother for years. I remember that day how for our group story we all collectively agreed to make Esteban present by himself and it was hilarious what he came up with. And afterwords, we began talking on instagram and making fun of cringey freshmen, complaining about walking home in the heat, becoming athlete reps together, and about our hopeless love lives. Soon we transitioned to snapping eachother everyday on snapchat and even becoming eachother's number 1 bff for a month. You were always so cool and confident in your wacky snaps of your face that it always brought a smile to mine. I still will never be able to fully understand your questionable taste in music like with your obsession over playboicarti though.
Truthfully, when I first met you I didn't even know how you were as a swimmer. I didn't know anything about what strokes you swam or how fast you were because none of them mattered to me. It was your outgoing and enthusiastic personality that got me to want to be your friend and to want to stick around you. Your contagious smile will never be forgotten. But I will say, the first time I ever saw you swim I was taken aback, I could not comprehend the fact that your ugly butterfly was able to beat the fastest butterflyer on my team ahahaha. You had such an amazing sense of determination and had a natural gift for the sport that it was a no brainer that you were able to achieve such high achievements in swim.
I just know that in your next life you will carry all this enthusiasm and determination over. It pains me that I wasn't able to reach out to you one last time or properly say goodbye. Hopefully in another life we can fulfill our promise of watching some regular cartoons together <3 Until then, your memory will live on in my heart and in the hearts of the people you've touched. Rest easy and fly high Ian, you will be missed so very much.

-Annika Ongteco

dear ian,

i miss you so much. i feel so grateful for our friendship and all the joy we shared throughout the years we have known each other. you have been such an integral part of my life for so long and i don’t think that will ever change. you mean so much to me. so many of my favorite memories have you in them. most of them actually. you’re such a stellar and intelligent person. more than you ever gave yourself credit for. you’re so easily lovable. thank you for trusting me with whatever was on your mind and thank you for being a huge source of my emotional comfort. no words will ever be written beautifully enough to show how truly important of a person you are. regardless of what life you’re in, you’ll always bring such a wondrous light to your surroundings. maybe in our future lives, we’ll meet again. thanks for supporting and encouraging my outlandish ideas regarding my dreams and future. i always pictured you there with me. no matter where you are, i just want you to know that i really love you and that will remain eternal. ultimately, i guess i’ll miss that familial feeling we created with omegalul and the sense of home it brought. it’ll never be the same without you. sometimes i can’t believe we read carl jung’s theories together for fun, or how you let us play centipede on repeat at full blast, or when we spontaneously decided to celebrate our accomplishments by going on the tracks to eat powdered donuts and drink gross vanilla seltzer water. i really miss you and small moments like these that made us feel infinite. your laughter and smile always made the good times last longer and the bad ones seem to fade quicker. our promise to travel the world until we are old will only be postponed until we meet wherever you are. for now, i can only hope you’ll start your next life with the feeling of morning sunshine surrounding you. your caring and thoughtful soul is irreplaceable. roam freely ian <3

There are no words to describe how heartbroken we feel over Ian's passing. He is loved by everyone who knew him for being such a kind and wonderful soul. We will always remember seeing him at the many parties we attended, running around having a blast with his friends, squirting the adults with his water gun, and brightening all our lives with his huge, ear-to-ear smile. 
We will miss you forever, Ian. Rest in peace. 

Although we were never especially close, I will always remember Ian as the guy who had the ability to make his teammates laugh no matter what. There always seemed to be more smiles and laughter at practice when he was there; he brightened the group in a way that few could. Rest easy Ian, I hope you’re doing well wherever you are.

Although I was never especially close with Ian, he was such a fun person to be around. I would always hear him making others laugh no matter how hard practice was, or how bad the day had been, and I'll always remember him for that. Rest in peace Ian.

I didn't know Ian that well, but every time I saw him he always had a smile and a joke. Every interaction with Ian was a privilege and left me feeling uplifted. Fly High❤️

Although I never met Ian, whenever I saw him he was smiling and joyful. He was very gifted and I always heard about his fast times. I wish I could have met Ian and gotten to know him, as he seemed like a wonderful person.

Ian Carsten was easily one of the most gifted athletes in all of San Diego Imperial Swimming. When you combine raw talent with mental fortitude and a disciplined work ethic, you get Ian. He was a natural racer and he sure are heck could throw down some crazy fast swims. When he was in his zone, chugging a rockstar and blasting Chief Keef behind the blocks, he was unstoppable. Last long course season, he dropped upwards of 7 seconds in the 200 fly, placing top 10 in the country for his age group, a incredible feat.

In addition to being a great athlete, Ian was a joy to be around. He was always laughing and joking around with his teammates in between races and had a great sense of humor. Even though I wasn’t his closest friend, he would still wish me a pre-race good luck behind the blocks. Ian valued the success of his teammates to same extent of his own success, a trait that very few posses.

Ian, It’s been a privilege and a honor to swim with you and watch you progress. You have left a lasting legacy on SI which will last a lifetime. I wish you had a longer time on RSD because everyone knew you were destined for greatness. I will cherish what memories I have of you and I will never forget you. Rest easy big guy. ♥️

I remember 5 years ago when we first met, the only way I described Ian as was "the nice, quiet new kid who's mom always brought us cookies at swim meets". But I soon I came to realize that he was so much more than that. He is a super talented hard-worker and an amazing teammate and friend. Rest easy Ian

Ian,
Thank you for being the friend I needed in elementary school. I remember how at the time we would play with LEGOS or Nerf guns at your house. Those days were probably some of my most memorable moments from elementary school. After elementary school, I recall seeing you at CVMS, but I never really had the chance to talk to you. Now looking back I regret not taking the opportunity to catch up with you again. Rest In Peace

If someone were to ask me what I thought about Ian Carsten a couple months ago, the first words that would've came to mind would've been "sheer talent." I wasn't very close with him when I swam for Bay Club, but I'm sure the one thing that almost everyone in si-swim knew about Ian was that he was the most talented kid anyone has ever seen. I remember being in level 3 and the new kids from level 2 just joined our practice, Ian being one, and my 12 year old self didn't think anything of it. I moved into level 4, and a couple months later Ian, along with Alex and many others, joined our group, and again, I didn't think anything of it. He was just another kid in the level, who was just as fast as the rest of us. But over those years, no one could've guessed that Ian would grow to be one of the fastest butterflyers in San Diego, nonetheless California.

I remember thinking, how does he do it? His form wasn't anything extraordinary and he wasn't necessarily taller or stronger or practiced any more than the rest of us. So how did he do it?
What Ian had that the rest of us didn't was the mental strength that it took to go beyond your limits during a race. At splash and dash one year, almost the entire team was behind his block during finals to cheer him on for the 200 fly. He was trying to get a certain cut (I don't exactly remember for which meet) and he told Alex ,"if I'm behind pace then yell at me to go faster." And that's exactly was Alex did.
Immediately you could see the change that Ian made during that race. When all of us thought he couldn't go any faster than he was already going, he broke his own limits and all of our expectations. While I wasn't exactly his best friend, it has always been something I admired about him. That someone so talented in swimming and competing had this much mental strength to get anything they set their mind to.
Ian ended up getting his cut, while also getting first in that event.

It's been an honor to get to have the privilege to swim with Ian for these past 4-5 years. I'll never forget the impact that he made on our team and to all the people he met. I remember being in countless group chats with him, where he'd never fail to make everyone in the chat laugh. I remember being on one too many Minecraft realms with him, where his crazy and stupid antics, like burning houses, leaving signs, and killing my beloved pixelated dogs will be missed. I remember during Kevin Perry, he and Thomas barged into me and Sofie's room and he began to eat a nature valley bar while lying on the floor. He called them "crumb bars" because of their tendency to completely break at the slightest touch, and after that, I've never been able to call them anything else. I remember sharing a lane with him when we were the only kids young enough to go to JO's and we lied to Pete about finishing the set (Pete if you're reading this, I'm so sorry). These memories and more are just a sample of the great experiences I've gotten to share with Ian, and I'm sure that many others, as well, have even better stories to tell about him.

Ian, wherever you are now, I just hope you're happy. You've left a legacy and a lasting impression on every single person that you've met, and I hope you know that. I hope that you know that there are tons of people who care about you and who love you. Most of all, I hope that you don't feel alone anymore.

Man, where do I even begin. Ian, you are so incredible. Races with you have been the most memorable moments in my entire life. From the start, I knew how special you were. You’re a kid who knows what hard work is. It’s so rare to find someone like you. Someone willing to put in the work- someone who knows that raw talent is just the beginning. You are my mentor and my teacher, you introduced me to a philosophy of kindness and love I would’ve never known without your guidance. Every second, every hour, every day, you were there for your closest and farthest friends. You knew just how to make everyone smile. I can’t even describe the pain it is that I will never see that smile again, but I feel happy knowing you live within us all. You are the epitome of love and generosity. You are the light that shines through the clouds on a gloomy day. My love for you, Ian, is incomprehensible to even describe. You will forever be in my heart and mind, and I hope that someday I’ll learn to live as you did, with passion, with care, with determination, with a sense of vibrancy and direction. When we go on, through the thick and thin of the world, I hope you’re there to tell us to keep moving forward, because I know that the world will never be the same without you. ❤️

Although I never really got to know Ian, I did see him at meets and could tell he was an amazing swimmer and an even better person. Rest in peace, Ian.❤️

Ian- to one of my closest friends:
We have known each other since 7th grade. Everyday I saw you, you made me laugh with your funny jokes or just being your happy self. I have so many memories of you making boring classes into classes that I looked forward to going to. I always enjoyed our soccer talks about who played recently. You also stuck with your opinion about who was good in soccer, even if people didn’t agree, lol. You taught me many important lessons and you created fun memories that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am forever grateful to call you my friend. I will miss you bro. Rest in peace Ian.

Unfortunately, I never met but My children both spoke so highly of you, your contagious smile and talents. You are so love by so many. You will be greatly missed and always celebrated in spirit and memory. Loving prayers go out to your family, friends, and our community. ❤️

Ian, I never got super close with you, but I am blessed and grateful to have swam alongside you for years. You were not only such an extraordinary swimmer with so much talent and potential but also an amazing friend and teammate who brightened up every practice with your unforgettable smile and charisma. You have impacted so many people and will be deeply missed. Rest in peace Ian ❤️

I didn't get the pleasure of knowing Ian very long, but we had many small conversations, whether that was at school or during high school meets. He always greeted me with a bright smile and incredible kindness. I haven't met many young men who were so genuinely nice, like Ian. He is loved by so many and I will miss his familiar, kind smile on the pool deck. Rest easy Ian.

I sat next to Ian during chemistry last year. We didn’t really know each other but quickly became close and messed with our teacher a ton. We had a group chat with another classmate where we’d send funny stuff on Instagram and we’ve pretty much been sending things every day since then. You were always super insightful about clothes and cars, and we also enjoyed following soccer together and making fun of each other after games and stuff. I miss you so much bud
David

Getting to know you was definitely one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Ian, thank you for being one of my best friends, and for being one of the best teammates I could ever ask for. The 6-7 years I’ve known you for have been incredible. I’ll never forget the time we’ve spent together... racing each other, getting banned from swim practice together, playing basketball at bay club, our birthday bashes at the mushroom, cage fights, and our late night gaming sessions. You brightened every single one of ours lives with your contagious laugh and enthusiasm, and you always seemed to find a way to make our practices fun. You are one of the reasons why I am still here in this world, and I just wish that I could have been there for you as well. You always have, and will continue to inspire me throughout my life.

I guess the ski trip we planned for after graduation will have to wait till our next lifetime. You will forever live on in our memories. Rest in peace bro.

I didn’t know Ian very well but we always saw each other around at meets and wished each other luck before our races or would crack a little joke. He never failed to make people laugh around him. We are all going to miss him. Rest In Peace ❤️❤️ and I’m so sorry for your loss my heart goes out to his family and close friends.

Hi,

I wish I would've gotten to meet you in person, but I have always seen you around the pool deck at meets. You always seemed like a person that I wanted to be friends with, but I never got the courage to introduce myself. My heart goes out to everyone close to him <3

Ellie

I honestly never knew Ian though I do not really believe it matters at a time like this. I can tell he was an amazing swimmer, friend, and student. The swimming community is going to truly miss him

Ian Carsten. Looking back on our time together is bittersweet, to put it mildly. I didn't know you very long, really only the year+ I spent at Bay, but I know enough to say with confidence that you made my life more enjoyable and you made me a better man. When I came to Bay, it wasn't the easiest transition, after my years at PS with the same group of awesome people. I'm happy to say that you and the rest of the team took me in with open arms, never once making me feel unwelcome. As the year progressed, I looked forward to driving to practice in those summer mornings and school-year afternoons, knowing that there were laughs to be had before, during, and after practice. Though my swim career ended earlier than I would have liked, I want you to know that you were one of the reasons I'm thankful to have retired at Bay.

I'm glad we were able to stay in touch after swim's early end, from the Bay Zooms to you letting me moderate your Twitch stream to those ever-so-tilting games of League.

I wish that during that last night, that last League match, that last voice chat, I could have said something to you. Anything meaningful. I don't know that I could have changed things, but I wish I had expressed my respect and love for you.

It was fun being your teammate, an honor being your captain, and a pleasure being your friend. I was looking forward to visiting my friends once back in San Diego, but you and I will just have to see each other another time. Rest, Ian. We will miss you. I will miss you. Au revoir, mon ami.

I was truly heart-broken to about the loss of your beautiful son.

The Demos Family is praying for your family.

Ian, I swam with you for about five years and we got to know each other really well during that time. I'll miss your endless jokes in practice and us talking about the most random topics. You had the worst technique yet somehow went the fastest times in practice. I'll miss exchanging daily updates of our days and your recommendations of construction music. I'll never get over how you look exactly like megamind in a cap. I miss you a ton, rest in peace Ian.

Ian was always a great friend and a true inspiration to everyone. Even though I’ve only had the opportunity to know him for a year, he welcomed me with open arms and has never failed to encourage me at meets and bring a smile to my face. His laugh, carisma and radiant kindness was infectious and has touched so many people. We will always miss you ❤️

I knew Ian through my close friends. He was always smiling and always cracking jokes. His laugh lighted up the room. He will be truly missed❤️

Ian,

You were one of my best friends and teammates and I don't think life will ever be the same without you. It seems like just yesterday we were joking around at practice. I'll never forget the events we raced together in, the days we played basketball at bay club, the countless pull-ups we did for dryland, or that one time we had to get out of the pool and sit on the deck because Varun was singing Katy Perry. You are one of the reasons I'm still swimming today, and I hope one day I can be half as great as you were. I'll always remember your huge, contagious smile, unorthodox butterfly stroke, and the sound of your computer fan blasting every time you joined discord. One day, we'll return to bay club and have a birthday bash in your name. The bay club boys will live on forever, and you'll always be with us. Rest easy bro.

Ian,

I didn't know you personally, but my friends and swim meets have told me that you were a very funny and uplifting guy, and I can feel how nice and caring he was, and I can tell that he definitely had an impact on many people's lives.

If I ever got to meet Ian, I would definitely want to become friends with him. He's such an accomplished swimmer, and my prayers and love go out to Ian, his friends and most of all his family.

Rest in peace Ian.

I first met 2 yr old Ian in my son's preschool class, where they were best buddies. Watching my son splashing around in the pool, running around at Legoland, or just digging through piles of legos with Ian and his brother make up some of my happiest memories. When I picture Ian, its usually as the young, buzz-cut boy beaming with energy, warming up the room with his broad smile. He was always so generous with his friends and his friendship made a world of difference to my young son and my whole family. We didn't see him as often last few years, with the boys at different schools and following different passions. But every time we did see Ian, we loved seeing the engaging, warm, dedicated, and not-too-cool-for-the-parents young man he was becoming. He is always part of our chosen family, as honorary cousin/nephew to us, and we are heartbroken at his loss. Our love goes out to his family and the many other young people who knew him as one of their best friends.

I met Ian in elementary school and he was always so welcoming and kind. I'm glad to have met him at some point in my life, and I'm grateful for the times we were able to share.

We became family friends with the Carstens when we lived in San Diego. Ian always welcomed us into their home with a warm and friendly smile. The kids would play and run around. Laughter was heard bouncing off the walls. Ian was a kind soul who made others feel comfortable. He loved his brother deeply. My heart goes out to T, A and D. Sending love. Rest In Peace Ian.

Ian,

We would see each other almost every day in school last year. And every time you had a smile on your face, and something funny to say. You encouraged me, and helped me improve. I don't know what I can do to repay you.

You were an excellent swimmer and I watched you swim at every meet that we both attended. And moreover, you were an amazing teammate that was ready to help others.

I never wished to say goodbye.

Ian,
I may never have gotten the chance to genuinely meet you or become close with you, but I did go to elementary school with you. I am a year younger than you so I don’t remember much, but I do remember you always having a smile on your face. After reading what everyone else has said about you, it’s obvious you brought so much light and happiness into the world. I’m so sorry that you didn’t give a chance to put a smile on so many more people’s faces. You will be missed by so many, including me❤️

While I was never close with Ian, I saw him at swim meets often and whenever I saw him, he was always smiling and making others around him laugh. I wish I could have gotten to know you better. You are missed. Rest in peace Ian❤️

i cant say i was close to ian, but we knew each other. every time i would see him in the halls, we would smile and say hi. i had know him from middle school, and had classes with him throughout high school. he was an amazing kid, he had this ability to make anyone in the room laugh. he was always talking to those around him, and always with a smile on his face. he was an amazing student and athlete, i swam at rsd with him for a short period of time. he blew me away with his talent. he always put 100% into everything he did. ian will be someone i look up to for the rest of my life. wishing all the best for his family and friends. ❤️

Ian, although I never had the chance to meet you I want to say, from all the memories and kind words people have shared, it is clear that you were such a light and positive impact in so many lives. You and your family will be in my prayers❤️

Although I’ve never been able to really call us friends, I’ve known Ian since he was in my kindergarten class. Throughout all the years he would always seem to have the biggest smile on his face and would always lighten up people’s days. It’s so hard to think that someone I had known for this long and someone who had just been sitting at my table the past year in history is gone. It’s always the ones you never expect. You will be forever missed Ian, and my heart goes out to his family.

My heart breaks to learn of Ian’s passing. As a coach with PAC/BAY, I had the pleasure of working with the talented Ian from time to time at our pools. I will forever miss as well as remember his smile and presence. My deepest sympathy to the Carsten family.

Ian, we are shell shocked to learn your tragic passing and terribly miss your radiant smile, your competitive swimming, your sheer presence... you are source of inspiration for many who knew you or encountered you around and beyond swimmimg pool. You will forever live in our hearts till eternity. May you Rest In Peace.

I had the pleasure of having a few classes and being on swim and dive with Ian at Torrey. He carried such a radiant smile on his face, and undoubtedly made everyone around him laugh with anything he said. He seemed so smart, and was such an incredible athlete. My heart sank hearing the news.
And to the Carsten family; although I never got the pleasure of meeting, I give my deepest condolences. Such a hapless matter, but I, along with his friends and family, will continue to live on praising him for he treated everyone around him with an aura of utter charisma and care. I hope all his worries and pains are at ease now, thanks for the good laughs Ian.

I truly mean it when I say he is missed. Everyone is so loved. And as your presence lives on, we miss you man.

Rest easy ian

Your friend and teammate,
Ali

I had never known Ian but I was friends with his brother in elementary. From all of these other tributes he seemed like such a wonderful person to be around. You were such a loved person, and were a big part in a lot of people’s lives. My heart goes out to his family and friends. You shall be forever missed. Rest in peace. ❤️

I am thankful to have had the privilege of knowing Ian. He was my teammate, a fellow student, and most importantly, my friend. Wherever he went, he always managed to make someone laugh, or make someone’s day just a little bit brighter. I have many memories of us joking around in swim practice, cheering each other on in meets, and seeing who got the most ridiculous white elephant gift. I will cherish these memories for as long as I live.

You will be missed, Ian. Your sense of humor and your good heart have left a lasting impression on many of us, myself included. Rest easy, bro ❤️

Your friend,
Stefan

I was given the pleasure to have math with Ian freshman year, he always had a glowing smile lighting up his face and was always up for a conversation with me. All of my heart goes out to his family. Rest east Ian.

Hi,
I swear I've seen you in the pool a couple times. From what I have seen of you, even your most domineering posture cannot compare to the size of the impact that you made upon many. Please realize that you were, are, and always will be loved down here, even if we have to look up there to be reminded of who you were. And, please, when you find yourself in Heaven, don't forget about the many friends you had, and the many who have felt your positive impact, down here on Earth.

Dear Ian,

I will love and miss you forever. I will never forget the moments we shared together and the way you made me feel so loved. Words cannot describe how you touched my life and made me see how important I am. You will never be forgotten in my heart and I hope you are at peace now. I can’t believe I met you less than a year ago and I already have to be saying goodbye. You were amazing in every way possible and I hope you know how much I value the relationship we had. Maybe we were meant to close friends or soulmates, I don’t know but I know that you changed my life forever and my life will never be the same without you. Thank you, for all that you did for me and everyone around you. Fly high, I love you.

To the Carsten Family,
My heart breaks that I do not know you personally. My deepest condolences and prayers for your family. Ian was such a special person in my life and it is truly surreal that he is gone. Sending love to the family and to everyone’s lives that he touched.

Love,
Ashton

This is for Ian’s parents. Carsten family, we have never formally met. I’m Colby’s dad, Eric. Your son has impacted our family for several years. Ian and Colby battled in the 200 fly. They used to trade victories, but lately, Ian found the success only a few swimmers find. Your boy competed like a champion. He was a true model in success and failure. He was able to share with my son how to win. But more importantly he showed Colby how to take defeat like true sportsman. To learn from it, to work hard at it, and how to come back stronger. And Ian did it with his enormous smile. Thank you for sharing your son with our family.

I’m not much of a swimmer, but I’d like to
Fly with Ian.

I never spoke to you but I saw you in the halls of TP many times. Every time I saw you, you always seemed to be making other people laugh and brightening the room you were in. I don’t know where you are now, but I hope that wherever you are, your pain is at an end. Rest easy.

Ian,
While I only got to swim with you a few times, I could tell you were always such a radiant and humorous guy who truly brightened our practices. I know you had the kindest soul, were an incredibly talented swimmer and an even better friend. I wish I had the chance to get to know you better. You will be missed dearly. Rest in peace and fly high ❤️

Ian,
Although we spent elementary school together, it wasn’t until middle school when we finally became friends. I remember it happened out of nowhere, but I remember sitting on the steps of the cvms stage together in 7th grade just talking with you about everything and nothing at the same time. Regardless of how close we were and regardless of how short our time as friends was together, I’ll always remember you for being such a genuine friend in those fleeting moments. Even after we lost touch after 7th, I was always so proud of you from the sidelines for working so hard in swim-the results were such a testament to that hard work and it was so apparent to everyone how much passion you put into the things you did. I will be forever grateful for those moments we shared and I know I will never forget you or the impact you left on this world. I extend my deepest condolences to Ian’s family-he and his family will forever be in my heart and prayers.

Take it easy up there Ian,
❤️Rachel