The Aberdeen Family Y was a hub of activity Saturday as the Aberdeen Swim Club hosted its annual Winter High Point Swim Meet.

Swimmers competed in a variety of races from short to long distances.

Mali Larson of the hometown Sting Rays swam in a 500-meter race to close out the morning session. The 12-year-old said the key to the distance race is starting out at the right pace.

“The challenges are probably going too fast on the first hundred, so you’re more tired on the last ones,” Larson said. “Really going slower early helps so you go faster in the end.”

While it can be difficult to tell where her pace is at, Larson said she keeps an eye on the other swimmers.

“I can tell that I’m going too fast if I feel I’m going too fast, or if the people that are more my speed are further behind me than usual,” she said.

Swimming a longer distance can take a toll physically, but Larson said it actually is more demanding mentally.

“I feel like it’s tougher mentally probably, because I know that my body can handle it,” Larson said, “but if I have other things going on, like other sports, I might be pre-fatigued from that, so sometimes I feel I may not do the best so that makes me not do the best.”

Larson also competes in gymnastics and said the two sports compliment each other, especially when it comes to training.

“The dry land that we do (in swimming) helps gymnastics,” she said, “and the stretching and stuff from gymnastics helps me not pull any muscles in the water.”

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

The Aberdeen Swim Club does not have a lot of older members on the squad. Mitchell Rux is the lone senior and Andrew Jorgenson is the only junior.

“Me and Mitchell, are the only two older, older kids right now,” Jorgenson said. “We’re trying to make it so everyone is having a good time. We’re trying to get people motivated for practices and swim meets.”

Jorgenson is trying to be a good role model for others. He has benefitted from having good teammates in his life, like his sister, Gena, who is currently swimming for the University of Nebraska.

“My sister was one of the bigger role models that I’ve had,” Jorgenson said. “I’ve just been trying to imitate some of the things that she’s done, just say encouraging things.”

Jorgenson tries to follow a routine to get himself ready to go before he jumps into the pool for a race.

“Sometimes I’ll listen to some music and sometimes I’ll keep things super quiet,” he said. “When I’m behind the blocks, I mess with my goggles a lot, just trying to get the nerves out, and then I’ll shake my arms out a bunch and I’ll jump up and down a few times to get the heart rate up.”

Jorgenson was a starting offensive lineman for the Aberdeen Central football team this past season and hopes to play college football some day.

When asked what his football buddies think about him donning a Speedo and competing in swimming, Jorgenson responded, “Some of them poke fun at me, but others are like yeah, swimming is a really hard sport for a lot of people.”

CARRYING ON THE FAMILY NAME

One of the members of the Sting Rays has strong ties to the program.

Reese Rezatto is the granddaughter of the late Judy Rezatto, who was the former head coach of the Aberdeen Swim Club. While the 11-year-old was only about a year old when her grandmother passed away, she said she thinks about her all the time.

“I kind of think like she’s pushing me to go as hard as I can while I’m swimming,” Rezatto said.

Her grandmother was a fierce competitor and Reese has some of those same characteristics.

“A lot of people say I’m kind of like her,” she said.

Rezatto has been swimming for seven years and enjoys the sport.

“I enjoy it a lot and my dad (Brett) swam, so he just wanted me to,” she said. “It’s mostly one of my favorite sports. You get to compete with other people, and it’s just really fun to make new friends and learn a new sport.”

HEADING TO IOWA

A group of Aberdeen Swim Club members is heading to Des Moines, Iowa next week for an all-star competition. One of the eight individuals is Alex Ottenbacher, who will be making his first appearance at that meet.

“It feels good,” Ottenbacher said of qualifying for the big meet. “I’ve never been there, so it’s the best thing.”

When asked what he thought it would be like, Ottenbacher replied, “Fast people and I guess I’ll try to beat them.”

Ottenbacher said his favorite event is the 100-meter breaststroke, in part because it is a shorter race.

“I don’t really like long distance. It doesn’t feel good,” the 14-year-old said. Yet, Ottenbacher is still a member of the Central cross country team where he runs long distances. “I don’t like doing it,” he said, “but it’s just fun to hang around people.”

FROM THE COURT TO THE POOL

Ashlee Bindenagel is used to being around sports. Her mom, Jackie, is the head volleyball coach for Aberdeen Central, and her dad, Travis, is the president of the Aberdeen Swim Club.

Ashlee has developed a background in both volleyball and swimming. She said there is one major difference.

“They’re both a team sport,” she said, “but with swimming you can encourage them while they’re doing something. With volleyball, you have to encourage them after the play is done.”

The 11-year-old said she focuses more on her own performances in the pool rather than on what the competition is doing.

“I’m just trying to swim as fast as I can,” Bindenagel said. “I kind of worry about where my competition is a little bit, but it’s not really about where they are, it’s about how you do.”

For now Bindenagel will concentrate on getting faster times, and then pay more attention to her opponents.

“I just need to worry about my times,” she said. “If I feel like I’m doing pretty well in those, then I can start worrying about my placing.”

The meet resumes at 9 this morning.