Most people probably enjoy their Saturday mornings as they begin their weekends.

Addyson Edwards was slightly dreading hers because of the task in front of her. The 15-year-old member of the Aberdeen Swim Club was facing the daunting task of competing in the 400-Meter Individual Medley as part of the High Point Swim Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.

“It’s not the way I wanted to start it,” said Edwards after completing the demanding race at about 8:45 a.m.

While the race is physically draining, it’s just as tough, if not worse, mentally preparing for it.

“I think when you’re preparing for it, it’s so much to do,” Edwards said, “but once you get in the water your nerves just chill out and you’re like alright, I got this.”

And after the race is completed, the rest of the race schedule likely seems much more manageable, so in that respect, a tough race might be better to start off the day.

“I think it’s easier in the morning, because then you’ve got it done,” Edwards said. “You don’t have to wait all day, and be stressed about it for the entire morning.”

When asked about her goal in the race, Edwards responded, “I guess the main goal for me is to get it done. It’s super hard. Just try and beat the time that you had before.”

HELPING TO CARRY THE BRITTON BANNER

Elijah Fox of Britton was in a minority in more ways than one Saturday morning.

For starters, there are only eight members of the Britton Swim Team competing in the meet.

Fox said he is used to being an underdog, so he doesn’t get too intimidated going up against swimmers from much larger programs.

“(I do) a little bit, but I just have to push myself harder so I can compete with them,” Fox said.

He said he concentrates more on his own times instead of those he’s competing against.

“I know these guys are a lot better than I am,” Fox said, “so I just don’t worry about it.”

Fox was also in the minority in another way on Saturday. He was the only person competing in his race without a swim cap.

“When I was a little kid, I was wearing caps and water would get in my ears and it made me go slower,” Fox said.

The 14-year-old also competes in football, basketball and track and field. He said some sports help others.

“Throwing shot put (and) discus works my arms more,” Fox said, “so things like butterfly and stuff, my arms are quite strong.”

Fox noted that the majority of the Britton’s swimmers are age 12 and under. He does his best to provide leadership for the younger swimmers.

“I try to be a good role model for them and try to help them whenever I can,” he said. “I try to stay after my swim practice to help them out.”

EXCITED FOR NEXT SEASON

The Pierre Swim Team is gearing up for next summer when it will be able to host an outdoor swim meet.

The outdoor pool in Pierre, which was built in 1925 and not competition-legal, is being replaced by a brand new facility which will be ready to go next summer.

“There’s some excitement from a lot of other teams and coaches to be able to come out to Pierre in the summertime for a meet,” said Pierre coach Kent Huckins.

In the past, Pierre has only been able to host a pair of annual indoor meets.

While Pierre is known to be sweltering in the summer, Huckins said the new facility should provide plenty of relief from the elements.

“There’s a lot of shaded areas,” he said. “Our new pool actually is in the city park, so there’s a lot of old trees and plenty of shade nearby for folks.”

He expects there to be a bit of difference between hosting indoor and outdoor meets, but isn’t too concerned.

“There’s a few more logistics that you don’t have to account for indoors,” Huckins said. “Just the weather in preparation and the elements. It will be a new experience, but our parents do very well in planning and pulling off our indoor meets, so I’m not too worried about it.”

He said excitement is already building for the new pool and hopes that will translate into something more.

“I’m hopeful that it’s going to cause a little bit of growth in our team in the summer,” Huckins said. “We’re really excited just to be able get outside and swim outdoors.”

BACK IN A STINGRAY SUIT

Former Aberdeen Swim Club standout Lilly Grebner was competing in an older division on Saturday. While Grebner looked like the other members of the Stingrays, technically she can’t score points for the team.

Grebner recently wrapped up a stellar season for Northern State.

“I had no idea what it was going to be like,” Grebner said.

Grebner fell just short of making All-America status and had a huge season for the Wolves. She said one of the biggest adjustments was in her schedule, “balancing out all my classes and making sure that I was on top of everything.”

While Grebner is no longer an official member of ACS, she could not pass up an opportunity to swim in the High Point Meet.

“I love swimming and I don’t know what I’d do without it,” Grebner said. “It’s just a part of me.”

Grebner is mainly competing against herself this weekend and working to improve on her times.

“I always look at what times I swam last year and compare it to other meets that I’ve swam at,”
 she said. “It’s always fun doing that kind of stuff.”

And the results are already in.

“I have been swimming faster than last year,” Grebner said. “They’re about the same, but I feel like I’ve been working a lot harder than I was last year, like lifting-wise, because I didn’t lift at all last summer.”

She already has a goal in mind for her upcoming season at NSU.

“I want to be All-American, maybe beat some more records on the scoreboard,” Grebner said. “That’s always a good goal.”

TRIATHLETE IN TRAINING

Often times swimmers are also distance runners. Matt Peterson of the Aberdeen Swim Club takes it one step further and adds biking.

“Right now, I’m training for a triathlon in Yankton at the end of the summer,” Peterson said. “It’s going to be fun.”

The most challenging part of a triathlon? You might be surprised.

“The transitions are the hardest part,” Peterson said, “because you have to get socks and shoes on or however you’re going to start.”

The 15-year-old runs cross and country and track. He said that swimming works well for those sports.

“With swim I do good in cross country because of the lung capacity and the endurance,” Peterson said, “and then with track I run distance so that kind of goes a long with cross country.”

Although he didn’t wear them on Saturday, Peterson has a special pair of goggles that allow him to see multiple lanes while he is competing.

“If I’m in the middle of the pool I’ve got 5-stage goggles,” he said, “so I scan basically see the whole pool without having to look around with my neck.”

In addition to the triathlon, Peterson is also looking forward to next month when Aberdeen will host the annual State A Swim Meet.

“I think it’s really exciting, because we haven’t hosted a state meet in probably a really long time,” Peterson said. “We were going up for it last year and we missed it just a little. I was kind of disappointed about that, and I was really happy that we got it this year.”

Action continues at the High Point meet today.