Swimmers often use a variety of motivation to help them achieve success in the pool, and sometimes that occurs just to be able to have a chance to compete in an event like this weekend’s High Point Swim Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.

One of this members of this year’s Aberdeen Swim Club team travels 200 miles a week to be able to compete for the Stingrays. Avery Verhulst of Mobridge joined the team this summer.

“I stay with grandma and my mom comes at the weekends for me,” Verhulst said.

The 14-year-old lived in Spearfish last year, before moving to Mobridge, which doesn’t have a team.

Verhulst comes from a line of swimmers.

“My mom was a swimmer and she was state champion,” Verhulst said. “My grandma went to the Junior Olympics, so they know I have it in my blood.”

When Verhulst wanted to continue to compete, and those family members helped her find a way.

“I kind of got into swimming and I used to really love it when I was little, and I still do love it,” Verhulst said, “and they said that if it was one of my dreams that they would make it come true.”

Verhulst said the transition to a new team and teammates has gone smoothly.

“It wasn’t too tough,” she said, “because the Aberdeen Swim Club is a great team and they’re all very kind people.”

Verhulst encourages others to pursue their dreams of doing something that they enjoy.

“Do your own thing,” Verhulst said, “and don’t be afraid to do the things that you love.”

HELPING TO CARRY THE BRITTON BANNER

While most of the teams competing at the meet are large year-around programs, there are also a few smaller towns involved.

Aiden Strong of Britton is trying to make the most of facing stiff competition.

“It makes me nervous, but I think it’s kind of fun seeing other people doing swim team,” Strong said. “It’s a fun sport.”

Strong said while he focuses on his own race, he does pay attention to the swimmers in the lane next to him as well.

“If I’m neck and neck with someone next to me, I’ll try even harder,” Strong said.

In general, Strong believes that the tougher the foes, the better his times will be.

“I think seeing the other competition and seeing how fast they are, helps make me try harder,” Strong said.

The 14-year-old also golfs. He said the main comparison between swimming and golf is arm strength. That and mental toughness.

“I think if you dive in and you see that they’re already way ahead of you, I think that gets discouraging,” Strong said. “You have to be mentally strong.”

KEEPING AN EYE ON GENA

While members of the Aberdeen Swim Club are focused on their task this weekend, members of the Sting Rays are also paying attention to the U.S. Olympic Trials, where former ACS member Gena Jorgenson is vying for a spot in the Summer Games in Paris.

Kids on this year’s squad made posters to send with Head Development Coach Lisa Jorgenson, Gena’s mom, to take to the trials.

Assistant coach Amanda Mayer said that Jorgenson, who is currently a member of the Nebraska swim team, has an impact on the ACS program.

“I think if anything it’s an inspiration. Like our kids, we talked at practice the other day, it’s like dream big. Lisa even talked about dreaming big because Gena was there,” Mayer said. “Even though like sometimes we just think it’s something that we do, it’s something that we do, no the work that we put in, the time that you put in, you get to showcase it at the meet, but you’re building on to something. For some swimmers their goal is the Olympics. For some it’s just success at a meet, at like our home meet, or to get a state qualifying time, and it just builds.”

Mayer has worked with Jorgenson in the past. While trying out for the Olympic Games was never a given, she could tell that she had a bright future.

“I think Gena has a great head space where she’s always doing it for the right reasons,” Mayer said. “She’s never really doing it for her own glory. She’ll always credit it back to the people that she’s trained with.”

While Jorgenson failed to make the finals in her first race on Saturday, she has two more attempts in other events today and tomorrow.

To follow her journey, click on the following link:

https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800030201EF0101FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf

Regardless of how she does, Jorgenson knows that her former team is paying attention and cheering her on.

“It’s a family, a swimming family, especially in the state of South Dakota,” Mayer said. “We’re lucky that we have that, so our club is just standing behind her, cheering her on.”

Jorgenson is not the first member of the Aberdeen Swim Club to compete in the Olympic Trials or thrive at the collegiate level, and all of the alumni can trace their roots back to the ASC.

“We always pride ourselves on once a Stingray always a Stingray,” Mayer said, “and I think that just having that history, we can have elite swimmers come out of the team.”

FACING THE ELEMENTS

Through the years the High Point Swim Meet has featured a little bit of everything weather-wise and Saturday’s start to the day was no exception.

While swimmers jumped in and out of the pool, spectators were wrapped up in jackets and blankets due the chilly temps and steady breeze.

Quinton Anderson said competing in the cooler environment did not bother him.

“It’s actually been fine. Once you’re in the water it’s not too bad,” Anderson said. “The wind doesn’t really affect you when you’re in the water, you’re just kind of cold when you’re out of the water.”

The 14-year-old said he actually prefers the cooler conditions compared to the opposite.

“The last time I was at the pool it was really warm, so this kind of actually feels great and I’d rather swim in a cold pool than a warm pool,” Anderson said. “The warm pool is uncomfortable. The cold pool you’re trying to get out of there quick. You trying to go fast, get out of the water, so you can warm back up again.”

Anderson is used to dealing with chilly conditions because of 7 a.m. practices.

When asked if it was worth it to get up early and then have to face those elements, Anderson did not hesistate.

“Totally worth it,” Anderson said, “because you get to hang out with your buddies, you get to race. It’s not something you can do everywhere.”

GETTING OUT OF THE BLOCKS

While the vast majority of swim races take place in the water, there is one key element of the race that does not: getting off the blocks and into the pool.

Swimmers can pick their block settings to help ensure a quality start.

“I usually move it to a certain number,” said Webster’s Emari Kaufman, “but it’s mainly so I can get a good push and get a good start.”

When it comes to working with blocks, the 14-year-old has a lot of experience. She is also a sprinter on the track and field team, and said the role of blocks in both sports has the same function.

“There’s not really much of a difference,” Kaufman said.

One of just three Webster swimmers competing in the High Point Meet, Kaufman said getting a good start is probably easier in swimming than it is in track.

“I’d say a better start in swimming,” she said, “because you really just have to put one foot back, go down and then push off.”

Just as crucial as the blocks, however, is figuring out how far to dive into the water to begin the race, according Kaufman.

“It’s really important because you want to get out fast, but not too deep under,” Kaufman said.

She has modified her dive to help maximize a stronger start.

“You really just have to work on your dive,” Kaufman said, “because I used to have really deep dives and now I don’t.”

The High Point Meet concludes today.