It’s been a tough road back, but Addi Hoven has returned to the pool for the Aberdeen Swim Club.

The senior leader missed all of the short course season this past winter after recovering from hip surgery. The goal was to return for her senior summer campaign and Hoven competed Saturday morning during the annual High Point Swim Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.

“It feels really good to be back with the team and swimming,” Hoven said, “and seeing all your friends every day is so fun.”

The 18-year-old said if was difficult having to watch her teammates this past winter while not being able to compete.

“It was hard watching them, missing that competitive nature, not having that,” Hoven said, “but it was really fun getting to watch them swim and compete.”

Hoven wasn’t quite sure what to expect when she returned to action at a meet in Watertown recently after being out of competition since last fall.

“I was really hesitant. That first race my start was really slow, I was like one of the last one’s off the blocks, and my starts haven’t always been my strong suit, either,” Hoven said. “But once I got in and got through that first race, I kind of got that kick back in me that kind of got my competitive nature back into it.”

Hoven said she has altered her goals a bit as she works to get back to her true form this summer.

“Before hip surgery my goal was always to make it to sectionals,” Hoven said, “but now I’m just trying to make it through state and make it one race at a time, and if my hip starts to hurting, then now you know your limits.”

Hoven recalled what it felt like watching her teammates at the state short course meet this past winter.

“Watching them swim state short course definitely was way harder than watching any other meet,” she said, “just because it was like, oh that’s where I used to be.”

If Hoven qualifies for state this summer, she will have one more home meet, because Aberdeen is hosting that event in July.

The conditions will likely be much warmer for that than they were on Saturday, when chilly temps made things tough on the competitors.

“It definitely is harder when it’s colder, because you’re obviously in the pool and then you get out and you’re cold and and you’re muscles tighten up,” Hoven said, “so you definitely have to stretch, and put a lot of layers on, and stay warm.”

BATTLING THE ELEMENTS

The Aberdeen Aquatic Center looked much different Saturday morning than in past years. Gone were the canopies used to provide shade from the sun. Instead, fans and coaches wearing winter coats lined the pool trying to stay warm.

The conditions were even tougher on the swimmers.

“It’s hard, because the air kind of hurts your lungs when you breath, because you’re not used to the cold,” said Stingrays member Easton Ketterling. “It’s just harder on your lungs, which makes your body more tired overall.”

The weather impacted the race strategy of the 14-year-old during his individual medley.

“It was really hard. I tried to stay long, but it didn’t really happen,” Ketterling said. “I wasn’t going to sprint that much, but I ended up sprinting.”

He said the water temperature wasn’t too bad once he got used to it.

“It’s supposed to be pretty warm,” Ketterling said. “It’s pretty warm in there once you get going, but right away it gives you that little shock.”

He said the cold weather gave him an appreciation for some of those hot summer days.

“When it’s hot, you’re complaining that it’s hot,” Ketterling said, “but once you get cold, you realize I would much rather have the heat.”

Ketterling said the elements were the worst he has ever experienced at a swim meet.

“This is probably the coldest I’ve swam in so far in my career,” Ketterling said. “I hope the rest of the season is much warmer than this. This is really cold.”

Fellow ASC teammate Jack Isaak concurred that the weather was definitely less than ideal, and planned on adding extra layers out of the pool to try to stay warm.

“I’m finding it to be pretty difficult,” Isaak said. “I keep adding on everything.”

So which was worse, getting into the pool or getting it out of it during temps in the mid 50s?

“Jumping into the pool, because the pool is warmer and I’m really cold,” Isaak said. “Before my 4 IM (400 Individual Medley), my feet kind of felt really numb when I got in the water, because it was cold out here and warmer in the pool.”

Isaak said the cold elements caused him to lose focus during that IM race, something he didn’t want to do.

“In my 4 IM I would say I was more focused on the cold than my race,” he said. “It’s not good.”

Isaak’s weekend schedule includes eight events between Saturday and today. He was planning to stay hydrated as much as possible.

“I just try to drink water when I’m not racing,” Isaak said.

When asked if hot chocolate might be a better selection, Isaak responded, “It might be. I’ve not had the hot chocolate yet, but it might be a better choice.”

ONE FINAL HIGH POINT MEET

This weekend marked the final High Point Swim Meet for ACS senior Addyson Edwards. The thought brought bittersweet emotions.

“I’m a little sad to graduate, but I’m just glad I’m here with all my friends,” Edwards said. “I’m going to come back and watch them.”

Edwards said when she’s in the pool competing those thoughts are removed, but when she watches her teammates they return.

“While I’m swimming I just go out and compete,” Edwards said, “but when I watch all of my friends swim, I’m like oh, it’s a little sad.”

Edwards has enjoyed her days competing for the Stingrays. It has provided competition year around.

“My mom was in swimming when she was younger, so she put me in swimming and I just stuck with it,” Edwards said. “I have so many good friends here. I just enjoy swimming and it’s the one sport I’ve always just stuck with and it’s year round, too, so I have it all the time.”

When asked about what she will recall most about her days with the swim team, interestingly Edwards mentioned the High Point Meet.

“I’m going to remember a lot of about this meet, actually,” Edwards said. “It’s every Father’s Day weekend. It’s either really, really hot or it’s downpouring and cold, and we’re all hiding under our blankets and everything.”

TOUGH RACE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS

Competing in the 400-meter individual medley can be a daunting task because of its length and complexity. It includes a variety of strokes each 100 meters. Throw in Saturday’s chilly elements and the race becomes even tougher.

Cole Malsam of the Stingrays said the conditions hampered his times.

“Definitely slower,” Malsam said. “I’m like dying.”

Malsam, 14, has a certain strategy he employs to get through the race.

“When I first swam it during Halloween last year, someone told me for the first 100 do moderate, the second one recovery, and then pace, and then all you’ve got left,” Malsam said.

Malsam said his favorite stroke in the race is the breaststroke because it’s the one he’s best at.

The race kicks off with the butterfly stroke. Malsam said it’s important to get off to a good start in the race.

“You can’t win the race on the butterfly,” Malsam said, “but you can definitely lose it.”

While the 400 IM is a challenging race, Malsam cited two reasons why he enjoys it.

“Not a lot of people do it,” he said, “and I want to be a better endurance racer.”

The meet concludes today with the older kids once again competing in the morning and the younger swimmers competing in the afternoon.