What a difference a few days can make.

Scout Rosendahl was recently competing in the Girls’ 13-14 division.

Now, as Aberdeen is set to host the State A Long Course Swim Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center, the member of the Aberdeen Swim Club will have to face a whole new class of competition.

Rosendahl aged up this past weekend, turning 15 on Sunday, putting her up in the Girls’ 15-16 division for the meet, which runs Friday through Sunday.

“It’s really tricky. I’m swimming my whole season against 13, 14-year-old girls and always looking at those times,” Rosendahl said. “It’s mostly a new playing field. All new competition and that comes with new time standards, which I luckily don’t have to worry about because I already have those.”

Although she goes from being one of the oldest in her division all season to one of the youngest, she views it as an opportunity for growth.

“It’s a little nerve wrecking because I was just at the top of my game and now, I’m put down to the bottom of the next group,” Rosendahl said. “I really just use this as an opportunity to meet new people and have a different look on swimming.”

She also helps herself out by not putting too much pressure on herself and focuses on having fun.

“I just go into it not expecting much. I mean, I go into it wanting to improve of course, but I don’t expect a place,” Rosendahl said. “I just have as much fun as I can with it. I know with sports, you wanna be super serious, but I just love to have fun with it, and this is just a great opportunity to have fun with it.”

Rosendahl also has an upper hand compared to her competition this weekend due to the fact that she will be competing in her home pool. Although all pools are the same distance, there is still a little bit of a home-pool advantage.

“It’s just the energy that our town brings. It’s something about having it in town. All your friends and all your family come and it’s just such an electric feeling,” Rosendahl said. “I mean, home-pool advantage. I practice in that pool every single day, every morning and knowing how far away the wall is, you just got that perfect count.”

Although competing in the next division brings some nerves, being at home brings some confidence.

“It really does give me a little bit of a boost of confidence,” Rosendahl said. “You know every inch of that water and you know how every stroke is gonna feel, because it’s the same as you’ve been training.”

Rosendahl has been in the pool ever since she was 6, and has used the years of experience to help prepare her for this weekend.

“When I was 6, my mom was like ‘You know what, I swam when I was younger, my brother swam,’ and she’s like we’re just gonna throw you in the two-week trial to see if you like it. If you don’t like it, so be it,” Rosendahl said. “I fell in love. I’ve swam ever since, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Even during the winter months when practice takes place in the early mornings and temps are below zero, Rosendahl still loves swimming.

“That is definitely a grueling time to get up. It’s very demotivating when it’s freezing cold outside and you have to get up and go. It’s challenging but again, it’s just knowing my teammates are going to be there,” said Rosendahl. “I prefer those practices in the morning, because I get to get ready for school with all my teammates and it’s always a blast. And we always try to make the best of it.”

Those early wake up calls, along with the disciplines that go with swimming, have taught Rosendahl many life lessons.

“I’ve learned so much from swimming. There’s so many life lessons that you learn along the way and when you grow up with such a small sport, you just grow so close to the kids that actually do do it,” Rosendahl said. “A lot of my best friends swim and it helps push me, at least, to do more and do better. And those mornings when it’s hard to get up and go practice, I remember I have my teammates, too. They hold me accountable, and I hold them accountable.”

Experiencing those times spent with Swim Club members draws the group closer together, so much that Rosendahl loves spending time with her teammates whether it’s in the pool or out of it.

“I feel like whenever I’m with my team, whether it’s in the pool or on land making posters or having team breakfast. Whatever it is, we make new memories all the time,” Rosendahl said. “Or it’s after the meet, and we’re all tired and all of a sudden, we get this bolt of energy to do flips and dives and splash around in the water while the parents tear down the pool. It’s just the love that keeps on going.”