This weekend swimmers are using a variety of motivation to help record personal best times at the Aberdeen Swim Club High Point Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.

Brothers Jack and Blake Isaak don’t have to look far to find a little extra incentive.

They went head-to-head on Saturday morning, each wanting to top the other.

“I definitely want to beat him,” Jack said.

Blake also has a goal of finishing better than his sibling.

“It motivates me. I really want to be really good,” Blake said, “and I’ve been trying a lot harder these past few seasons.”

The 15-year-old said he is more driven than his 17-year-old family member.

“Jack is not as competitive as I am,” Blake said.

Jack won’t even argue that fact.

“He probably puts in more effort at practice sometimes. … I’m willing to admit it,” Jack said. “Coach Darien (Street) is willing to admit it, too.”

The two had already split a pair of races by late morning Saturday with another still coming up.

When asked who the parents cheer for, Jack responded, “They cheer for me, because I’m definitely the favorite. He’s a handful.”

Both brothers prefer longer races like the 200-meter, despite its difficulties.

“Really hard, because 200 isn’t enough where you have to pace yourself, but you still have to sprint it,” Blake said.

Jack said figuring out the right pace is the key.

“You just have to know how to pace yourself. … It’s not a fan favorite,” he said, “but it’s a good race.”

So what does a swimmer think about throughout the lengthy race?

“I kind of just think about finishing,” Jack said, “making sure I don’t need a lifeguard to come save me.”

REPRESENTING BRITTON

While the Britton Swim Team only has three swimmers competing in the 13 and over division, they want to make their presence felt.

Gabby Taylor was trying to using the stiff competition to her advantage. She said facing swimmers from much larger cities can be intimidating, but she was using it as motivation.

“I just try not to think about it,” Taylor said. “It almost makes you go faster.”

While swimmers need to be fit, the 14-year-old said there is also another key component to the sport.

“Almost all of it is mental. You just can’t think about it, but you also have to work on your physical. You have to work on your technique and everything, but it’s really a lot in your head,” Taylor said. “Last year I was put in the 200 IM. I’ve never swam the 200 IM and I was in state and I ended up placing second.”

Taylor, who also competes in volleyball as well as track and field, said the mental element is important in every activity.

“In volleyball it’s also a mindset game,” she said. “You have to win off your technique and everything, and you have to have a good mindset, otherwise you’re going to let the whole team down. In track, the exact same thing.”

KEEPING TABS ON TWO FAMILY SWIMMERS

It’s been an interesting week for Lisa Jorgenson. The ASC assistant coach was getting ready for this weekend’s meet, while still trying to keep an eye on her daughter, Gena, who was competing in a national swim meet in Indianapolis.

“I’ve been to most of those meets. This was the first one in Indy that I was not at, so it was hard,” Jorgenson said. “I’ve been texting with her coach and he’s been sending me videos of her races. It’s kind of like you’re there, but it’s hard to not be there in person.”

While it was difficult not to be there in person to cheer her daughter on, Jorgenson trusted the process.

“I trust in her training like she trusts in her training. She’s not rested for this meet,” Jorgenson said. “I wasn’t sure how it would go, but lots of the athletes, like this is not like the main meet of the season. I was excited to see what she could do with the hard training she’s had.”

Jorgenson was not only helping at the High Point Meet, she was watching her son, Ben compete.

“Ben’s favorite is football,” she said, “and he swims to maintain his athleticism for football.”

Jorgenson plans to be at Gena’s big meet in California at the end of next month.

What made this past week’s meet extra special is that Gena got to compete against multi-Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky in the lane right beside her.

“Katie Ledecky’s been around for so long. She was a gold medalist at 15. She’s 29 now. Gena grew up with her,” Jorgenson said. “I think it’s pretty fun to watch her be right next (to her). I think we never imagined that that would happen.”

Jorgenson tried to put that feeling into perspective.

“It is amazing to have watched Katie Ledecky’s career and then very surreal to have Gena next to her in a lane,” Jorgenson said. “It’s so exciting.”

FISH IN THE WATER

Casen Fish is part of a small group of Webster swimmers competing in the meet.

The 14-year-old said it can be a bit intimidating competing against swimmers from much larger programs, but was doing his best to not let it be a distraction.

“Just focus on what I’m doing,” Fish said, “and not looking at everyone else.”

Fish selected the 50-meter freestyle as his personal favorite race.

“I’m very fast and energic in it,” Fish said.

Fish also competes in wrestling and track and field, but said that swimming is his favorite sport.

“I’m the best at it,” he said.

Fish has a particular goal in mind for the remainder of the summer.

“My goals are try to get to State A for times,” he said.

FROM THE DIAMOND TO THE POOL

Aberdeen Swim Club member Mali Larson has jumped from one sport right into the next.

Larson played softball for Aberdeen Central this spring, and then returned to swimming after that.

The 15-year-old said she likes both sports.

“They both take a lot of effort. … They both keep me active all through the year, so that’s good,” Larson said.

The upcoming sophomore compared competing indoors against swimming outdoors.

“Obviously, the pool is longer, indoors is yards, outdoors is meters,” Larson said. “The weather is way harder to control outside, obviously. Indoors is a way longer season than outdoors.”

Larson said the main goal is to improve on her previous times, but she also enjoys competing against other swimmers.

“I try to beat myself. I try to beat my fast times,” Larson said. “It’s nice to have people beside me to try to beat. I like beating people.”

ENJOYING THE MEET

This weekend’s High Point Meet brings in swimmers from a variety of locations, including the Central Minnesota Aquatics out of St. Cloud.

“It’s got a big-meet feel, but it’s got a different feel because it’s a high point meet,” said CMA coach Mike Tornatore. “Everybody is trying to maximize their points.”

Tornatore said the team’s swimmers participate in about 10 meets per year, and enjoy coming to Aberdeen.

“I think it’s an awesome place to have a long course meet. … The pool is beautiful,” he said.

The meet concludes today with sessions this morning and this afternoon.