While the weather slowed down swimmers at the State A Long Course Swim Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center on Sunday afternoon, it couldn’t stop them.

On a day that featured a lightning delay and at times steady rain, one member of the Aberdeen Swim Club was busy adding to his already impressive resume.

Easton Ketterling won multiple state championships to build on his past state titles.

One of his championships on the weekend occurred in the 50-meter backstroke.

“It feels great to know when they implemented the 50s, I was the first person to kind of win the event,” Ketterling said. “That was kind of cool.”

The 14-year-old enjoys swimming because it’s more of an individual sport and he can just concentrate on the task at hand.

“I like how in the water, you just get to be yourself. It’s not a team sport, either,” Ketterling said. “You just get to rely on yourself and if you don’t do good, it’s kind of on you. It’s a lot more motivation. I don’t have to rely on others.”

Ketterling said his favorite event is the 200-meter individual medley, because he can use all four strokes.

“I get to do a mix of every single stroke,” he said. “I get to pull ahead on one stroke and just keep the lead.”

Ketterling, who has been the overall state champion three times already, gets up at 6 a.m. to train. He said this season he has been forced to learn how to motivate himself.

“Last year the seniors kind of motivated me a lot. Once they left I was kind of on my own,” Ketterling said. “This season was more of a learning season on how to pace my own (races).”

He said there is plenty of competition to push him during meets.

“There’s definitely people that will push me,” Ketterling said. “Once I realize my opponents are kind of up there, I’m like wow, I need to start focusing up.”

TOUGH RACE, ACTUALLY A FAVORITE

When Olivia Neys exited the pool following her butterfly race on Sunday, it was obvious she had been through a workout.

The 14-year-old member of the Aberdeen Sting Rays said the event is a difficult one.

“It’s a really challenging event. A lot of upper body strength. … Your hips drive you forward and it makes me have a little bit farther reach and you want good reach,” Neys said. “You also want to use your legs for the dolphin kick, that will push you forward a lot. You just have to push through it.”

While the 200-meter butterfly presents some serious motivation, it’s actually one of the favorite races for Neys.

“I do actually like the 200 fly,” Neys said, “it just tires me out a lot.”

Neys said a key is visualizing what she can do once she starts the race.

“It’s fun,” Neys said. “Even though when I get out of the water I say I do not like it, but I actually do like it.”

The upcoming freshman said the distance fits her style compared to other events.

“I’m not a sprinter. I like mid-distance,” Neys said. “I can just push through 200s and see the good pace. I have good splits.”

Interestingly, Neys has a bit of a running competition with her mother Leigh who is training for masters competition.

“It kind of motivates me,” she said. “I kind of like to challenge her to see who’s better in what, because we’re kind of competitive.”

UP FOR A CHALLENGE

Landen Lee was one of just a handful of swimmers from Webster who competed in the state meet.

The 11-year-old said competing against foes from big cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City is a challenge, but it also helps him to record faster times.

“It’s exciting and it’s harder because they’re year-rounders, and Webster is not a year round,” Lee said. “It’s very fun going against better competition.”

Lee said his favorite event is the 50-meter freestyle.

“Because it’s a sprint and I like sprints,” Lee said, “and I’m at good it.”

Lee began swimming about five years ago. He said he tried it and liked it.

“I did swimming lessons,” he said, “so I tried swim team out.”

Lee also competes in basketball and baseball. His father, Tyler, was a standout athlete for Roslyn High School.

While this year’s state meet just concluded, Lee is already looking forward to next year’s state meet because he will get to stay in the same age division.

“I’m the older one in my group,” he said, “so I could get a trophy or something overall.”

BACK IN ACTION

Aberdeen Swim Club member Ava Smallman was back in the pool at the state meet after having to sit out the indoor season.

“In the winter I was out five months because of my shoulder,” Smallman said.

The 13-year-old said she got into swimming because of her cousin, Taryn Hermansen, a state track champion shot putter for Aberdeen Central.

“She used to swim,” Smallman said.

The upcoming eighth-grader said her favorite race is the 50-meter freestyle.

“I’m a sprinter, so I don’t like to do long distance,” Smallman said.

Smallman aged up this past season, so the competition was challenging at the state meet.

“This is my first year in this age group,” Smallman said, “and it’s faster girls and higher competition.”

While Smallman tried to beat her foes, she said her main focus was on herself.

“I want to beat them,” Smallman said, “but my mindset is just to do the best that I can.”

BATTLING THE ELEMENTS

The conditions were a little less than ideal for the swimmers on Sunday, with cooler temps and at times steady rain.

ASC member Gavin Hauck talked about having to compete in those elements.

“It’s cold, you get a little tight,” Hauck said. “Before a race you’re shivering, but you get in there and you just try to swim your best, crank it out.”

The 15-year-old was competing in the backstroke when the rain hit. He said it impacted his vision.

“When rain gets on your goggles, there’s no windshield wipers on them, you know?” Hauck said. “So, it gets a little foggy.”

Hauck said that he would still take Sunday’s conditions over a hot sunny day, especially when competing in the backstroke.

“I’d rather have it like this,” he said. “Bright sunshine you ping pong off the lane lines, you can’t really see, you’re like blind. I like it when it’s cloudy like this for backstroke days.”

Hauck is coming off his best year of competition last year and is trying to regain his top form.

“Last year was probably my best swimming overall,” Hauck said. “I just broke my arm and came off of surgery a little bit ago. This is my get back into it type of stuff. It was my left arm. It’s sore and tight, but we’re good.”

He said he enjoys the breastroke and backstroke the best among the different strokes.

“I like to be able to be out of the water and be able to breathe while you swim,” Hauck said.