While temperatures were a bit cooler than normal, action was plenty hot in the pool during the final day of the Aberdeen Swim Club High Point Swim Meet at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center on Sunday.

Swimmers from across the region tried to lower their times and beat foes in the lanes next to them.

Few participants were younger than 9-year-old Ivy Cole of Groton, who competes for the ASC. The upcoming third grader described what it’s like competing with a team that doesn’t include people that go to her school.

“It’s different,” Cole said. “I don’t know many other kids on my team.”

There is a positive to that, however.

“It kind of helps you meet new people,” Cole said.

Cole said her favorite event in the 50-meter butterfly.

“It’s one of the strokes where you have to touch the wall with two hands, and you have to get both of your hands out of the water,” Cole said. “I think I like it because my sister (Libby) likes it and she’s good at it.”

Cole is one of two Groton swimmers on the Aberdeen team, along with Jaiden Johnson.

Cole is a busy gal, involved in many activities.

“I play softball, soccer, I’m on dance team and I also do basketball,” she said.

When asked when she had time to go to school, Cole responded, “Most of my sports are after school and on the weekends.”

While Cole was braving the chilly elements like the others, she was not about to be finished being in the water for day following the meet.

“We’re going to go to the water park after my last race. … I think I’m going to go down the slide a couple times,” she said.

FEELING THE CHILL

With overcast skies and temps in the 60s, most swimmers were bundled in towels and blankets when out of the water.

Aberdeen’s Logan Smith said getting into the water provided a bit of an eye opener.

“It’s like a cold shock, pretty much. … It kind of helps you because that way you can conserve your energy a little bit more than hot water,” Smith said.

When asked if it was also a big shock getting out of the water, the 11-year-old responded, “Yeah, because then it’s really cold, because you’re already used to the water.”

Smith compared the differences between swimming indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer.

“Indoors it’s usually yard pools and outdoors it’s usually meter pools,” Smith said, “And indoors it’s 25 yards, but outdoors is 50.”

Smith said he likes one better than the other.

“I like outdoors,” he said, “because then you don’t have to do as many flip turns or stuff.”

RENCOUNTRE READY TO MEET CHALLENGE

Keisha Rencountre competed in last year’s state meet and has goals of getting back there this summer. The 11-year-old from Waubay, who competes for Webster, aged up this year making it a bit more challenging.

Rencountre she said will have to “swim faster, because these times this year for 11-12 year olds are harder.”

She plans on going to practice every day and working hard.

Rencountre also plays basketball, but likes swimming better.

“I enjoy it more, because it’s a team sport,” she said, “you get to hang out with your teammates more often, like every day at practice.”

When asked what she would tell somebody who is interested in trying swimming, Rencountre provided a perfect answer.

“I think it’s really fun and if you want to, you should try it,” she said, “because one day you could be in the Olympics if you work hard enough.”

HAMPERED HOVEN STILL A KID AT HEART

Being on crutches just a couple of weeks removed from knee surgery, didn’t dampen the spirits of Alexia Hoven.

The 23-year-old former Aberdeen Swim Club member is currently helping to coach the Stingrays and was right in the middle of a pre-session chant to help get the kids fired up.

“I love to be able to express my joy with the kids. I love them, I love working with them and they do bring me joy, and I can bring out my inner child, too,” Hoven said. “They find it hilarious and they egg me on, and all that, too. They keep me young at heart, even those I feel 80 most days with my joints.”

Hoven, who is entering her final year at Northern State, recently had surgery on her right knee after having multiple problems with her other knee back when she was a competitive swimmer for the team.

“This is my umpteenth surgery now. … Some of the same problems that I had with my left knee back when I was actually swimming for ASC that just finally caught up to me,” she said. “I think that my right knee was jealous will all the attention my left knee was getting, so it had to act up now.”

Hoven’s sister, Addisyn, has had several hip surgeries, so it has been a trying experience for the family.

“With all of my history with injuries and stuff, it’s well prepared me for things to come,” Hoven said. “Challenges aren’t new in our family and in my life, so we just take it on and try to give glory to God in all of it.”

MOE FINDS MULTIPLE BENEFITS FROM SWIMMING

ASC member Pierce Moe was involved in a mixed event on Sunday afternoon featuring both boys and girls.

“Some people say it’s more challenging,” Moe of the event, “but at the same time it’s not.”

When asked if he was more motivated to beat a girl or not lose to a girl, the 12-year-old responded, “Some people say that, too, but not really.”

Moe, who has been swimming for less than two years, said a goal is to work on his technique and to win a trophy.

The upcoming sixth grader said that he also plays tennis, and noted that the two sports share something in common: “arm circulation.”

Moe said swimming helps him to stay active and also produces something else.

“It gets you going, and it actually gets you good muscle,” said Moe, who then flexed to prove his point.

LEADING THE WEBSTER PROGRAM

Gavin Sannes, an 11-year member of the Webster Swim Team, has been an assistant with the team in the past and has returned to be the head coach of the squad this summer.

“I had a summer that was kind of open,” Sannes said. “I’m in the middle of school and have a little bit of time. … I really enjoy the job. The kids make it a lot of fun, and I enjoy swimming and enjoy working with the kids.”

Sannes talked about the challenge of competing against much bigger programs at the High Point Meet.

“I think us and Britton are the only summer only teams that are here right now, so they’re competing against people that do this all the time, all year,” Sannes said. “And to do that, to have the mindset that hey I just want to improve upon my times, is really the emphasis here. It’s good for them to see this competition, to see what’s out there so then they push some of our best swimmers to even improve when they’re winning all the time. Now hey, they come here and they get a taste of some really good swimmers.”

Sannes was proud of the way his swimmers rose to the challenge this weekend at the meet.

“I’ve seen that all throughout the weekend. These guys love to compete,” Sannes said. “Their effort all weekend has been fantastic and when they have someone that’s, whether from Watertown or Minnesota, right next to them and they may be year-round, they still want to beat them with everything they’ve got, and that improves everybody in the water.”