Seven Mitchell swimmers to compete at Central Zones

Mitchell will be well represented this weekend when the Central Zones swim meet begins Friday in Grand Forks, N.D.

Seven members of the Mitchell Aquatic Club team will swim for what essentially amounts to a South Dakota all-star swimming team, and the team will be coached by MAC coach Chuck Baechler.

The team is made up of South Dakota swimmers who have achieved certain time standards throughout the year, and the South Dakota team will compete against nine other states.

“When I started seven years ago, we were kind of a doormat in South Dakota, and we have steadily climbed to where we finish between fifth and sixth,” Baechler said. “That doesn’t sound like much, but we’re competing against states like Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin that have much larger population centers.”

The South Dakota team has been practicing in Aberdeen this week after the South Dakota state long course meet wrapped up there last weekend. There are 50 kids on the team in all, seven of which are MAC swimmers. Cody Horton, Mitchell Baye, Josh Davis, Andee Budahl, Trina Young and Reva and Rhennetta Bork will all compete for the South Dakota team.

Competing in five events, Davis leads all Mitchell swimmers. He will swim in the 200-meter freestyle, 50-freestyle, 100-backstroke, 200-backstroke and 100-freestyle.

Andee Budahl will swim the 200- and 400-freestyles and the 200- and 400-Individual Medleys, and Trina Young will swim the 100-butterlfy and 200-IM.

Cody Horton will compete in the 200-freestyle and 100-breaststroke; Rhennetta Bork will swim the 100- and 200-breaststrokes; Reva Bork will swim the 800- and 1,500-freestlyes and Mitchell Baye will swim the 100-backstroke.

Baechler said the unique format, which pits entire states against other states, is one the kids seem to enjoy.

“The kids really enjoy working with kids they generally swim against,” Baechler said. “The practices are fun, and with the team atmosphere, the kids have a lot of fun. We have special caps made that say South Dakota, and the kids really seem to enjoy themselves. It’s a good reward for their season of hard work.”

Tags: mac, mitchell aquatic club, sports, swimming