Margheim hoping for more state qualifiers at B/C Championships

Mitchell Aquatic Club swimmers have one more opportunity to qualify for the South Dakota A State Championships as the team hosts the South Dakota B/C State Championships beginning today at the Mitchell Aquatic Center in Mitchell.

Swimmers who already qualified for an event at the A championships are not allowed to swim in those events in this weekend’s meet, which concludes Sunday.

The top two swimmers in each event will earn a trip to the A championships as well as any other swimmer to hit qualifying marks.

“The kids know this is it for them if they don’t qualify,” MAC coach Kyle Margheim said. “It adds a lot of excitement in this event. We definitely try and treat it like it’s the championship meet.”

Around 320 swimmers from 15 teams will be competing for a chance to continue swimming this summer. Margheim said 27 MAC swimmers will be vying for one more opportunity to compete before the winter season.

“They know what’s at stake and they get excited,” he said.

Margheim said the Mitchell swimmers enjoy the opportunity to compete at the state level in their hometown and he hopes it can give them an advantage in the races.

“Anytime you can have any sort of state championship in your community, it adds to the excitement of the event,” Margheim said. “It helps the kids be more comfortable going in and helps them handle their nerves.”

Margheim said a few swimmers that he is excited to see compete this weekend include Jacey Linke, Max Alexander and Mary Kroupa.

Margheim said all three swimmers have come close to qualifying in specific events and he hopes to see them as well as many other MAC swimmers set personal bests and continue their seasons.

Swimming starts at 2 p.m. today with a few long-distance events before the night session from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m.

Action picks back up Saturday with swimming taking place from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the final session goes from 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

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