, 
, 
, 
Nine local youth swimmers from the Luverne branch of the Sioux Falls Swim Club qualified for the South Dakota Short Course Championships, and five swimmers competed in the recent season-ending state tournaments.
Kaleb and Tori Hemme of Hardwick competed at the 13-and-over championships conducted March 4-5 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
All distances are in yards during the short course season.
Kaleb competed in three events, finishing 21st in the individual medley, 23rd in the 200 free-style, and 25th in the 100 free-style.
Tori qualified in five events for the state meet and finished ninth in the 50 free-style, 11th in the 200 individual medley, 13th in the 200 free-style, 13th in the 100 free-style and 17th in the 100 individual medley.
Abby Honerman of Inwood, Iowa, and Isabelle Honerman and Robin Frecht, both of Luverne, qualified for the state tournament but did not compete.
In the 12-and-under short course championship Feb. 25-26 in Watertown, South Dakota, four Luverne branch swimmers qualified with four competing at the event.
Deegan Stoffel of Luverne finished 21st in the 100 breast stroke, 30th in the 50 breast stroke, and 47th in the 50 free-style.
Jersey Hood, also of Luverne, swam on the first-place 200 free relay team, third on the 200 IM relay, finished third in the individual medley relay, eighth in breast stroke, ninth in the 100 free-style, ninth in the 100 breast stroke, 14th in the 100 back stroke, and 17th in the 150 fly.
Susie Frecht, Inwood, finished 13th in the 50 back stroke, 26th in the 100 individual medley, and 34th in the 100 free-style.
Izzy Boen, Hills, placed 30th in the 25 free-style, 30th in the 50 back stroke, and participated in the 25 back stroke but did not place.
The long-course season starts in April with swimmers belonging to the swim club’s Luverne branch practicing at the Luverne Aquatics and Fitness Center.
Carla Van Santen is the coach of the 22 local swimmers involved on the Sioux Falls Swim Club.
“Coaching these kids is very rewarding, and I am very proud of them and all my swimmers,” she said.
“Swimming is an individual, yet a team, sport. If you don’t fit into a sport, maybe swimming is for you — it also helps build the body to enhance any sport you are doing.”
For more information about joining the team, contact Van Santen at 507-290-1333.