Mitchell swimmers capped the long-course season with standout performances at the Futures Swim Meet in Madison, Wisconsin, highlighted by state records, podium finishes and finals appearances against many of the nation’s top amateur swimmers.
Five of South Dakota’s 10 swimmers at the meet were from Mitchell, while two of the coaches leading South Dakota teams were also former Mitchell swimmers. The meet featured numerous collegiate swimmers and athletes who competed at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.
The Sioux Falls Swim Team men’s relay, anchored by three Mitchell swimmers, earned a top-eight podium finish in every relay event it entered. Every Mitchell swimmer at the meet also qualified for at least one championship final.
Mitchell High School senior Colin Pickett, who has verbally committed to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, closed his season with a dominant performance. Pickett posted lifetime-best times in all of his individual events and set four South Dakota state records, giving him five state records overall.
Pickett also finished the season with six Summer Junior Nationals qualifying times, eight Winter Junior Nationals qualifying times and earned two U.S. Open qualifying cuts at the Futures meet. Those U.S. Open standards qualify him to compete in USA Swimming Pro Series meets.
Other Mitchell swimmers competing at the meet included Owen Raml, Sophia Huber, Kip Wede and Brock Russell. Former Mitchell swimmers Christian Fossum and Kyle Margheim served as coaches for South Dakota teams during the competition.