MITCHELL, SD — Mitchell High School junior and Sioux Falls Swim Team standout Colin Pickett had an outstanding performance at the recent 2025 A3 Midwest Challenge held in Iowa City, Iowa, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2. The 16-year-old swimmer shattered multiple state records, qualified for prestigious national meets, and continues to impress both in and out of the pool.
At the Midwest Challenge, Colin competed in seven individual events, setting personal bests in every race. He earned third-place finishes in both the grueling 400 Individual Medley (IM) and the fast-paced 100 Backstroke events. But it was his record-breaking swims that truly set him apart.
Colin established four new 15-16 year old boys state records in the 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 Backstroke, and 100 Backstroke. Additionally, he surpassed the 17-19 year old boys state records in the 100 and 200 Backstroke events — an impressive feat given his age.
Most notably, Colin is the first boy in South Dakota history to swim a sub-50 second 100 Backstroke, clocking in at an astonishing 49.16 seconds. His backstroke times are currently the fastest ever recorded for South Dakota boys swimming.
His outstanding results earned him a coveted qualification for the Winter Junior Nationals meet scheduled for December in Austin, Texas. He is the only boy from South Dakota qualified for the event so far, joining two female teammates from the Sioux Falls Swim Team. Looking ahead to the summer, Colin has also qualified for six events at the Futures swim meet.
According to Swim Cloud rankings, Colin holds the No. 1 spot in South Dakota boys swimming. Nationally, he ranks 158th, and internationally, he is 216th for the graduating class of 2027.