Swimmers cut through the water under the lights July 9 at Blair Municipal Pool.
The Arlington and Blair Swim Teams competed there for more than 4 hours as the summer heat dissipated. It was both teams' second-to-last meet of the season before Sunday's conference event in West Point.
“Everybody was happy and everybody was having so much fun,” said Ayden Dick, Blair's coach.
She explained that the end of the short summer swimming season can be a little chaotic, but she appreciates seeing what all of the kids' work has led them to.
“I feel like I always say this every year,” Dick said. “But, this summer especially, we just blew it out of the water.”
The team grew in 2025 with more than 60 swimmers, ages 6-15, taking part. The July 9th meet included 57 of them.
“Everybody just did so amazing,” Dick said. “Almost all of the heats that we were in, we were getting first place.”
Bryce Nabity, 8, has been a season-long standout, according to his coach. So, too, have been Maddie Prinds, 8, and Sawyer Rogers, 10.
Ten-year-olds Noah Nabity and Reiland Mulally have had noteworthy seasons as well.
“They are both very close in age and very close in all of their events,” Dick explained.
Among the home meet race victors were Prinds (100 IM, 100 medley relay, 25 butterfly, 25 breaststroke, 25 freestyle, 100 free relay), Bryce Nabity (110 IM, 100 medley relay, 25 butterfly, 25 backstroke, 25 freestyle, 100 free relay), Violet Hennigs (100 medley relay, 100 free relay), Carsen Rogers (100 medley relay), Brooklyn Ballinger (100 medley relay, 100 free relay), Abby Nabity (100 medley relay, 100 free relay), Noah Nabity (100 medley relay, 25 breaststroke, 100 free relay), Mulally (100 medley relay, 25 backstroke, 25 freestyle, 100 free relay), Sawyer Rogers (25 butterfly) and Alexander Quick (100 free relay). Blair won the meet with 443 team points — 113 more than Hartington.
Arlington overcomes pool closure
Pool repairs slowed the Arlington Swim Team's early progress, but it overcame.
“We have a lot of veterans on the team that come and help lead,” coach John Morrison said. “You can't put a number on that — the value that offers.”
The vets help the youngsters develop a love for swimming, which he appreciates.
Jack Blake, 17, Dominic Morrison, 14, and Miranda Morrison, 13, are among the team leaders. Coach Morrison said 12 year olds Maia White and Kaylie Adams play an important role, too.
Even 9-year-old Alex Blake stands out, though.
“He's one of the younger swimmers, but he's a good leader,” Coach Morrison said. “Because he works hard all of the time.”
The team's event winners July 9 were Alex Blake (100 IM), Miranda Morrison (50 backstroke, 50 freestyle), Dominic Morrison (50 freestyle, 200 free relay), Dathan Hansen (200 free relay), Jack Blake (200 free relay) and Eli Hansen (200 free relay).
The Arlington Pool Sharks competed in Blair for the entirety of the home team's event, participating all the way through the 60th and final race — the freestyle relay.
