Superior YMCA Whalers Swim Team Takes on AAU Junior Olympics

DULUTH, Minn. – Seven swimmers from the Superior YMCA Whalers Swim Team are taking on the AAU Junior Olympic National Games.

The six-day competition began today in Houston, Texas, bringing together top youth swimmers from across the country and several other nations. The Whalers qualified after strong performances throughout the season and are representing Superior, Hermantown, and Esko at this competition.

“Yesterday, we got here, and we got all of them registered and saw the pool, and then now, today it started the events, and so for parents, it’s, I think I’m probably more nervous than the swimmers that are in the pool. You know, it’s 30 seconds you’re in the pool,” said Beth Fechtelkotter, a whaler parent.

Events are spread across multiple sessions each day; Today, three whalers competed in the 50-meter freestyle during the afternoon competition, with one advancing to finals and others achieving personal bests. Coach Valerie Poynter explained today’s competition, emphasizing how each of the three swimmers who competed showed impressive swim times.

“In the 50 freestyle, our two female swimmers were 13. They both dropped a second or more, which is huge on a 50 freestyle like that,” said Poynter. “And then our male swimmer, Tommy, he dropped over a second and a half.”

There are still five days of competition ahead, and several whalers are still preparing to take the pool. They will be streaming the rest of the competition on the AAU Junior Olympic Games Website.