RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Roosevelt Swim Center in Rapid City served as the final battleground for youth athletes looking to secure their spots in the state championships during the 2026 SD Short Course Rising Stars meet held Feb. 13-15.
The event, also known as the state B championship, was hosted by the Rushmore Swim Team. It featured 154 competitive swimmers from 11 teams across the region. As the final qualifier for South Dakota Swimming’s short course state A championships, the meet resulted in more than 200 qualifying swims.
The host Rushmore Swim Team secured the top spot in overall team standings with 2,293 points and 60 individual qualifying swims. Aberdeen Swim Club followed in second place with 1,727 points, while the Sioux Falls Swim Team took third with 1,210 points.
Other team totals included Pierre Swim Team at 1,044, Black Hills Gold Swimming at 1,039, Fall River Swim Team at 778, Brookings Swim Club at 519, Deadwood/Lead 76ers at 425, Dakota Riptide at 395, Watertown Area Swim Club at 136, and Vermillion Area Swim Team at 20.
Dominic D. Clement, 18, of the Rushmore Swim Team, earned the highest individual high-point total of the meet with 119 points. Clement’s performance included first-place finishes in the Boys 17-19 50-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly.
Kendra N. Pikul, 15, representing the Brookings Swim Club, also turned in a dominant performance with 115 points. Pikul took first in the Girls 15-16 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly and 50-yard breaststroke.
In the 11-12 Boys division, Gannon M. Northrup of Pierre and Rylan Z. Renaud of Rushmore finished in a tie for the high-point award with 91 points each. Renaud’s weekend was highlighted by wins in the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard individual medley and 100-yard backstroke.
Other high-point honors were awarded to Nora Bassett of Sioux Falls, Hudson L. Lewis of Rushmore, Finley M. Norton of Fall River, Seth D. Leslie of Aberdeen, Kinsley R. Anderson of Aberdeen, Delaney E. Matthews of Aberdeen, Khloe K. Spaid of Pierre, Ethan Lewno of Aberdeen, Colton J. Massingale of Rushmore and Andrea R. Thompson of Brookings.
The conclusion of the Rapid City meet shifts the focus to the upcoming championship schedule. The South Dakota 12 and Under Short Course State A Championship is scheduled for Feb. 20-22 in Aberdeen. The 13 and Over State A Championship will follow from Feb. 26 to March 1 in Mitchell.
“The Rushmore Tsunami look forward to celebrating the results of the athletes’ dedication, commitment, and hard work throughout the year,” representatives of the team said in a statement.
Qualified athletes from the state meets may move on to the Central Zone North Section Spring Championships in West Fargo, North Dakota, scheduled for mid-March.
