RAPID CITY The Watertown Area Swim Club and the Aberdeen Swim Club each again recorded strong performances in the 2026 South Dakota Long Course Swim Championships.The WASC Dolphins finished second in the meet for the eighth straight year with 3,514 points, and the ASC again finished fourth with 2,398 points.The meet was held Friday through Sunday, July 24-26, at Rapid City.20 FAVORITES WASC SWIMMERS: Swimmers, others who have left their mark on the Watertown Area Swim Club since 1984Final Team ScoresThe Sioux Falls Swim Club again won the state championship with 6,066.5 points.Watertown was second, followed by the Rushmore Swim Team of Rapid City at 2,867, Aberdeen, Dakota Riptide of Mitchell (1,858), Pierre Swim Team (1,634.5), Brookings Swim Club (1,398.5), Yankton Swim Team (916), Black Hills Gold Swimming of Spearfish (660.5) and the Southwest Swim Club of Marshall, MN (454) in the top 10.Swimmers from the Deadwood-Lead 76ers, Vermillion Area Swim Team, Fall River Swim Team of Madison, Webster Swim Team, Miller Swim Team and Chamberlain Swim Team also competed. There were also some unattached swimmers.Individuals who placed in the top 16 and relays that finished in the top eight in an event each scored points for their respective clubs or teams.Highlights for the WASCSix WASC swimmers combined to produce 25 event wins at the meet. Sam Hoftiezer (8-and-under boys) and Justine Kranz (15-16 girls) led the way with seven victories apiece. Thomas Bass (15-16 boys) added six wins.Essence Hinkelman (11-12 girls) and Roslyn Waite (17-19 girls) each won two events and Sydney Sparks (17-19 girls) one.T. Bass, Hinkelman, Sparks and Waite also recorded top-3 finishes in events along with Sophia Bass (13-14 girls), Leila Byer (17-19 girls), Campbell DeBoer (9-10 girls), Channing DeBoer (13-14 boys), Collins DeBoer (11-12 girls), Amelia Erickson (9-10 girls), Paul Feist (17-19 boys), Penn Feist (15-16 boys), Charlotte Holien (13-14 girls), Piece Mathiason (15-16 boys), Jay McAreavey (17-19 boys), JB Rathburn (11-12 boys), Josephine Waite (15-16 girls) and Jada Leigh Wellnitz (15-16 girls).2025 STATE LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Watertown Area Swim Club takes second, Aberdeen Swim Club fourth in state long-course meetHoftiezer, Kranz and T. Bass each finished as the high-point swimmers in their respective age divisions.Other Dolphins who finished in the top 10 in high points were Flynn Erickson, tied for eighth in 8-and-under boys; Erickson, fourth in 9-10 girls; Collins DeBoer sixth and Hinkelman tied for seventh in 11-12 girls; Rathburn fifth and Crosby Bass ninth in 11-12 boys; Holien seventh and Sophia Bass ninth in 13-14 girls; Channing DeBoer tied for third in 13-14 boys; J. Waite seventh in 15-16 girls; Penn Feist 10 in 15-16 boys; R. Waite fourth, Byer fifth and Sparks seventh in 17-19 girls; and Paul Feist sixth in 17-19 boys.Thirty-three Dolphin relays placed, including eight runner-up groups and seven others that placed third.Fifty Dolphins qualified to compete in the meet. Complete WASC results can be found online at www.thepublicopinion.com.Highlights for the ASCComplete individual and relay results were not available for ASC swimmers, but the Stingrays did have 11 swimmers finish in the top 10 for high points in their respective divisions.Easton Ketterling led the way by taking second in the 15-16 boys division.The group also included Rayna Anderson sixth and Eden Kleffman seventh in 8-and-under girls; Max Newton, third in 8-and-under boys; Evelyn Brudvig, third in 9-10 girls; Ginny Peterson, tied for ninth in 11-12 girls; Asher Schwan seventh and Logan Smith eighth in 11-12 boys; Lulu Karst fourth and Mali Larson 10th in 15-16 girls; and Quinton Anderson fifth in 15-16 boys.Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.comThis article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown Area Swim Club takes second, Aberdeen Swim Club fourth at state