Through March 1st-3rd, swimmers from all over the state gather in Lakeville, New Prague, and Rochester for the Minnesota Regional Swimming Championships. For many swimmers, MRCs are the culmination of their fall/winter and spring/summer seasons, respectively, with many seeking a state cut or overall time drop. An anonymous participant echoes this statement: “It’s like the last chance, a good opportunity to get more cuts for State or win-it-swim it.”

In Lakeville, swimmers from Eden Prairie’s Foxjets, and teams from Storm, Mako, Piranhas, Star, and Tuna swim clubs compete at Century Middle School’s new 8-lane pool. The events are divided into four age groups: 10 & under, 11-12, 13-14, and 15 & over; They are swam in the order of youngest to oldest, and swimmers are grouped into heats by time, with slower heats going first. State cuts can be achieved at any point during the season, while win-it-swim-it refers to a swimmer being allowed to go to state if they win first place in any event for their age group. 

In the months leading up to MRCs, swimmers train hard to perfect their strokes and have the best possible shot at winning an event or obtaining a state cut, as explained by Foxjets swimmer Alice Stoppel: “It means showing all the hard work I’ve put in this season.” State cuts vary by events, but they are usually listed in the meet program for easy access. Another way people prepare for this meet is by shaving body hair to reduce drag, as well as wearing specialized “fast suits,” which eliminate drag with the specialized material they are made of and tight compression they offer. Practices usually become easier a week before big meets as swimmers enter their taper, a period of resting in preparation to swim fast. When asked what MRCs means to her, swimmer Emily Weaver says: “It’s the final celebration of our hard work this season.”