Elsie Boettcher’s swimming career is just getting started and she’s already breaking records
WATERTOWN, S.D. (BVM) — Last March, at her home pool in Watertown, Elsie Boettcher stole the show at the South Dakota State A Short-Course Swim Championships.
Competing in the 11-12 age bracket, the 12–year–old broke three state records and five state meet records.
“I was hoping I would get a few but I wasn’t expecting that much,” Boettcher said.
What made the moment even better was that the former record holder for two of the records Boettcher broke was there to watch it happen.
Sarah Pokela had held the age 11-12 state records in the 100 IM and 200 IM since 1993. Now a swim mom herself, she was at the state meet cheering on her daughter who was competing against Boettcher.
“She was honored to meet Elsie as Elsie was honored to meet her,” Elsie’s mom, Kristy Boettcher, said.
“It was very exciting and I felt very proud of myself,” Elsie said.
With the short-course season about to begin Elsie is looking to carry her momentum from last year into this season as she enters a new age bracket.
“I’m just hoping I’ll keep up with the 14’s and still place well,” Elsie said.
More than that she is also looking ahead to some of her long term goals.
“My coaches think that if I improve as much as I did last season that I will be close to Olympic Trial times by the time I’m 14,” Elsie said. “I want to at least try to get an Olympic Trial time some day.”
Olympic Trial times and state records are more than the Boettchers expected when they got their kids involved in swimming.
“We just really pushed the swim team knowing we would be moving to the lake and we just wanted them to be efficient swimmers,” Kristy said. “It’s kind of a bonus that they’re talented and enjoy it.”
Elsie’s older brother, Austin, competes at the high school level and is even pushing to break a state record of his own in the 50 free. Elsie’s younger brother, Nolan, also swims.
However, according to the family Elsie is the most driven and dedicated of the bunch when it comes to swimming. Since she was about 10 she has continued to push herself to get faster times and win meets.
“I just like to win,” Elsie said. “My coach said that I’m really sweet out of the pool but in the pool I’m mean.”
That competitive edge has allowed her to have the success that she has as well as explain her love for the short distance events.
“I feel like I can give it my all without having to pace the race,” Elsie said. “I just like going fast through the whole thing.”
Going fast is something that Elsie is good at and as she continues to push herself she’ll only get faster.
