We’re proud of them already, but we’re still cheering them on. The state high school diving and swimming meets kicked off yesterday and today and continue through the weekend at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Representing Austin will be the 200 medley relay made up of Brooke Johnson, Kelli Bednar, Averi Splinter and Helen Heimark, who are all fresh off a second-place finish at the Section 1A Finals.

Also competing for Austin is diver Courtney Fleming, while Johnson will be competing in the 100-yard backstroke as well and Splinter will be among the state’s best in the 100-yard butterfly.

It’s hard enough to be a student-athlete, juggling school assignments, practice and games, while trying to simply be a teenager all at the same time.

So it’s quite an accomplishment when an individual or team competes strongly on a conference level, let alone on a state level.

We send our best wishes for our swimmers and diver at the state meet, and we also want them to know that as far as we’re concerned, they’ve already won.