EDWARDSVILLE — Andrew Willaredt of the Paddlers Swim Club of Granite City capped a successful summer season July 19, 2026, at the SWISA Championship meet at the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center in Edwardsville, where he broke the one-minute barrier in the boys 15-18 100-yard freestyle for the first time.
Willaredt opened his meet by placing third in the 100 freestyle with a time of 59.26 seconds. He also swam the second leg of the boys 13-18 200-yard medley relay team that finished third, placed fourth in the 15-18 50-yard freestyle, finished third in the 50-yard breaststroke and swam the anchor leg for the Pirates’ third-place finish in the 13-18 200-yard freestyle relay.
In an interview near the end of the meet, Willaredt said he felt he and his teammates had performed well.
“Personally, I think I’ve done really well,” Willaredt said. “I think my relay has done really well, as well. My favorite thing that happened today was me breaking under a minute in my 100-yard freestyle.”
Willaredt said breaking the one-minute mark in the 100 freestyle was the highlight of his summer season.
“Yes,” he said, “and I always like swimming with my teammates on my relay, too. They’re always a fun time.”
Willaredt said he considered the season successful and solid.
“Pretty solid, I think,” Willaredt said. “I look forward to waking up early, going to practice, and I look forward to having my hard work pay off.”
Willaredt also competed for the Granite City High baseball team in the spring, which he said is his primary sport. He said swimming helps him prepare for baseball, while baseball helps him handle the mental side of swim meets.
“Baseball is my primary sport,” Willaredt said. “Swimming actually conditions me for baseball. I have winter swam before, and the summer season helps as well. The one-on-one battles in baseball help me to stay calm during the swim meets, to not miss a starting gun off the block, and I can handle the pressure well.”
Willaredt said he sees swimming remaining part of his life after he ages out of the SWISA program because of the sport’s health benefits.
“I look forward to swimming, as I age out of the SWISA program,” Willaredt said. “I’ll probably continue swimming on my own, because the health and mental benefits I really do think help me.”
Willaredt said he is grateful for the season and for his place on the Granite City Paddlers swim team.
“Yes, that’s right,” Willaredt said. “I really look forward to being relaxed, calm, and healthy from swimming. I’m thankful for this amazing season, and I am honored to be a part of the Granite City Paddlers swim team.”
