Aiden Braadt had to stay focused.

But the Northwestern sophomore couldn’t ignore what was happening in the lane next to him.

He could sense Pen Argyl’s Jake Hauff was coming.

Braadt never wavered, closing out the final leg of the 200 individual medley to hit the wall first and claim his first District 11 title.

“I know exactly what he’s doing,” Braadt said. “I try to make sure that my head’s straight, but I’ve got my eyes over on him and try to make sure I can out-reach him in the end.”

The sophomore won the Class 2A event at this year’s District 11 Championships with a time of 2:06.14, edging Hauff (2:06.25) by just over a hundredth of a second. Braadt was seeded second with a time of 2:11.87.

“I’m really happy. It’s a big drop,” he said.

Braadt used a big effort in the third leg, finishing with a split of 38.20 to Hauff’s 40.25.

“I tend to slow down a little bit toward the end,” said Braadt. “I like to push the breaststroke, but by the time I get to the freestyle (at the end) I get a little tired and that’s probably where I need to work on.

“Jake is really nice and a good sport and absolutely talented. Last year I swam against him. He’s a really talented swimmer.”

In the final leg - the freestyle - Hauff swam a 28.56 to Braadt’s 30.02.

Through the first two legs - the butterfly and the backstroke - Braadt swam 26.32 and 31.60 to Hauff’s 25.40 and 32.04.

“I like it because there’s multiple strokes and once you switch strokes you get the fatigue off from the previous one and you can kind of just go fast,” said Braadt. “And I’m a sprinter, so I just like going fast.

“I thought I had it from the beginning, but he was really with me. It was a little unexpected. Toward the end I didn’t know if I had it, but I just tried my best to get to the wall first.”

Swimming for Northwestern, a school without a swimming program, Braadt dedicates much of his time - and life - to the sport.

“I’ve been swimming since I was 4,” he said. “I joined a club team when I was 11 and I train year-round. Just putting in the work, and working with my coaches and with my friends. They help me love swimming and stay with it. Just have to get into a (good) mindset, and you can drop time and place (well).

“After school, about two hours after school, I have a two hour to two hour and 45 minute practice, five to six days a week. We practice at Allen High School through my club team, Parkland Aquatic Club. We also swim at Muhlenberg College on Mondays and Fridays and every other day is at Allen.”

That work has paid dividends for Braadt, who will now head to Bucknell University for the PIAA Championships.

“I’m really excited,” said Braadt. “I wasn’t even really too aware about states up until this point. But I’m really excited for states and I hope I do well then.

“Just putting in the work, it’s nice to see the outcome and what you’ve been working for all year has paid off. To finish a race like that and drop time too. And to swim with all these guys here, it’s fun and it’s nice to do.”

On the second day of the meet, which was held Friday and Saturday at Parkland High School, Braadt swam the 100-yard backstroke and took fifth place.

Northwestern’s Hunter Slaski picked up two district medals last weekend. He placed third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:56.90. He was seeded second with a time of 1:59.00. He also finished fourth in 500 free (5:25.38) while battling an injury that nearly kept him from swimming in the meet.

He was thrilled with what he accomplished.

“I’m actually swimming with a broken bone in my back,” said Slaski. “I have a fracture of my L5 and after I swam on Friday (a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle), it was really bothering me.

“I told my parents Friday night I didn’t think I was going to swim Saturday, and when I woke up today I still wasn’t sure. But it started to feel a little better, so I decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did.” Slaski, who has dealt with back problems his entire swimming career, aggravated it a couple months ago in a car accident, but continued to compete despite occasional discomfort.

“Getting a PR today would have been nice and that’s always a goal when you compete in these types of big meets,” said Slaski. “But considering I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to swim until an hour or so before the event, I’m thrilled to put up the time I did and get a district medal in the process.”