What does swimming have to do with dance?

Published 2:48 pm Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Lindsey Horejsi of Albert Lea swims the 200-yard individual medley in the Class A state prelims at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in November.

Lindsey Horejsi of Albert Lea swims the 200-yard individual medley in the Class A state prelims at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in November.

State swimming record holder,  Albert Lea High School standout athlete and Olympic hopeful Lindsey Horejsi hasn’t limited her training to the pool. She dances, too.

Along with her swimming workout, she trains with multiple gym instructors and has been taking ballet and pointe classes at Joyce Matthies Dance Centre in downtown Albert Lea since she was 6.

Horejsi’s mother, Sue Horejsi, said the two sports complement each other.

Lindsey Horejsi of Albert Lea receives a medal after swimming the fastest girls’ time in the 200-yard individual medley time in Minnesota State High School League history in November during the Class A state finals at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Lindsey Horejsi of Albert Lea receives a medal after swimming the fastest girls’ time in the 200-yard individual medley time in Minnesota State High School League history in November during the Class A state finals at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

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“Dance is good because it strengthens your calves to be on your toes, and then there’s the flexibility,” she said. “Alex Lindstrom — her new coach — says to keep on dancing because it provides flexibility for turns. It all works together.”

The work at the studio hasn’t garnered as much recognition as her swimming records, but Matthies said Horejsi succeeds there as well.

“Lindsey is a joy to work with,” Matthies said. “She has great technique. She has fun and works hard.”

Along with the high school swimming season, dance classes, swimming with the Mantas Swim Club in Mankato and preparing for Junior Nationals, Horejsi said she gets in shape through cardio work and weight training with Jeff Jimenez at Glenville-Emmons High School.

“During the summer, I try to run a lot and do a lot of jump roping,” Lindsey said. “I keep up with J.J. during high school, too, so that helps.”

Aside from physical training, Horejsi said she works on her mental focus.

“I like visualizing when there’s a big meet,” she said. “It helps you put yourself in the moment beforehand.”

After almost five years of competing for coach Mark Vininski as a member of the Atlantis Swimming Federation, Horejsi decided to join Lindstrom and the Mantas Swim Club in Mankato.

Along with a fresh perspective, switching to the Mantas allows Horejsi to train in pools measured in meters, the way national races are measured, instead of yards, like a high school pool.

“The more exposure you can give yourself to the conditions, the more beneficial it will be,” said Lindstrom. “She wants the experience in swimming long-course, and we have access to a pool in Mankato.”

In addition, Lindstrom is an assistant with the men’s and women’s swimming teams at Gustavous Adolphus College in St. Peter.

With the times Horejsi posted on July 30 at the Junior National Meet in Irvine, Calif., she qualified for the Olympic trials in two events: the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. She posted times more than two seconds faster than the minimum qualifying time in both events.

Horejsi is the only high school swimmer in Minnesota to break the 1-minute barrier in the 100-yard breaststroke and 2 minutes in the 200 individual medley. At the state meet, she won both events, was part of the Tigers 200 medley relay team that took first and the 200 freestyle relay team that took second.