For some, representing their state in an all-star competition would be a highlight.

For Tommy Martin, it’s a fun way to spend a Saturday.

Martin was selected to swim for the Mississippi team in the Mississippi-Louisiana All-Star Dual Meet today in Baton Rouge. It’s the second time the 13-year-old was picked for the meet pitting some of the two states’ best young swimmers against each other, but he said the vibe of the competition is more friendly than intense.

“It’s fun to go to. It’s more of a fun meet. There’s less competitiveness to it,” Martin said. “My coach suggested it and I had a good time last time I went, so I did it again.”

Martin was one of two Vicksburg Swim Association members picked for the meet. Backstroker Adam Eckstein was selected, but said he’ll likely skip the competition to play in a tennis tournament.

For Martin, the meet will also serve as a transition point between the winter and summer seasons.

Martin won the Mississippi state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke as a 12-year-old and was second in the 13-14-year-olds’ 50-yard freestyle at this year’s state meet. His 50 freestyle time was only a tenth of a second away from qualifying for the USA Swimming junior sectional meet in Atlanta.

VSA coach Mathew Mixon said Martin showed plenty of progress in the older age group and expects him to contend for a couple of state titles next year.

“Any time you’re in the top five in the lower end, the goal is by the time you’re 14 to reclaim your title,” Mixon said. “On his freestyle events, he’s really started dropping. I expect him to keep going. In practice, he’s that swimmer that doesn’t seem to be bothered by pain. If it’s a hard set, he’ll be like, ‘That was fun. Let’s do it again.’”

That’s the same approach Martin is taking into today’s meet. Although he’s serious about his goals for the coming year, the all-star meet is a chance to kick back and relax.

“That’s basically what it is,” he said. “It’s a good chance to see several of my friends from across the state.”

Mixon said he wasn’t surprised to hear that.

“That’s usually his style,” Mixon said. “They swim enough meets that this is just another meet, and it’s really a fun meet, a reward meet.”