Winning the Big Park Community School geography bee in October turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg for Sedona Swordfish swimmer Aiden Beck.

His curiosity stimulated by father John Beck, an assistant coach with the local swimming club, Aiden Beck started 2014 swimming laps in the 25-meter Hilton Sedona pool in the Village of Oak Creek.

“That was where he first started swimming,” said A. Jay Bronson, head coach of the Swordfish. “He was kind of wading it in the fall, but he started full-on practicing in the winter.”

Less than six months later, Beck had not only brought his talents to the Swordfish, swimming out of stalls at the 25-yard Sedona Community Pool, he beat all other 9- to 10-year-old club swimmers from Sedona, Cottonwood and Flagstaff at the Sedona Splash.

“I never swam a meet before that one,” he said. “My dad told me I should do it, because I was already running cross-country.”

He won seven events June 21 and 22 in his age group of boys 9 to 10 years old — including his favorite, the breaststroke, in which he hopes to improve his time by the beginning of the Arizona Fall League in September.

“It’s easier than all the other ones,” Beck said. “I’m good at it.”

For Bronson, the success at the meet of one so young and new to swimming “was just a delight to watch,” he said. “He won his age group and became high point champion, which was so great to see. His hard work and dedication paid off.”

July 18, Beck swam the Sedona Mile, where he raised $500 for the Swordfish by swimming 66 laps in the pool in 23½ minutes — in spite of being only able to take open turns, not flip when starting a new lap.