Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Amelia Miller, Havre High Swimming

Havre High's Amelia Miller is one of the top swimmers in Montana

To many, winter sports season means a time for basketball or wrestling. But in Havre, another sport is included in that mix and that's swimming.

Over the years, the Blue Ponies have done a lot of winning in the pool. Both the boys and girls programs have won numerous state championships, including a girls Class A state championship in 2016.

Amelia Miller was a sophomore for the Ponies at the time, but even then, she played a vital role in the girls claiming the state championship. She not only earned Class A All-State honors that weekend she also placed fifth in 500-yard freestyle. Miller also made the consolation final of the 200 freestyle, where she wound up finishing 11th. While she placed in two individual events, Miller also helped Havre score points in the relays, too. She was part of a 200-meter free relay team that won the consolation final, as well as the 400 free relay, which finished eighth.

Last season Miller and the Ponies also put together an impressive performance at the state meet finishing third. For her part, Miller was seventh overall in the 500 frees and also 10th in the 200 free as Havre walked away with a trophy.

Now, Miller is a senior and the Ponies, who will open their swim season at home this weekend with the Havre Invitational, are looking to get back to the top of Class A.

"We have a lot of people back from last year," Miller said, "a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and I think everyone is looking really strong, so it should be a fun year. We are really excited about it."

Miller is an excellent swimmer, but she has also been solid for the Ponies as a runner on the cross country team. She has run at the state meet the past few seasons and helped the Ponies finish sixth. Of course, one thing Miller enjoyed most about running cross country the past two seasons was doing it alongside her sister Kadia Miller, who was an All-State runner in 2017.

"It was amazing," Amelia Miller said. "I loved it. (Kadia) is going to be really good. I can't wait to see her run next year, she is going to be really fast."

Amelia Miller, who is a senior, plans to attend the University of Nebraska next fall where she will study educational agriculture. But before looking too far down the road, Miller and the Ponies are focused on Saturday and the annual Havre Invitational. However, before Havre swims for real this weekend, the Havre Daily News caught up with Miller for five questions.

HDN: How are you feeling with this being your last Havre Invitational?

Miller: "I am excited and a little bit sad because it's going to be my last year with my teammates and everything. I really enjoy my teammates, so it will be sad for that. But it will kind of be a relief to be done and to move onto the next step. But it will be fun."

HDN: What are all the events you are doing this year?

Miller: "I am doing a whole bunch of them. I don't know exactly yet, but I am probably going to be focusing on one of the freestyles. The 500 or the 200 and the 100 freestyle a little as well, but we haven't really talked about that as much yet."

HDN: What are your individual goals this season?

Miller: "I am hoping to have a good year, a fun year and take off time, of course. Hopefully, I am really close to a couple of records, so I am trying to get those records. But that comes with time and effort. So that will be later on in the year probably. I am close to the 100-freestyle record and pretty close to the 500 as well, at least for Havre records."

HDN: So do you ever try to recruit Kadia, your sister to swim?

Miller: "Yes. I tried, but her first love is basketball. She works really hard at that. My love is swimming, so that's why we work together."

HDN: What has been your favorite moment or favorite part of Blue Pony swimming?

Miller: "Swimming with that state championship team, that was a pretty fun time. We had a lot of good seniors girls that year, there were four and they really pushed me. They made me become a better swimmer early on and hopefully I can do that for younger swimmers, too."