Blue Ponies race to the end in Great Falls

Hard work always pays off, they say, and that was the case for the Havre High swim team Friday and Saturday.

The Blue Ponies have been diving into action throughout the season to improve and make some noise at the Montana State Swimming Championships.

And though Havre did not take any hardware home Saturday in the Swarthout Fieldhouse Pool in Great Falls, there were a lot of moments where the dedication and work resulted in some great individual results. In the end, the Havre girls placed in fifth with 19 points, while the boys team finished fourth with 38 points.

With the meet and season over, HHS head coach Bill Kilgore was glad to see his team put forward a lot of effort into the state meet.

"All of our kids swam fantastic," Kilgore said. "The team results won't reflect just how well the kids performed because we lacked depth and experience this year, but with the exception of a couple of events, all of our kids swam personal best times. Some of those time drops were substantial and a result of the hard work our kids have put in this year. You can't end the year on a successful note without putting in hard work throughout the season. This past weekend was indicative of the sacrifices and work our swimmers put in this year. I am so proud of them for putting in that effort and reaping the rewards of their hard work."

The HHS boys team had quite a few notable swims. Senior Jacob Miller was crowned a state champion in the boys 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:07.63, two seconds less than his previous best, and he finished third in the 100 freestyle in 54.16 seconds.

Freshman Carson Sandstrom tore up the water, placing second in the 500 freestyle in 5:53.19 and third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:02.88. Junior Brigham Blackwell finished third in the 500 freestyle with a 5:58.32, while the Havre boys finished third in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:45.79.

For the Pony girls team, Junior Kobi Burchard placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:18.89 and dropped five seconds in the 100 fly, Blakelee Lines landed in third in the 500 freestyle in 5:58.32 and dropped 10 seconds in the 200 IM, as well, and the Havre girls finished third in the 200 freestyle relay with a 1:53.30. Morgan Flammond made finals in the 100 freestyle.

Overall, there were many great moments for the Ponies over the weekend, but Kilgore saw something stand out with his team that brings a smile to any face.

"Our kids have really come to appreciate sportsmanship and supporting swimmers other than our own team," Kilgore said. "It's a really special thing to watch these kids realize that this is a sport that everyone is trying to enjoy and succeed in, and it is an opportunity to support fellow competitors instead of putting them down. To me, this is the benefit of sports at this age; the opportunity for our youth to learn to compete, but also learn how to support and cheer for others to do well. Havre should be proud of this team and how they represent our community with honor, respect and humility."

Now, Havre's swim season has come to an end. There will be a good group of seniors graduating this year, while the rest of the team will be young and hungry for more swimming next year.

A lot has happened throughout the season for HHS, with many individual standouts like Miller, Burchard and Sandstrom making big splashes in the water, while the team as a whole has worked hard this year to bring home some great results.

For Kilgore, there was a lot of things that made this season a little more challenging, but he is excited, nonetheless, for the next year and into the future.

"This has been an interesting year for us," Kilgore said. "We graduated a whole lot of talent and experience last year, and we started this year with lots of new swimmers. Not just freshmen moving up, but inexperienced swimmers across all grades. I consider that a fantastic indication that our program is gaining in popularity and more kids want to try this awesome sport. We are most definitely rebuilding right now, and with our feeder program, the Lion's Club, starting to flourish under the great coaching of Hayley Coursey, I have no doubt that within a couple of years Havre will be a perennial favorite to win the state meet. With patience, consistent coaching, and enthusiasm, good things are in the future for this program. We just have to stay the course, and coach Cammon and I intend to do just that."

With that, the Havre High swim team's season has come to an end and the Ponies will be waiting to get back in the water to go even further next year.

2020 MHSA State Swim Meet

in Great Falls

Friday's Preliminaries

Girls 200 Freestyle

1, Kunz, Helena R, Whitefish, 2:04.12. 2, Logue, Sophi, Bigfork, 2:05.19. 3, Early, Alyson, Central, 2:08.42. 4, Macintyre, Sydney, Whitefish, 2:11.13. 5, Anderson, Katelyn N, Central, 2:14.87. 6, Flamm, Macie, Hardin, 2:29.17. 7, Messineo, Tori, Havre, 2:37.56. 9, Pratt, Hannah, Havre, 2:38.79. 10, Rhines, Angela, Havre, 2:38.96. 14, Flores, Nina, Havre, 2:43.16.

Boys 200 Freestyle

1, Botner, Logan, Whitefish, 1:57.24. 2, Starring, Nicholas, Whitefish High, 2:00.92. 3, Sandstrom, Carson, Havre, 2:03.64. 4, Yarlott, Jayden, Hardin, 2:06.35. 5, Role, James, Columbia Falls, 2:08.09. 6, Cammon, Hiram, Havre, 2:10.63.

Girls 200 IM

1, Qunell, Ada J, Whitefish, 2:13.40. 2, Beers, Megan, Central, 2:22.89. 3, Smith, Ellie, Central, 2:29.74. 4, Lines, Blakelee, Havre, 2:46.81. 5, Martin, Aspen, Central, 2:50.81. 6, Wells, Darby, Hardin, 2:54.41.

Boys 200 IM

1, Preston, Ring, Whitefish, 2:00.70. 2, Apostol, Bennett B, Central, 2:12.62. 3, Cheff, Connor, Columbia Falls, 2:21.97. 4, Mark, Caleb, Hardin, 2:25.44. 5, Molloy, Jake, Central, 2:25.81. 6, Schrader, Adam, Columbia Falls, 2:32.33.

Girls 50 Freestyle

1, Peterson, Julia M, Central, 24.99. 2, Kogolshak, Rylee, Hardin, 26.98. 3, Weaver, Kay, Whitefish, 27.08. 4, Henson, Jessica, Whitefish, 28.35. 5, Anderson, Ashley, Bigfork, 28.74. 5, Roan, Kailee, Hardin, 28.74. 7, Flammond, Morgan, Havre, 29.09. 11, Maloughney, Katelyn, Havre, 30.11. 16, Pratt, Aliviah, Havre, 32.95. 23, Vogel, Carsyn, Havre, 39.83.

Boys 50 Freestyle

1, Stevens, Dominic, Hardin, 22.53. 2, Malmberg, Peyton M, Columbia Falls, 24.27. 3, Dalen, Ben, Whitefish, 24.75. 4, Hilton, Brett, Central, 24.86. 5, Dunnagan, Zack, Whitefish, 25.37. 6, Blackwell, Brigham, Havre, 26.37. 11, McKay, Connor, Havre, 27.61. 12, Varney, Trenton, Havre, 28.31. 13, Powell, Troy, Havre, 28.32.

Girls 100 Butterfly

1, Logue, Sophi, Bigfork, 1:04.56. 2, Burchard, Kobi, Havre, 1:07.37. 3, Hanson, Nia, Whitefish, 1:08.25. 4, Bodine, Lauren M, Central, 1:12.01. 5, Henson, Jessica, Whitefish, 1:12.33. 6, Kunz, Riley S, Central, 1:12.86. 9, Maloughney, Katelyn, Havre, 1:30.41.

Boys 100 Butterfly

1, Stevens, Dominic, Hardin, 54.16. 2, Molloy, Jake, Central, 1:04.18. 3, McDaniel, Jack, Whitefish, 1:04.67. 4, Wood, Bonner, Hardin, 1:05.76. 5, Dalen, Ben, Whitefish, 1:06.25. 6, Cammon, Hiram, Havre, 1:06.72.

Girls 100 Freestyle

1, Kunz, Helena R, Whitefish, 56.83. 2, Early, Alyson, Central, 59.13. 3, Three Irons, Andrea, Hardin, 1:00.22. 4, Roan, Kailee, Hardin, 1:02.85. 5, Snell, Maria, Central, 1:02.89. 6, Flammond, Morgan, Havre, 1:04.04. 8, Lines, Blakelee, Havre, 1:04.74. 17, LaSmith, Willie, Havre, 1:15.67. 23, Vogel, Carsyn, Havre, 1:29.42.

Boys 100 Freestyle

1, Preston, Ring, Whitefish, 48.41. 2, Apostol, Bennett B, Central, 53.56. 3, Miller, Jacob, Havre, 54.61. 4, Mark, Caleb, Hardin, 55.54. 5, Dicks, Kelvin, Whitefish, 55.72. 6, Role, James, Columbia Falls, 55.97. 11, McKay, Connor, Havre, 1:05.68.

Girls 500 Freestyle

1, Beers, Megan, Central, 5:30.57. 2, Hanson, Nia, Whitefish, 6:00.47. 3, Macintyre, Sydney, Whitefish, 6:05.96. 4, Templin, Emerald, Columbia Falls, 6:14.52. 5, Martin, Aspen, Central, 6:44.85. 6, Uffleman, Abby, Hardin, 6:50.06. 10, Pratt, Aliviah, Havre, 7:02.27.

Boys 500 Freestyle

1, Starring, Nicholas, Whitefish, 5:28.70. 2, Sandstrom, Carson, Havre, 5:52.85. 3, Blackwell, Brigham, Havre, 6:02.31. 4, Yarlott, Jayden, Hardin, 6:03.19. 5, Whiteman, Josh, Hardin, 6:10.21. 6, Walks Over Ice, Wynn, Central, 6:20.71.

Girls 100 Backstroke

1, Qunell, Ada J, Whitefish, 1:02.82. 2, Anderson, Katelyn N, Central, 1:08.20. 3, Smith, Ellie, Central, 1:08.61. 4, Kunz, Riley S, Central, 1:08.68. 5, Three Irons, Andrea, Hardin, 1:12.46. 6, Miller, Megan, Havre, 1:12.81. 10, Pratt, Hannah, Havre, 1:21.32. 11, Messineo, Tori, Havre, 1:24.26.

Boys 100 Backstroke

1, Botner, Logan, Whitefish, 1:02.03. 2, Dicks, Aaron, Whitefish, 1:05.30. 3, Wood, Bonner, Hardin, 1:07.70. 4, Sjostrom, Bailey, Columbia Falls, 1:12.56. 5, Mason, Caleb, Hardin, 1:12.61. 6, Richert, Ethan M, Central, 1:12.96. 7, Hagstrom, Wyatt, Havre, 1:13.53.

Girls 100 Breaststroke

1, Peterson, Julia M, Central, 1:11.21. 2, Kogolshak, Rylee, Hardin, 1:15.34. 3, Bodine, Lauren M, Central, 1:17.32. 4, Burchard, Kobi, Havre, 1:18.24. 5, McDaniel, Patricia R, Whitefish, 1:23.69. 6, Rhines, Angela, Havre, 1:25.15. 14, Flores, Nina, Havre, 1:37.62. 16, LaSmith, Willie, Havre, 1:43.62.

Boys 100 Breaststroke

1, Miller, Jacob, Havre, 1:07.62. 2, Cheff, Connor, Columbia Falls, 1:09.57. 3, Malmberg, Peyton M, Columbia Falls, 1:10.74. 4, Dicks, Kelvin, Whitefish High, 1:13.72. 5, Mark, Toby, Hardin, 1:16.94. 6, Kay, Christian, Central, 1:17.56. 9, Varney, Trenton, Havre, 1:21.81. 11, Powell, Troy, Havre, 1:26.35.

Saturday Class A Finals

GIRLS – 1. Billings Central 109, 2. Whitefish 89, 3. Hardin 32, 4. Bigfork 20, 5. Havre 19, 6. Columbia Falls 3.

BOYS – 1. Whitefish 96.5, 2. Hardin 61, 3. Billings Central 44.5, 4. Havre 38, 5. Columbia Falls 31.

Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay

•BCH 2:01.73; 2. HAR 2:07.55; 3. WHS 2:08.26; 4. BFH 2:13.12; 5. CFH 2:17.77; 6. HAV 2:27.87.

Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay

•WHS 1:48.35; 2. CFH 1:54.46; 3. BCH 1:56.15; 4. HAR 1:59.98; 5. HAV 2:17.51.

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle

•Kunz, Helena, WHS, 2:03.30; 2. Early, Alyson, BCH, 2:04.43; 3. Logue, Sophie, BFH, 2:07.43; 4. Macintyre, Sydney, WHS, 2:11.60; 5. Anderson, Katelyn, BCH, 2:16.42; 6. Flamm, Macie, HAR, 2:27.96.

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle

• Botner, Logan, WHS, 1:52.88; 2. Starring, Nicholas, WHS, 1:58.92; 3. Sandstrom, Carson, HAV, 2:02.88; 4. Yarlott, Jayden, HAR, 2:07.04; 5. Cammon, Hiram, HAV, 2:09.43; 6. Role, James, CFH, 2:09.66.

Girls 200 Yard IM

• Qunell, Ada, WHS, 2:13.01; 2. Beers, Megan, BCH, 2:20.85; 3. Smith, Ellie, BCH, 2:32.17; 4. Lines, Blakelee, HAV, 2:45.96; 5. Martin, Aspen, BCH, 2:53.24; 6. Wells, Darby, HAR, 2:56.00.

Boys 200 Yard IM

• Preston, Ring, WHS, 2:03.05; 2. Apostol, Bennett, BCH, 2:14.24; 3. Cheff, Connor, CFH, 2:24.00; 4. Molloy, Jake, BCH, 2:25.95; 5. Mark, Caleb, HAR, 2:28.42; 6. Schrader, Adam, CFH, 2:33.32.

Girls 50 Yard Freestyle

•Peterson, Juila, BCH, 24.62; 2. Kogolshak, Rylee, HAR, 27.15; 3. Weaver, Kay, WHS, 27.21; 4. Henson, Jessica, WHS, 27.85; 5. Roan, Kailee, HAR, 28.33; 6. Anderson, Ashley, BFH, 28.65.

Boys 50 Yard Freestyle

•Stevens, Dominic, HAR, 22.56; 2. Malmberg, Peyton, CFH, 24.10; 3. Dalen, Ben, WHS, 24.68; 4. Hilton, Brett, BCH, 24.74; 5. Dunnagan, Zack, WHS, 25.12; 6. Blackwell, Brigham, HAV, 26.43.

Girls 100 Yard Butterfly

•Logue, Sophi, BFH, 1:03.73; 2. Hanson, Nia, WHS, 1:05.89; 4. Henson, Jessica, WHS, 1:09.90; 5. Burchard, Kobi, HAV, 1:11.26; 6. Kunz, Riley, BCH, 1:13.50.

Boys 100 Yard Butterfly

• Stevens, Dominic, HAR, 54.51; *2. Molloy, Jake, BCH, 1:04.20; *2. McDaniel, Jack, WHS, 1:04.20; 4. Cammon, Hiram, HAV, 1:05.89; 5. Wood, Bonner, HAR, 1:06.08; 6. Dalen, Ben, WHS, 1:06.83.

Girls 100 Yard Freestyle

• Kunz, Helena, WHS, 56.21; 2. Early, Alyson, BCH, 57.66; 3. Three Irons, Andrea, HAR, 59.89; 4. Snell, Maria, BCH, 1:03.22; 5. Roan, Kailee, HAR, 1:03.28; 6. Flammond, Morgan, HAV, 1:04.86.

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle

• Preston, Ring, WHS, 48.17; 2. Apostol, Bennett, BCH, 53.35; 3. Miller, Jacob, HAV, 54.16; 4. Mark, Caleb, HAR, 55.07; 5. Dicks, Kelvin, WHS, 55.76; 6. Role, James, CFH, 56.48.

Girls 500 Yard Freestyle

• Beers, Megan, BCH, 5:23.05; 2. Macintyre, Sydney, WHS, 5:49.58; 3. Hanson, Nia, WHS, 5:55.57; 4. Templin, Emerald, CFH, 6:20.92; 5. Martin, Aspen, BCH, 6:47.42; 6. Uffleman, Abby, HAR, 6:52.77.

Boys 500 Yard Freestyle

• Starring, Nicholas, WHS, 5:25.32; 2. Sandstrom, Carson, HAV, 5:53.19; 3. Blackwell, Brigham, HAV, 5:58.32; 4. Yarlott, Jayden, HAR, 6:01.58; 5. Whiteman, Josh, HAR, 6:01.67; 6. Walks Over Ice, Wynn, BCH, 6:17.74.

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

• WHS 1:44.73; 2. BCH 1:47.80; 3. HAV 1:53.30; 4. HAR 1:53.97; 5. BFH 2:15.50; 6. CFH 2:17.72.

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle

• HAR 1:37.14; 2. BCH 1:39.39; 3. WHS 1:39.81; 4. HAV 1:41.82; 5. CFH 1:48.30.

Girls 100 Yard Backstroke

• Qunell, Ada, WHS, 1:01.22; 2. Kunz, Riley, BCH, 1:07.48; 3. Anderson, Katelyn, BCH, 1:07.54; 4. Smith, Ellie, BCH, 1:08.36; 5. Three Irons, Andrea, HAR, 1:10.68; 6. Miller, Megan, HAV, 1:12.84.

Boys 100 Yard Backstroke

• Botner, Logan, WHS, 58.43; 2. Wood, Bonner, HAR, 1L04.53; 3. Dicks, Aaron, WHS, 1:04.94; 4. Richert, Ethan, BCH, 1:10.89; 5. Mason, Caleb, HAR, 1:11.03.

Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke

• Peterson, Julia, BCH, 1:09.94; 2. Bodine, Lauren, BCH, 1:14.21; 3. Kogolshak, Rylee, HAR, 1:14.78; 4. Burchard, Kobi, HAV, 1:18.89; 5. McDaniel, Patricia, WHS, 1:22.86; 6. Rhines, Angela, HAV, 1:30.32.

Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke

• Miller, Jacob, HAV, 1:07.63; 2. Malmberg, Peyton, CFH, 1:10.18; 3. Cheff, Connor, CFH, 1:10.22; 4. Dicks, Kelvin, WHS, 1:13.77; 5. Kay, Christian, BCH, 1:17.84; 6. Mark, Toby, HAR, 1:18.87.

Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

• BCH 3:48.84; 2. WHS 3:50.83; 3. BFH 4:18.87; 4. HAV 4:20.18; 5. HAR 4:22.82; 6. CFH 4:3.75.

Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

• WHS 3:32.22; 2. HAR 3:39.26; 3. HAV 3:45.79; 4. CFH 3:49.13; 5. BCH 3:53.09.