Havre High swimmers ready to jump back into the pool

The state swim meet is only a few weeks away for the Havre High swim teams, so the next few meets will be important in getting ready. Last week's Class A Invite was canceled, so the Blue Ponies will be happy to get the chance to compete this Saturday when they swim in the Stacey Frey Memorial in Great Falls.

"We're looking forward to getting back into competition," HHS head coach Bill Kilgore said. "We really need to start getting tuned into what our kids are going to be entered in at state and looking to get some good times in to get qualified into the state meet."

Schools from all across the state will compete in the meet. While schools such as Missoula Hellgate and Bozeman will swim at the meet, Kilgore is more focused on competing against other Class A schools such as Hardin and Billings Central.

"Billings Central has a bunch of kids this year and they're well coached," Kilgore said. "They're a perennial state favorite and we look forward to trying to compete with them."

Many Ponies will look to pick up from where they left off two weeks ago. In his last meet, Hiram Cammon placed first in the 100-meter breaststroke and third in the boys 100-meter freestyle. Kilgore also believes Cammon can swim well in the 100-yard butterfly this weekend.

Carson Sandstrom is coming off a meet where he placed third in both the 400-meter freestyle and 50-meter freestyle. Kilgore believes Sandstrom can swim well for the Ponies in the 500-yard freestyle this weekend. Other Ponies coming off high finishes in their last meet include Ezra Goldhaun and Nata Gregoire. Goldhaun took third in the 100-meter backstroke and Gregoire placed third in the 200-meter freestyle.

The HHS girls swim team has many swimmers looking to make a splash this weekend. At the Great Falls Relay last month, Aliviah Pratt took first in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 200-yard IM. Mackenzie Dean also did well in Great Falls with a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly. Willow Riggin will also try to repeat her performance in Great Falls where she took third in the 100-yard breaststroke.

While he did not name any specific swimmers, Kilgore also expects his teams to swim well in boys 200-yard freestyle, the girls 200-yard IM, the girls 100-yard breaststroke and the girls 500-yard freestyle. After this meet, the Ponies only get one more meet before the state meet Feb. 11-12. With little time left, the Ponies will look to be at their best, starting this weekend with the Stacey Frey Invite.

The Ponies will compete in the Stacey Frey Memorial Invitational in Great Falls this Saturday. They'll head back to Great Falls for a dual with CMR/GFH next weekend to wrap up the regular season.