Stelter doubles up on swim coaching duties

Will guide Flathead, Glacier programs for 2007-08 season

Paul Stelter is pulling double duty this swim season.

The veteran high school coach has taken on the responsibility of not only serving as the head man at Flathead High School, but also the head coach at Glacier High School as well.

"I'm glad," he said of the decision to go with one coach

"The kids have known each other since they were real young. I feel the schools should support and respect each other. I really like that were one family."

The two schools will practice and travel together, but when it comes time to compete, they will be two separate squads.

Stelter has 24 swimmers practicing of which 10 are on the Flathead squad and 14 are with Glacier.

"I think a lot of it has to do with logistics," he said of having one head coach for both schools.

"We only have one swimming pool (The Summit) in town and very limited time there (5:45-7:30 a.m.). I think it was more of that than anything else."

There is also no cross-town swim meet this year, which could have been a coaching headache for Stelter.

Stelter said if Kalispell had just one AA team like in previous years, this edition of the FHS swim teams, boys and girls, would be tough to beat.

"The boys and girls would be top three (at state)," Stelter said.

"But that's the way it is.

"That's frustrating," he continued.

"I would have had one quality team, but when I split it into two …"

The talent pool gets watered down.

Of the 24 out for swimming, Stelter says 15 should qualify for state. Of that group, only three are seniors - Dan Brown, Andrew Unterreiner and Allison Grubb. All three will swim for Flathead.

Also swimming for Flathead are: Ashley Judd, Jacob Berry, Jennifer Cates, Lamb Lingelser, Linzi Reiersgard, Logan Hunter and David Brown.

On the Glacier roster are: Andrea Koestner, Brian Hoffman, Claire Morison, Dan Howell, Karli Kusler, Kelsey Iblings, Kyle Brady, Patrick Phattharaampornchai, Philip Rempe, Quin Stevens, Sammi Hammet, Seth Bumgarner, Tessa Heck and Samantha King.

Assisting Stelter with the coach will be Brandon Rannebarger and Annie Gustafson.

Flathead and Glacier open the season at home today with the Flathead Invitational. Invitationals follow in Havre, Great Falls and Helena. There is also a trip to Missoula for a dual meet.

State is scheduled for Feb. 8-9 in Hardin.

"This is my last year," Stelter said.

"I feel really good about the assistant coaches I have."

Stelter says having Rannebarger on the high school staff will help build a stronger program at both schools. Rannebarger is the head coach of the Kalispell Aquatic Team (KATS).

"We were very successful (at the high school level) when I was doing both programs," Stelter said.

"We have a lot of good seventh and eighth graders coming up (thanks to Rannebarger). Brandon will most likely take over (Flathead and Glacier) next year."

This will mark Stelter's 18th season as a head coach on the prep level. He has been coaching 25 years total in the valley.