Rempe, Berry advance to state swim finals

The Daily Inter Lake

GREAT FALLS - Glacier's Phil Rempe and Flathead's Jacob Berry have qualified for the finals at the High School State Swim Meet.

Rempe had the second-fastest times in Friday's preliminary session at the C.M. Russell pool in the 100 butterfly (54.46) and 50 freestyle (22.33), while Berry finished sixth in the 100 freestyle (50.55).

Berry, a junior, just missed out on the finals in the 50 freestyle by .01 seconds. He will compete in the consolation finals of that race.

Rempe, a senior, finished fourth at state last year in the 200 individual medley and was fifth in the 100 butterfly. Berry finished sixth in the 100 freestyle.

Glacier and Flathead has advanced several swimmers to today's consolation finals, those finishing seventh through 12th in the prelims.

"It went really, really good," Flathead/Glacier coach Brandon Rannebarger said.

"To have such big swims from all the new swimmers was an absolute joy. They all dropped (times)."

Rannebarger said Flathead's Luis Silva shaved five seconds off his previous best time in the 50 freestyle.

"Molly Benedeto (Glacier) and Liz Kruse (Flathead) pulled out big swims. All the kids did, but those are just the ones that jump out at you."

Rannebarger said Glacier veteran Claire Morison "had an amazing swim" in the 100 butterfly.

"She went out brave, attacked it."

Morison, who wound up seventh, will compete in the consolation finals of that event.

No team totals were kept Friday.

Swimming begins today at 11 a.m.

Also competing in the consolation finals are: Flathead - Ashley Judd in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke; Lars Thorderson, 100 backstroke; Michael Scaccia, 100 breaststroke; Glacier - Maxie Scroggs, 100 backstroke; Kelsey Iblings, 100 breaststroke; Kyle Brady, 200 freestyle; Brian Hoffman, 100 butterfly; Sam Burch, 100 backstroke; and Patrick Phattaraampornchai, 100 breaststroke.

Glacier advanced 22 swimmers to state and Flathead 13.