Flathead, Glacier swimmers advance to finals at state meet

GREAT FALLS — Flathead’s Lily Milner is through to the finals in both of her events at the All-Class State swim meet Friday.

Milner swims the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, events she hopes to repeat as state champion (she won both in 2021). She was first in preliminary heats for both events.

“She stays so calm and focused and she could break her own school records tomorrow,” Karen Bouda, coach for both the Flathead and Glacier swim teams, said.

Glacier put a number of swimmers through to finals Friday, including Derek Smith in the 200 free and 100 free, Isaac Keim in the 50 free and 100 backstroke, Drew Bouda in the 500 free, Xander Stout in the 100 butterly, Madeleine McGaughy (500 free) and Olivia Gibbons (50 free). “We have so many swimmers returning for a 2nd day swim in the finals,” Bouda said. “Many are in the consolation finals ranked 7-12th and they'll have a chance to move up."  

Ayden Strobbe-Berry (50 and 100 free) was the other Flathead swimmer that also advanced.

“He performed remarkably well, especially given that his practices the last few weeks have had to be less than 100% due to a recent concussion,” Bouda said.

The Glacier boys’ 200 medley relay team is ranked second, first in the 200 free relay and fourth in the 400 free. The girls’ relay team is third in the 200 free and sixth in the 400 free.

Flathead’s girls are ranked fifth in the 200 free relay.

”The relays came through for both FHS and GHS.  We are advancing to finals for all 11 relays that swam today.  We had some gutsy relay splits. Overall a fantastic start to the meet for both Kalispell high schools.”

Bigfork’s Sophi Logue is the top seed in the Class AB 100 girls fly, and the Bigfork girls relay team is seeded third in the 400 free and fifth in the 200 free. Another Bigfork swimmer, Sydney Slawter, is the second seed in the girls 50 free.

Sadie Cheff of Columbia Falls finished behind Logue in the 100 fly, and teammate Connor Keith was third in the prelims for the boys 100 breaststroke.

The Wildcats’ relay team was first in the 400 free prelim.

Whitefish had some success Friday as well, with the boys placing second in the 200 medley relay, Ada Qunell winning her prelim swim in the 200 individual medley, and Sydney Macintyre placing second in the girls 200 free.

The meet concludes Saturday and the first events start at 11 a.m. at the Great Falls High School pool.