Glacier girls take first at Missoula Swim Meet
MISSOULA — Olivia Gibbons swam her way to the record books, breaking a school record in the 100 breaststroke by half a second to lead the Glacier girls to a first-place team finish at the Missoula Swim Meet on Saturday.
Teammate Hanna Vornbrock finished second behind Gibbons in the 100 breastroke and also claimed first in the 200 freestyle. Gibbons also took home a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle.
Freshman Lucy Melnick and senior Madeleine McGaughy also took home first-place finishes in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly respectively.
As a team, the girls dominated the relays winning both freestyle relays and coming in second for the 200 medley relay.
“These relay teams will be critical at the state championship in February,” Coach Karen Bouda said. “We'll be working on exchanges a lot in the next few weeks so we can make the 'A' final in all 3 relays at state."
The boys team had an impressive showing, finishing in third place. Madhav Gautam placed second in the 200 in the individual medley, while teammate Ed McNeil took home third place in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle.
"Ed's been so versatile, swimming all 8 individual events in the 4 meets we've had so far this season; it's been impressive that he's willing to tackle all 4 strokes and the sprints as well as distance events,” Bouda said.
Glacier’s girls scored 451 points to easily outscore second-place Whitefish. The Wolfpack finished with a 617 combined score, 85 points ahead of Polson.
Polson boys won the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay which led to a first-place finish as a team with 318 points.
In individual races, Polson’s Teague McElwee finished ahead of Flake in the 100 backstroke, swimming three seconds faster.
Whitefish’s Liesel Klein earned first-place in the girls 200 individual medley whcih contributed to a second-place finish with 312 points.
Flathead finished in eighth place for team competition, but junior Miles Flake was able to reach the podium with a second-place finish in the 100 backstroke.