Mission Valley Aquatic Center shines during state championships

Friday, Feb. 24, I went to the beautifully built Mission Valley Aquatic Center to watch the best swimmers from all over Montana compete for state titles in their respective age levels and stroke disciplines. There were young people from ages 8 to 17. The skill these competitors displayed was remarkable.

We are so lucky to have this tremendous facility in our relatively small town of Polson.

I want to particularly commend the swim team parents, aquatic center staff and my friends Matt and Tana Seeley for their exemplary efforts in making this exciting competition a success. Their daughter, Isabel, was an impressive competitor as a 10-year-old.

Also, kudos to the local sponsors from Polson and Ronan, who promoted this event, including restaurants, who provided some excellent food that could be reasonably purchased by competitors and families alike.

In closing, I want to again mention Tana Seeley, who in 2002 started dreaming of bringing this facility to Lake County. When others were dubious, she diligently persisted and her steadfast drive and never-give-up attitude, along with those who joined and supported her, has brought us this magnificent facility.

Thank you Tana.

– Virgil Hess, Polson