Polson Swimming gears up at Missoula Invite
The Missoula Invite on Saturday, Jan. 28, was the final swim before the state meet in Great Falls. Swimmers crashed into the water ready to show what they were made of, with the Polson boys placing fourth at the meet, while the Polson girls were ninth.
“The best part about this last meet before state was to see all the swimmers perform like a team,” Polson Swim Coach Morgan Zimmerman said. “The sportsmanship they show for one another has been admirable, and seeing them get hyped up is always exciting.”
Zimmerman said that she has high expectations going into state, and looking at the qualifying times, Polson has a good chance of bringing home some hardware.
“It has been wonderful to watch them grow as people and swimmers over the season, and they make me feel lucky to be a part of the Pirate Swim Team,” Zimmerman said. “As much as I have taught them, they have taught me too.”
In the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle, Polson had two top 10 finishes, with Grace Olson placing second (2:24.76), while teammate Aspen McKee was sixth (2:30.99).
McKee finished fifth in the Girls 500-Yard Freestyle (6:37.51.6). The Polson Girls placed seventh in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (2:10.49).
Polson’s Gus Hertz won the Boys 100 Yard Freestyle (51.36), while teammate Teague McElwee was second (51.86). “They were only .50 seconds between them,” Zimmerman said.
Hertz was also third in the Boys 200 Yard Intermediate.
In the Boys 50 Yard Freestyle, McElwee was third (23.34). Truman Sawyer was fifth in the Boys 500 Yard Freestyle and Lachlan Sloan was sixth (5:57.13).
The Polson Boys were first in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (3:39.53) and second in the Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (1:40.16). Hertz, Sawyer, Sloan and McElwee were on both relays.
“As the season comes to an end, we need to stay focused and do some fine-tuning before state,” Zimmerman said. “Overall, this year has gone well. These student-athletes came together and worked hard. They have earned their place at state and are excited to race.”
Other highlights included Hayden Clairmont dropping 41 seconds in his 200 Yard Freestyle time.
“I am so proud of the effort these student-athletes have put into this swim season,” Zimmerman said.