Polson Swimming Team makes splash at state meet

The Montana State Swimming Meet took place in Great Falls last weekend with top-notch performances from high school swim teams across the state.

And Polson was no exception.

The Polson Swimming Team had a standout showing, with the boys' team placing 2nd overall with 62 points and individual competitors earning several top honors.

The boys 200-yard freestyle relay team brought home the state championship title with a time of 1:36.05, and the 400-yard freestyle relay team placed second (3:32.83). The relay team consisted of Gus Hertz, Truman Sawyer, Lachlan Sloan, and Teague McElwee.

"Seeing the boys win the 200-freestyle relay was incredible," Polson Swim Coach Morgan Zimmer said. "They have been working on their times, and we have played around with the order of swimmers all season. We figured out the winning combination, and they went out there and showed Montana what they were made of."

Hertz also made a splash by taking first place in Class AB's 200-yard freestyle (1:54.98) and placing second in the 100-yard freestyle (50.45).

"Gus has been working so hard to improve his 200-freestyle time," Zimmer said. "He has stayed focused on his technique and worked his pace all season. The last few weeks have really shown his progress. He wanted that spot at state, and he made it happen."

McElwee also had a strong showing, finishing second in the 50-yard freestyle (23.01) and the 100-yard backstroke (59.21).

Sawyer placed third in the 500 freestyle (5:47.83) and second in the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.03), while Sloan came in fourth in the 200-yard IM (2:26.05) and third in the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.64).

Sawyer and Sloan went head to head in the Butterfly, said Zimmer. "There is always some friendly competition in the pool, and they dropped time Friday and then again on Saturday, achieving second and third."

The Polson girls' team placed fifth overall, with several members earning recognition for their performances.

Grace Olson took third in both the 200-yard freestyle (2:19.57) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:08.81), while senior Aspen McKee placed third in the 500-yard freestyle (6:27.62). Senior Hope Morrison came in sixth in the 100-yard freestyle (1:03.70) and fifth in the 50-yard freestyle (28.31.6), and Dixie Montgomery placed sixth in the 100-yard butterfly (1:30.43).

The coach called McKee's freestyle performance “a total smash."

“The look on her face at the finish when she saw her time and looked back at me as I screamed on the side of the deck was something I will never forget."

The girls 200-yard freestyle relay team placed fourth (1:59.91), and the 400-yard freestyle relay team placed third (4:26.85).

Zimmer also had accolades for the four seniors in the 400-yard relay – McKee, Morrison, Montgomery and Olson – who “all went out with a bang."

"They all dropped a ton of time, making this relay six seconds faster than the day prior,” Zimmer said. “They did so and out-touched Whitefish to take third."

Zimmer said when the girls found her on deck, there was screaming, crying, and hugging.

"What a way to end the meet and for our seniors to finish their high school swimming career," Zimmer said.

Of the placers at state, two girls and four boys will be returning next year.

"I couldn't be more excited for the future of Polson Swimming," Zimmer said. "They are all excited to come out next season, and I have high hopes for the incoming freshmen. I see a lot of growth for seasons to come."

Hailey Hanson (100 fly, 500 free), Katie Smith(100 fly), Josh Reed(200 free, 500 free), and Hayden Clairmont (100 back, 100 breast) also made it to state for the prelims and were Polson's alternates for all the relays. Zimmer added that Kira Hensley was Polson’s student team manager and was always helpful at meets.

"Overall both teams had a ton of personal bests, learned new skills, and grew as a whole," Zimmer said. "This team had been able to be both determined and hardworking while still being silly and having fun. I could not be more proud as a coach."