Polson swimmers take second at home meet
Grace Olson was first in the girls' 100-yard backstroke. (Photo by Tami & Hope Morrison/For the Leader)
The Polson boys won the 200-yard medley relay with Truman Sawyer, Lachlan Sloan, Teague McElwee (diver), and Gus Hertz (in the water). (Photos by Tami and Hope Morrison)
Katie Smith took second in the 100-yard breaststroke. (Photos by Tami and Hope Morrison)
The Polson High swim team took second for its combined team score at its home meet on Friday, Jan. 6, at the Mission Valley Aquatics Center.
"Our home meet was a great success," Head Coach Morgan Zimmer said. "We also honored our two seniors Aspen McKee and Hope Morrison at our meet.”
On the boys' side, Teague McElwee was first in the boys' 100-yard freestyle race (52.73) and notched a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (23.56). Gus Hertz was first in the boys' 500-yard freestyle (5:30.99), and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (23.89).
In the relays, the Polson boys won the 200-yard medley relay with Hertz, McElwee, Truman Sawyer, and Lachlan Sloan, combining for a time of 1:53.87. The boys also won the 400-yard freestyle with a time of 3:44.36.
On the girls' side, Grace Olson was first in the girls' 100-yard backstroke (1:11.21) and third in the girls' 50-yard freestyle (29.01). Aspen McKee was first in the girls' 500-yard freestyle (6:44.69). Hope Morrison notched a second-place finish in the girls' 50-yard freestyle (28.54), and a second-place finish in the girls' 100-yard freestyle (1:02.96)
Hailey Hanson placed third in the girls' 200-yard freestyle (2:48.66) and a sixth-place finish in the girls' 100-yard backstroke (1:31.85). Katie Smith was second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:42.51)
In the relays, Polson placed first in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 2:03.06, thanks to the efforts of Dixie Montgomery, McKee, Olson and Morrison; and won the girls' 400-yard freestyle with Hanson, Smith, Montgomery and Mckee, notching a time of 5:20.36.
Polson placed second in the girls' 200-yard medley relay with Olson, McKee, Montgomery and Morrison combining forces for a time of 2:21.35.
"Over Christmas break our swimmers were able to put in some real work and swam about 40,000 yards," Zimmer said. "This weekend was our first back-to-back meets with Polson on Friday and Butte Saturday."
She added Polson swimmers have been consistently dropping time from last season and sharpening their skills to get ready for state.
"The progress these athletes have made in such a short amount of time is exciting to see," Zimmer said. "We still have work to do so they are making every practice count."
The coach appreciated the support and sportsmanship that the swimmers showed one another.
"It makes me proud to be their coach and proud to be part of the Polson Pirates," Zimmer said.
