Lake Monsters make waves at Montana Swimming Championships

The Lake Monsters Swim Team showcased their talent and tenacity at the 2025 Montana Swimming Short Course Championships in Butte, delivering an impressive performance against stiff competition. The event, featuring 14 teams and 370 swimmers from across the state, saw the young athletes from Polson shine with personal bests, podium finishes, and qualifications for regional meets.

Lake Monsters Head Coach Neil Romney expressed his pride in the team’s efforts, highlighting their dedication and growth throughout the competition.

"Overall, I was pleased with our performance,” he said. “We had 71% preliminary and 100% final personal records. The athletes who put in the work saw the payoff at State with faster times and strong placings."

Annie Kleinmeyer dominates: Leading the charge for the Lake Monsters was 10-year-old Annie Kleinmeyer, who amassed an impressive 50 points for the team. Kleinmeyer took home first-place finishes in the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:50.57) and a first-place finish/USA Swimming AA mark for the 50-yard Breaststroke (40.72).

In addition, she placed in the top three in four other events, including a third-place finish in the 100-yard Butterfly (81.12), where she dropped eight seconds, and a runner-up finish in the 100-yard Individual Medley.

Kleinmeyer’s times placed her among the nation’s best, earning USA Swimming AA times (top 8% nationally) in the 50 Breaststroke and 50 Butterfly, as well as A times (top 15%) in multiple other events.

Hailey Cottet’s breakthrough: Another star performer was Hailey Cottet, who secured 36 points for the team and demonstrated her potential at the highest level.

Cottet earned a second-place finish in the 100-yard Butterfly (1:20.04), where she dropped three seconds and achieved her first-ever AA time. This milestone qualified her for the Southwest Age Group Regionals (SWAAGR) in Sacramento, March 21-23.

She also finished second in the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:59.51), breaking the three-minute barrier for the first time with an eight-second drop.

Hannah Harriman’s state debut: Competing in her first state meet, Hannah Harriman proved she belonged, delivering a 100% personal record rate across all events. She recorded the team’s biggest cumulative time drop, shaving off a total of 35 seconds.

A standout performance came in the 200-yard Backstroke, where she dropped 13 seconds in prelims and another half-second in finals, finishing seventh with a time of 2:32.29. Additionally, she secured a sixth-place finish in the 400-yard Individual Medley (5:51.17) with an 11-second drop.

“Hannah improved significantly in all five of her events and demonstrated solid race skills and sound pacing strategies honed through her habit of deliberate, intentional, focused practice,” Romney said.

Squid Moore’s speed: Among the most surprising performances was Gavin “Squid” Moore’s breakthrough in the 50-yard Breaststroke. The 15-year-old dropped three seconds in prelims to earn his first finals appearance. In the finals, he continued his momentum, improving by another 8% in a single day to clock 33.44 seconds.

Audrey Hall’s major time drop: Eight-year-old Audrey Hall turned heads with a 20% improvement in the 25-yard Breaststroke, dropping six seconds to 25.52, the single biggest improvement by any Lake Monster at the meet. She also scored in four of her events, showing tremendous potential for future competitions.

Avery Harriman’s strong first appearance: Competing in her first State Championship just four weeks after qualifying, Avery Harriman made an impact, scoring points in the 100-yard Butterfly, finishing eighth with a time of 1:58.73.

Reflecting on the competition, Romney emphasized the importance of preparation and perseverance.

“I hope our participants came away with the confidence that they can compete at this level and beyond,” he said. “The hard work and attention to detail in practice paid off with some transcendent racing at State.”

He also highlighted the value of competing in individual medleys and longer stroke events, where athletes with strong stamina and efficient techniques are rewarded.

“The Lake Monsters competed like seasoned veterans despite their relative youth and inexperience,” Romney said. “Four of them were at their first State meet, and the two ‘veterans’ were only 10 years old. That speaks volumes about their determination and work ethic.”

The Lake Monsters’ performance at the State Championships signals a bright future for the team, with several swimmers already looking ahead to their next challenge at SWAAGR in Sacramento. With a mix of seasoned competitors and rising stars, Polson’s young swimmers are proving that they belong among Montana’s elite.

    Annie Klein led the charge for the Lake Monsters at the Montana Swimming Short Course Championships in Butte, amassing an impressive 50 points for the team.