Bigfork swimmers make state cut

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

Sarah Ward’s state cut in the 50-yard backstroke at the B-C Championship swim meet increased the number of Bigfork swimmers headed to the Montana Short Course Championship to five.

Ward was one of four swimmers from the Wave Ryder Swim Club who competed in the B-C Championship meet in Great Falls Feb. 24-25. She swam in two events in the girls’ 8-and-under division, earning 20 team points with her times. Ward finished the 50-yard backstroke in second place and was seventh in the 25-yard freestyle.

“She was very excited and very happy,” Wave Ryder coach Deidre Loyda said of Ward when she found out she had qualified for the state meet in Missoula this weekend, March 2-4. This is 8-year-old Ward’s first year swimming with the Wave Ryders.

Also representing Bigfork in Missoula will be Joseph Loyda, Jessica Loyda, Joshua Loyda and Jordan Loyda. Jordan and Chris Clark, of Whitefish, also competed at the B-C Championship. They participated only in the time trials though.

“They’re open for anyone who wants to get a time,” coach Loyda said of the time trials.

Clark notched four additional state cuts during the time trials.

A total of 14 Wave Ryders will swim in Missoula in a combined total of 68 events. Loyda said many other Wave Ryders are close to making state cuts and will likely do so during the team’s upcoming long course season. The long course season begins April 10, and the difference between the short course and long course seasons is that the long course season is swam outside in a 50-meter pool.

Ward is slated to swim in the 50-yard backstroke and the second leg of the 200-yard free relay. Also swimming in the girls’ 8-and-under girls’ division is Jessica Loyda. She’s scheduled to swim in eight events — 25 back, 50-yard breaststroke, 400 free relay, 25 breast, 100 IM, 200 medley relay, 25 free and 50 back.

Joseph Loyda qualified for his state cut at the Ryders’ home meet in Whitefish Oct. 14-15. He will swim in the 25-yard backstroke in the boys’ 8-and-under division.

Joshua Loyda will swim in nine events in the 11-12 boys’ division, including the 50 back, 200 free, 50 free, 200 medley, 500 free, 100 free, 100 back, 100 IM and the 200 free relay. Swimming in the same number of events in the same age division is Jordan Loyda.

It will be a long weekend for the older swimmers. The 10-and-under swimmers compete only in the morning, while the older swimmers have preliminary races in the morning and compete for placement in the evenings. The top seven swimmers in the prelims qualify for the finals.

Jordan’s events include the 50 back, 1,000 free, 200 back, 50 free, 200 medley, 100 free, 100 back, 100 IM and 200 free relay.

This is the team’s first year with two relays, according to coach Loyda.

“It’s hard to muster up the relays with the numbers we have,” she said.

Jordan has also qualified for the North West Age Group Sectionals in Federal Way, Wash. March 23-25. The nationally ranked meet is the highest level of competition for swimmers this age. He has qualified to swim the 50 and 100 back in Washington and is looking to add the 50 and 100 free and 100 IM, as well.

The Bigfork swimmers have another chance to compete at the Northern Plains Quad in Hardin, Mont. April 14-15. Swimmers who place first, second or third in Missoula can represent the Ryders and Montana at the meet in Hardin.