Swimmers take second at Plains

The Columbia Falls swim team took second at the Plains Invitational on June 21-22. The team was led by Zayne Friar and Jessica Loyda, who each scored 42 points for the Wildcats. Bitterroot won the meet.

In the 13-14 year old age group, Friar won the 50-meter freestyle, 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly, and Loyda won the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle.

Several other swimmers had an excellent meet as well.

The 13-14 year old boys team won the 200 meter medley, the 9-10 boys team won the 100 meter medley, and the 11-12 boys team won the 200 meter medley. The boys 13-14 team won the 200 relay, and the 9-10 boys team won the 100 relay.

Bubba Loyda won the 13-14 boys 100 backstroke, and Kaylee King won the girls 8-and-under 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle.

For the 11-12 boys, Tyler Langton nabbed a gold in the 100 meter freestyle, and Riker Foster won the 50 freestyle.

The Cats travel to Cut Bank for a meet this weekend.

On June 14-15 the team opened its season in Hamilton and took second overall. All told, 30 swimmers competed.

Russell Albin was the coach’s choice of male athlete of the meet. Albin was the top point-winner for the boys with 40 points, followed by Tyler Langton with 36 in the 11-12 age group.

Albin won the 100 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly and was a member of the 200 meter relay, which also took first. Langton won the 50 meter freestyle finals. Bubba Loyda won the 50 meter freestyle finals in the 13-year-old age group.

The female athlete of the meet was Hayden Pierce. She racked up 36 points in the 15-19 age group, winning the 100 meter breaststroke finals and taking several second and third place finishes.

The Cats travel to Cut Bank for a meet this weekend.