Columbia Falls boys win state A-B swim title

Led by two first-place finishes from Colton Babcock, the Columbia Falls boys swim team won its first state A-B title in Great Falls last weekend.

Babcock won 50 freestyle with a time of 21.95 and the 100 freestyle with a 46.91. In individual events, an athlete medals against swimmers in all classes, which makes Babcock’s times the best in the state.

Columbia Falls had 93 points to Billings Central’s 73 for the title. Central won the event last year.

As a team, the boys took third in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:33.31 and the 200 freestyle relay with a 1:34.41.The 200 relay team was Babcock, Zayne Friar, Bryce Callender and Jacob Hohman. The 400 relay was Babcock, Sage Wanner, Friar and Hohman.

“Colton has worked hard throughout the season and deserves the two state championships and two third-place medals in the relays.  Every practice he is pushing himself to the extreme and encourages his teammates every set,” coach Mike Nelson said.

“It was exciting to have that much competition,” Babcock said of the 50 free. “It was anyone’s race. I just got the last finger over.”

The 100 free was a different matter.

“Off the wall, I knew I had it,” he said. Babcock’s time was .47 seconds off the state record.

“I’ll get it next year,” the junior said.

Nelson said they were one-point behind going into the 400 relay, but the relay teams came through to secure the title.

The girls took third, with 19 points.

Karyssa Nelson led the girls with a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle with a 25.47. She also took eighth in the 100 backstroke. 

Also doing well was Zayne Friar, who took fifth in the 100 butterfly and eighth in the 200 freestyle. Ashley Caffrey was 11th in the 50 freestyle and Jacob Hohman was 12th in the 100 freestyle.

Nelson set new school marks in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while Babcock set new school marks in the 50 and 100 freestyle. The girls and boys also set new school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.