Summer swim team wins Western Divisional Title

Hungry Horse News

Four swimmers earned high point honors as the Columbia Falls summer swim team won the Western Division meet in Hamilton over the weekend.

Grady Talbot (boys 8 and under), Payson Scribner (girls 9-10), Catherine Opalka (girls 11-12), and Alanis Petersen (girls 13-14) all won high point honors.

The Wildcats also won 12 relays, which helped put them over the top.

The state meet, which wraps up the season, is this weekend in Lewistown.

Coach Kyle Babcock was pleased with the performances.

“Our kids swam very tough this weekend, and we qualified over 80% of the team to move on to the State competition this weekend in Lewistown. We have a great opportunity to head to State and show how much we’ve grown this year. I couldn’t be happier or more impressed with how hard this team has worked, and how amazing our community is,” Babcock said.

Talbot took second in the 25 freestyle, and first in the 25 backstroke and 25 butterfly.

Scribner won the 100 IM, 50 free and 50 back, while Opalka won the 200 IM, 50 breaststroke and 50 back.

Petersen won the 200 IM, 50 fly and 100 fly.

Other notable performances included Jack Conway (8 and under) taking second in the 50 free. Liam Swank (9-10) was second in the 50 free, 50 breast and 100 free.

Tyler Venegas (15-19) was second in the 50 free and 100 butterfly and first in the 50 fly.

On the girls side, Avery Role (15-19) was first in the 100 breaststroke, while Taryn Borgen (13-14) was second in the 50 fly.

Annika Petersen had a nice weekend, with a second in the 100 free, while teammate Eleanor Parson took second in the 50 breast.

Teaghan Roe (8 and under) was second in the 100 IM.