GKST Places Sixth at Divisionals, Will Have to Fight for Hardware in Conrad

The Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team took 32 swimmers to the divisional swim meet in Chinook July 28 and 29. Head coach Nicole Arnold characterized the weekend as "spectacular" and noted that 27 personal best times were achieved at the meet.

Of the 32 swimmers that competed in Chinook, 26 advanced to the state meet in Conrad this weekend.

Classes and seeding for teams is determined by the number of points scored at the divisional meets in both the Eastern and Western Federations.

Class AA:

1. Bitteroot (W), 1336.50 points; 2. Lewistown (E), 1056 points; 3. Scobey (E), 838 points; 4. Chinook (E) 814 points; 5. Sidney (E) 717 points.

Class A:

1. Columbia Falls (W), 670 points; 2. Big Sandy (W), 639 points; 3. Glendive (E), 560.60 points; 4. Conrad (W), 463.50 points; 5. Shelby (W), 456.50 points; 6. Glasgow (E), 388 points.

Class B:

1. Fort Benton (E), 362 points; 2. Harlem (E), 281.50 points; 3. Cut Bank, 271.50 points; 4. Plentywood (E), 242 points; 5. Fairfield (W), 242 points; 6. Chester (W), 231 points.

Class C:

1. Choteau (W), 200; 2. Roundup (E), 196 points; 3. Malta (E), 187 points; 4. Plains (W), 118 points; 5. Sunburst (W), 87 points.

Overall, Glasgow placed sixth in Chinook and ended up as the sixth-seed in Class A.

"Glasgow is familiar with this type of placement," explained Arnold, "and is ready yet again for an upward climb to towards trophy contention."

Leading the team in Chinook with top-three finishes were Jordan Billingsley (100m backstroke- 2nd), Peyten Birkoski (25m backstroke- 3rd), Raelee Dowden (100m butterfly- 3rd), Trevor Johnson (100m butterfly- 3rd), Katie Kaiser (50m freestyle/100m backstroke/400m freestyle- 1st), Dalton Sand (100m butterfly- 1st, 200m individual medley, 200m freestyle- 2nd) and Natosha Sand (100m butterfly- 3rd).

The GKST Athlete of the Week voted on by the coaches goes to Holt Huntsman. Huntsman had a great, yet bittersweet, weekend, said Arnold. "He gave 100 percent in all of his races and couldn't have performed better Saturday," she said. "However, this monster effort landed him in thirteenth-place in both the 25m and 50m free - just shy of making the top 12, which is required to continue on to state. Holt bettered his personal best time in the 50m freestyle by 17.63 seconds and shaved another .34 seconds in his 25m freestyle. On top of that Holt continued to shine in the 25m butterfly."

Coach Arnold highlighted other noteworthy performances from the meet in Chinook: "Dalton Sand took down a difficult season competitor in the 100m butterfly, ranking him first in the federation for that event. Abigail Kulczyk also set PR's in her three individual events and helped her two relays qualify for state. First-year swimmers, Kaylly Turner, Emersyn Tofte and Aubrey Farrar, were included in relays that placed in the top six so they will be heading on to state as well."

Another rookie swimmer, Addison Zoanni, will also be swimming at the state meet as part of two relays and the 200m freestyle. Katie Kaiser took home high point honors in the senior age group for the seventh time this season and continues to stay undefeated heading into state.

The 2018 state meet will be in Conrad Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5.

Team Scores

1 Lewistown 1,056

2 Scobey 838

3 Chinook 814

4 Sidney 717

5 Glendive 560.50

6 Glasgow 388

7 Harlem 281.50

8 Plentywood 242

9 Roundup 196

10 Malta 187

Individual Results

Peyten Birkoski (Girls 8 and Under)

25m butterfly – 11th, 30.69

25m backstroke – 3rd, 28.64

Torrance Braaten (Girls 11-12)

200m individual medley – 11th, 4:48.48

Damian Cable (Boys 13-14)

100m backstroke – 8th, 5:00.00

Raelee Dowden (Girls 13-14)

200m individual medley – 4th, 3:13.76

100m breaststroke – 5th, 1:38.28

100m butterfly – 3rd, 1:36.60

Trevor Johnson (Boys 15 & Over)

50m freestyle – 4th, 27.53

50m butterfly – 6th, 31.91

100m butterfly – 3rd – 1:15.88

Katie Kaiser (Girls 15 & Over)

50m freestyle – 1st, 30.51

100m backstroke – 1st, 1:17.33

400m freestyle – 1st, 5:19.33

Abigail Kulczyk (Girls 11-12)

200m individual medley – 8th, 3:42.44

50m breaststroke – 9th, 49.02

50m butterfly – 7th, 44.05

Jordan Billingsley (Boys 15 & Over)

50m freestyle – 11th, 30.48

100m freestyle – 11th, 1:10.31

100m backstroke – 2nd, 1:15.92

Rachel Billingsley (Girls 15 & Over)

200m individual medley –4th, 3:41.35

100m breaststroke – 11th, 1:53.76

100m butterfly –5th, 1:43.88

Allie Palm (Girls 11-12)

50m freestyle – 9th, 37.47

100m freestyle – 9th, 1:25.23

50m butterfly – 6th, 43.11

Haleigh Huntsman (Girls 8 & Under)

25m breaststroke – 5th, 32.07

50m freestyle – 11th, 55.60

25m backstroke – 11th, 30.19

Kimber Dulaney (Girls 9-10)

50m freestyle – 10th, 40.42

100m freestyle – 12th, 1:34.97

Ava Reyes (Girls 13-14)

200m individual medley – 5th, 3:24.24

50m freestyle – 11th, 35.65

100m backstroke – 4th, 1:29.05

Grace Reyes (Girls 9-10)

100m individual medley – 20th, 2:06.17

Dalton Sand (Boys 13-14)

200m individual medley – 2nd, 2:48.46

200m freestyle – 2nd, 2:21.77

100m butterfly – 1st, 1:12.85

Natosha Sand (Girls 15 & Over)

100m butterfly – 5th, 1:19.68

400m freestyle – 4th, 6:14.27

100m butterfly – 3rd, 1:33.15

Myli Swindler (Girls 9-10)

50m breaststroke – 12th, 58.47

50m backstroke -12th, 57.03

Sophia Larson (Girls 9-10)

50m freestyle – 8th, 38.17

50m breaststroke – 5th, 52.12

100m freestyle – 5th, 1:24.08

Haylly Turner (Girls 13-14)

100m breaststroke – 7th, 1:47.12

100m freestyle – 9th, 1:31.81

200m freestyle – 8th, 3:04.39

Ben Miller (Boys 15 & Over)

100m breaststroke – 4th, 1:27.45

100m freestyle – 9th, 1:08.25

400m freestyle – 5th, 5:51.02

Addison Zoanni (Girls 11-12)

200m freestyle – 8th, 3:46.54

Bergen Miller (Boys 13-14)

200m individual medley – 4th, 3:06.09

100m breaststroke – 5th, 1:31.18

100m freestyle – 7th, 1:13.90

Zavier Urbin (Boys 13-14)

200m individual medley – 6th, 3:08.45

50m butterfly – 4th, 35.41

200m freestyle – 7th, 2:45.99

Relay Results

Girls 8 & Under 100m freestyle – 5th, 1:40.85 (H. Huntsman, A. Farrar, E. Tofte, P. Birkoski)

Girls 9-10 100m freestyle – 6th, 1:17.57 (K. Dulaney, G. Reyes, M. Swindler, S. Larsen)

Girls 11-12 200m freestyle – 5th, 2:49.00 (A. Kulczyk, T. Braaten, A. Zoanni, A. Palm)

Girls 15-19 200m freestyle – 4th, 2:14.06 (N. Sand, A. Reyes, R. Dowden, K. Kaiser)

Girls 8 & Under 100m medley – 5th, 2:02.86 (A. Farrar, H. Huntsman, P. Birkoski, E. Tofte)

Girls 9-10 100m medley – 6th, 1:31.70 ( K. Turner, S. Larson, M. Swindler, K. Dulaney)

Girls 11-12 200m medley – 4th, 3:24.56 (A. Zoanni, A. Kulczyk, A. Palm, T. Braaten)

Boys 13-14 200m medley – 4th, 2:55.46 (Z. Urbin, B. Miller, D. Sand, D. Cable)

Girls 15-19 200m medley – 5th, 2:40.57 (R. Dowden, H. Turner, K. Kaiser, N. Sand)