Personal Bests Abound for Glasgow Thunder in Lewistown

After taking a week off to celebrate Independence Day, the Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team was back at it in competition in Lewistown this past weekend, July 13 and 14. A total of 20 swimmers participated in the meet, with 17 of those swimmers setting personal records in at least one individual event. "With only one regular meet left, it is exciting to see major time and technical improvements in so many events of the swimmers' races," stated head coach Nicole Arnold.

Taking sixth place with 340 points, Glasgow fell behind Lewistown, Sidney, Chinook, Glendive and Harlem. However the team is looking forward to seeing what can be accomplished with the rest of the season. "Each swimmer has big goals as the season is coming to the end," said Arnold.

Leading the team with top three finishes was Raelee Dowden (200 IM / 100 breaststroke – first; 100 butterflyfly-second), Holt Huntsman (25 butterfly- second), Katie Kaiser (50 freestyle/100 backstroke/400 freestyle- first), Abigail Kulczyk (50 breaststroke – second, 200 IM – third) and Dalton Sand (100 freestyle/50 freestyle/50 butterfly – first). For the fourth meet in a row, Kaiser took high point honor in her age group while Sand, for the fifth meet in a row, took high point honors in his age group.

For another week, two individuals again impressed the coaches during the meet and the coaches are recognizing them as GKST Athletes of the Week for their performances in the pool. The first athlete recognized is Halle Hunter (10) for placing in all three of her individual races and also for leading the two relays in her age-group to top five finishes. "In her first two events, the 100 freestyle and the 50 freestyle, she showed great technique and professionalism as she took off a total of 27.5 seconds. She also came back at the end of a long and hot day with a tremendous effort in the 50 backstroke that put her into the championship heat going into the finals Sunday," said Arnold.

The second GKST Athlete of the Week goes to Abigail Kulczyk (12). "Abigail is just one of the many dedicated swimmers we have on the team. When you get in the habit of attending every single swim meet throughout the course of the season, personal best times don't always come easy," said Arnold. Kulczyk took off 13.5 seconds in her 200 freestyle exhibition race, which Arnold believes will be one of the events she focuses on heading into Divisionals and State. "Everything in Abigail's butterfly stroke clicked this weekend as she glided across the pool in the butterfly with ease," recalled Arnold.

Other standout performances came from Dalton Sand who set two new pool records in the 200 freestyle and 50 butterfly. "His pool records were very difficult to obtain as Lewistown has hosted some major competitions in the past few years. Dalton's times in these events just puts him seconds away from the Federation records in both races which he is working to claim by the end of this season," said Arnold.

Performances by Sophia Larson, who swam three technically sound races, and Grace Reyes, who p.r.ed in all of her individual races without googles helped get the team on the board. "Grace swam without googles on purposes as she believes they slow her down. She is finding her voice within her competitive age group," said Arnold.

This weekend the team will head to the Glendive Swim Meet July 20 and 21 before heading to the Divisional meet in Scobey Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28.

Team Scores

Lewistown 1,065

Sidney 681

Chinook 513

Glendive 502

Harlem 348

Glasgow 340

Roundup 243

Scobey 166

Malta 164

Plentywood 140

Relay Results

Girls 9-10 100m freestyle – 5; Halle Hunter, Haleigh Huntsman, Kaylly Turner, Grace Reyes 1:24.85

Girls 11-12 200m freestyle – 4; Sophia Larson, Kimber Dulaney, Abigail Kulczyk, 2:34.29

Girls 15-19 200m freestyle – 1; Raelee Dowden, Ava Reyes, Haylly Turner, Katie Kaiser, 2:15.92

Girls 9-10 100m medley – 4; Haleigh Huntsman, Grace Reyes, Halle Hunter, 1:34.84

Girls 11-12 200m medley – 4; Kimber Dulaney, Sophia Larson, Abigail Kulczyk, 3:10.25

Girls 15-19 200m medley – 2; Katie Kaiser, Haylly Turner, Raelee Dowden, Ava Reyes 2:36.19

Individual Results

Torrance Braaten (Girls 13-14) 200m IM - 4:41.61; 50m freestyle - 44.80; 50m butterfly - 53.94

Raelee Dowden (Girls 15-19) 200m IM – 3.15.32; 100m breaststroke – 1:34.74; 100m butterfly – 1:24.27

Kimber Dulaney (Girls 11-12) 50m freestyle – 41.04; 100m freestyle - 1:35.75; 50m backstroke - 51.31; 200m freestyle – 3:28.35

Halle Hunter (Girls 9-10) 50m freestyle – 41.83; 100m freestyle – 1:43.40; 50m backstroke – 52.74

Haleigh Huntsman (Girls 9-10) 50m backstroke 57.99

Holt Huntsman (Boys 8 and under) 100 IM – 2:25.37; 25m freestyle – 21.98; 50m freestyle - 46.38m; 25m-freestyle – 29.87

Katie Kaiser (Girls 15-19) 50m freestyle – 30.35; 100m backstroke – 1:16.87; 400m freestyle - 5:30.13; 100m butterfly - 1:23

Abigail Kulczyk (Girls 11-12) 200 IM – 3:25.65; 50m breaststroke – 44.93; 50m butterfly – 40.49; 200m freestyle 2:55.90

Nicholas Kulczyk (Boys 8 and under) 25m freestyle – 25.38; 50m freestyle – 53.90; 25m backstroke – 31.52

Sophia Larson (Girls 11-12) 50m breaststroke - 49.71; 100m freestyle – 1:23.13; 200m freestyle 3:04.55

Ava Reyes (Girls 13-14) 50m freestyle - 35.72; 100m freestyle – 1:23.74; 100m backstroke - 1:40.18

Grace Reyes (Girls 9-10) 100 IM -1:52.96; 100m freestyle -1:23.74; 100m backstroke -1:40.18

Dalton Sand (Boys 13-14) 100m freestyle -1:00.67; 50m butterfly - 30.54; 200m freestyle – 2:19.51

Myli Swindler (Girls 11-12) 50m breaststroke 1:00.12; 50m backstroke – 55.42; 50m butterfly- 55.45

Haylly Turner (Girls 13-14) 200 IM 3:34.67; 100 breaststroke – 1:43.91; 100m freestyle – 1:21.90

Kaylly Turner (Girls 9-10) 50m backstroke 53.89

Michasel Winchester (Boys 15-19) 50m freestyle – 38.81; 400m freestyle 6:41.99