Thunder Kick Off Swim Season in Plentywood

The Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team opened their 2023 season in Plentywood this past weekend, marking the first time the athletes have been in a pool. Despite that, members of the Thunder team earned 18 top five finishes with five first place showings.

Holt Huntsman led the Glasgow boys in three top places, winning the boys 50 free, 50 fly and 200 free in the 11-12 year old bracket. He won the 50 free with a time of 35.73, knocking 0.71 seconds off his preliminary time. He swam a 44.73 in the 50 fly, a 0.66 second improvement from the qualifying round. Huntsman posted a 5:00.67 time in the 200 free.

Abigail Kulczyk and Kila Tatafu both posted wins in the girls' events. Kulczyk swam a 3:16.75 in the girls 200 individual medley 15-19 for her win while Tatafu won the girls 25 breast 8 & under with a time of 31.53, a 1.29 second improvement from her preliminary swim.

Tatafu, Finley Tatafu, Haleigh Huntsman, Will Fuhrman and Wade Fuhrman also earned top five places at the inaugural meet, as did the girls' 9-10 100 medley relay team.

K. Tatafu earned third in the 50 free with a time of 56.70 and second in the 25 fly at 36.62. F. Tatafu placed fifth in the girls 100 free 11-12 with a 1:39.23 time and fifth in the 50 fly at 53.83.

Ha. Huntsman finished second in the girls 100 breast 13-14 with a time of 1:50.34 and second in the 200 free at 3:07.52. She took fifth in the 100 back at 1:39.83.

Wa. Fuhrman finished fifth in the boys 50 free 11-12 at 41.75, third in the 50 breast at 58.61 and second in the 50 back with a 55.17 time. Wi. Fuhrman earned second in the boys 50 free 8 & under at 55.40 and third in the 25 back with a 30.90 time.

The girls 100 medley relay team turned in a time of 2:26.56 for fifth place.

"We had a great meet. We haven't worked in a pool at all before this meet, and even given that, all of my swimmers dropped time in at least one event, or were close to their state best times from last year," said head coach Ethan Shrader. "This meet has made me excited to see what the rest of the season will bring once we do get to work in a pool."

The Thunder were scheduled to begin practice at the Wolf Point pool June 13. The Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team will be in Scobey Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18.