Nelson swims to high-point state honors

Karyssa Nelson of the Columbia Falls Swim Team captured high-point honors in the girls 9-10 age group at the 2009 Montana State Swim Meet last weekend in Roundup to cap the summer league. Nelson took gold in the 100-meter freestyle and the 100 individual medley.

Colton Babcock, competing the boys 9-10 division, won the silver medal in the 50 breaststroke.

Nelson cut 2.41 seconds from her previous best time while winning the 100 freestyle in 1:15.93. "She devastated them," head coach Mike Nelson said of her opponents in the event. Her first-place time in the 100 IM was 1:31.65. Nelson placed fourth in the 50 butterfly (40.64).

"I'm very proud of her as a dad and as a coach," Mike Nelson said.

Babcock was second in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 48.30, which was a cut of 2.52 seconds from his previous best. He took off 1.69 seconds while placing sixth in the 100 IM, and Babcock trimmed 2.57 seconds in the 50 butterfly, where he was 10th.

"His stroke really came together," Nelson said. "His effort definitely showed in his swimming."

Teamwise, CFST finished in 14th place with 181 points The Sidney Tiger Sharks won the state title with 954 points. Lewistown was second (823), and Bitterroot third (492).

Other significant time cuts: Vincent Erickson, 3.55 seconds in 100 fly; Sydney Gillette, 2.66 in 200 IM; Dalton Nelson, 2.11 in 100 free; Katelynn Piper, 2.64 in 400 free; Kirby Sharbono, 8.34 in 400 free; and Casey Shea, 11.05 in 200 IM.

Nelson singled out Logan Kolodejchuk. He earned ninth in the 100 free and 12th in the 50 free in the 9-10 age group.

"As a rookie placing in the finals was exceptional," Nelson said.

The coach also gave credit to Kaleb Bagley, who traveled 700 miles to just swim in a relay at Roundup.

"Most everybody improved from one event to another. The little kids did exceptionally well," Nelson said.

Nelson took the team to state with a "blue Mohawk" haircut. He promised to allow his head to be shaved as such if at least 80 percent of the CFST members qualified for state. The coach said 92 percent qualified.

"It was an excellent year. There were a lot of (team) members who had a lot of heart," Nelson said.

Places of CFST members at the state meet (S - short course meter times):

Male 15-19 200 Free

7, CFST A (Kodiak Gimbel, Kirby Sharbono, Ben Donner, Nate Labuda) 2:04.87.

Female 15-19 200 Free

6, CFST A (Bria Ward, Sydney Gillette, Lexie Bartkoski, Katie Newton) 2:12.77.

Male 9-10 100 IM

6, Colton Babcock 1:43.87S.

Female 9-10 100 IM

1, Karyssa Nelson 1:31.65S.

Female 11-12 200 IM

21, Casey Shea 4:17.88S.

Female 13-14 200 IM

9, Katie Donner 3:09.43S.

Male 15-19 200 IM

17, Kodiak Gimbel 3:03.83S. 18, Nate Labuda 3:14.03S.

Female 15-19 200 IM

7, Sydney Gillette 3:05.42S. 11, Hanna Ronish 3:10.99S. 13, Katelynn Piper 3:16.13S.

Male 9-10 50 Free

12, Logan Kolodejchuk 39.86S.

Female 15-19 50 Free

11, Sydney Gillette 32.68S.

Male 9-10 50 Breast

2, Colton Babcock 48.30S.

Female 13-14 100 Breast

6, Katie Donner 1:35.51S.

Male 15-19 100 Breast

10, Vincent Erickson 1:25.39S.

Female 15-19 100 Breast

6, Sydney Gillette 1:31.22S.

Male 9-10 100 Free

9, Logan Kolodejchuk 1:30.40S.

Female 9-10 100 Free

1, Karyssa Nelson 1:15.93S.

Male 13-14 100 Free

10, Dalton Nelson 1:08.91S.

Male 15-19 100 Free

8, Michael Baiar 1:04.10S.

Female 15-19 100 Free

7, Katelynn Piper 1:11.51S. 8, Lexie Bartkoski 1:11.58S. 6, Bria Ward 1:14.14S.

Male 13-14 100 Back

10, Dalton Nelson 1:26.04S.

Female 15-19 100 Back

10, Bria Ward 1:31.47S.

Male 9-10 50 Fly

10, Colton Babcock 51.65S.

Female 9-10 50 Fly

4, Karyssa Nelson 40.64S.

Female 13-14 50 Fly

8, Katie Donner 36.87S.

Male 15-19 50 Fly

5, Michael Baiar 31.44S.

Male 15-19 400 Free

11, Benjamin Donner 5:56.92S. 15, Kirby Sharbono 6:43.80S.

Female 15-19 400 Free

6, Bria Ward 5:54.99S. 9, Katelynn Piper 5:57.04S. 13, Katie Newton 6:09.09S.

Male 9-10 100 Medley

8, CFST A (Kaleb Bagley, Logan Kolodejchuk, Colton Babcock, Tyler Langton) 1:40.91.

Male 15-19 200 Medley

6, CFST A (Vincent Erickson, Nate Labuda, Michael Baiar, Kodiak Gimbel) 2:16.56.

Female 15-19 200 Medley

5, CFST A (Bria Ward, Sydney Gillette, Lexie Bartkoski, Katelynn Piper) 2:30.36.

Female 13-14 100 Fly

9, Jessica Baiar 1:38.78S.

Male 15-19 100 Fly

11, Jon Riffey 1:31.33S. 12, Vincent Erickson 1:32.84S. 13, Benjamin Donner 1:37.47S.

Female 15-19 100 Fly

7, Hanna Ronish 1:29.74S. 8, Lexie Bartkoski 1:32.19S. 11, Katie Newton 1:41.31S.