New plan for Whitefish, C-Falls swim teams

Whitefish High School may get a swim team after all.

After two years of hammering out details, the plan to create a cooperative team between Columbia Falls and Whitefish has been shelved. However, a new proposal would have the schools share a coach and practice together, but compete separately.

Mike Nelson, one of the team’s organizer, gave an update to the Whitefish School Board on March 11 saying the team expects to return with a new proposal for approval by both districts.

In 2012, a group of swimming supporters from both towns approached the Whitefish and Columbia Falls school districts asking to create a cooperative swim team. While both districts approved the proposal, the team ran into problems with the Montana High School Association rules.

The team was projected to field about 40 swimmers, which is too large for MHSA standards. A typical Class A swim team has 20 to 25 swimmers.

Nelson said the survey of potential athletes came back with higher numbers than expected.

“We were too big to be an A school,” Nelson said. “We couldn’t be combined and be larger than the other A schools.”

Organizers are now planning to re-apply with the goal of competing separately.

The teams can share the same coach under the rules, as well as travel and practice together, but they can’t compete as a single team. Schools with combined programs that compete separately are common in swimming — Missoula and Kalispell schools do just that.

Under the original agreement, Columbia Falls served as the team sponsor with Whitefish joining as a cooperative school. Columbia Falls will employ the coach and oversee the team funds. Under the agreement, both schools’ athletic directors will be involved in hiring coaches.

The swim season runs from mid-November to mid-February. Organizers have signed an agreement to use The Wave for practice.

The cost of the swim teams will be covered through private funding raised by team members and parents. Estimated costs are expected to be $10,000 to $14,000.

Organizers have already raised $2,000 in donations, according to Nelson.

The swim teams have until May 1 to apply to MHSA for approval.

Several of the organizers, as well as potential athletes for the swim teams, come from those who already participate in the Columbia Falls swim club and the Whitefish Wave Ryders swim club. The Columbia Falls team competes during summer with all age levels. The Wave Ryders compete year-round and is made up of mostly elementary and junior high age swimmers.