Swimmers cap debut season at state
The Whitefish swim team capped its debut season with a promising effort at the All-Class State meet last weekend in Missoula.
The Dogs posted some of their best results of the season at the University of Montana pool against the best swimmers in the state.
“Wow, the energy and enthusiasm at a high school state swim meet is incredible,” said coach Mike Nelson. “Everyone is cheering, all the teams are at the end of the lanes screaming and jumping with excitement. It’s deafening.”
The Lady Dogs 400 freestyle relay team reached the finals after posting a 4:45.54 in the preliminary race. Alice Wilde, Kaylee Hickman, Madison Davis and Sonja Ring all clocked their best splits to lift the team.
Nelson noted the performance of Ring in the 200 and 500 freestyle. During preliminaries, Ring dropped 17 seconds in the 500 for a 6:25.85, and dropped 4 seconds in the 200 freestyle.
“Sonja had an excellent meet taking off all that time,” Nelson added.
Jacob Anderson dropped more than 3 seconds in the 100 breast stroke, and Matthew Perez dropped nearly 3 seconds in the 100 backstroke to lead the Bulldogs in the preliminaries.
“I see a lot of upcoming talent, so God willing and funding, look out for us next year,” Nelson said.
2015 MHSA State Swim Meet
Preliminary races
Female Open 200 Medley
18, A ‘WHS’ (Sonja Ring, Sarah Perez, Rhiley Livingston, Madison Davis), 2:27.01.
Male Open 200 Medley
16, A ‘WHS’ (Casey Botner, Jacob Anderson, Matthew Perez, Sage Cornelius), 2:17.24.
Female Open 200 Free
29, Sonja Ring, WHS, 2:23.87Y. 37, Kaylee Hickman, WHS, 2:38.93Y. 39, Alice Wilde, WHS, 2:45.36Y.
Female Open 200 IM
25, Sarah Perez, WHS, 3:05.30Y.
Male Open 50 Free
Casey Botner, WHS, 30.67Y.
Female Open 100 Free
41, Alice Wilde, WHS, 1:10.20Y. 42, Madison Davis, WHS, 1:10.59Y. 48, Kaylee Hickman, WHS, 1:12.01Y.
Male Open 100 Free
25, Jacob Anderson, WHS, 1:01.86Y.
Female Open 500 Free
28, Sonja Ring, WHS, 6:25.85Y.
Male Open 500 Free
20, Matthew Perez, WHS, 6:18.38Y.
Female Open 200 Free
16, A ‘WHS’ (Alice Wilde, Michaela McDowell, Kaylee Hickman, Rhiley Livingston), 2:10.94.
Male Open 100 Back
16, Matthew Perez, WHS, 1:10.51Y.
Male Open 100 Breast
19, Jacob Anderson, WHS, 1:15.05Y.
Female Open 400 Free
12, A ‘WHS’ (Alice Wilde, Kaylee Hickman, Madison Davis, Sonja Ring), 4:45.54.