Thunder Rolls Through Scobey

For every Thunder swimmer that won a race in Scobey this past weekend, a new pool record was established. That's one of the benefits of competing in a newly constructed swimming pool.

The relay teams did very well, as is typical for the Thunder. Each Glasgow relay team placed at least third, with four first place finishes. Earning third place finishes for the girls were the 8 & under 100m freestyle and medley relays, the 9-10 100m freestyle relay, and the 11-12 200m medley relay. Earning second place for the Thunder in relays were the boys 11-12 200m medley and 200m freestyle relays. Claiming the four top finishes for the relays were the boys 13-14 200m freestyle relay, the girls and boys 13-14 200m medley relay, and the girls 15-19 200m freestyle relay. In individual events, the Thunder qualified in an impressive 73 out of 86 races. Head coach Nicole Arnold said she was happy with the Thunder's showing: "When you can qualify and place in almost 85 percent of the races you swim," she said, "that's a good performance."

In the girls 8 & under category, Sophia Larson placed fourth in the IM, and third in both the 50m freestyle and the 25m breaststroke. Riley Clampitt claimed fourth in the 25m butterfly and sixth in the 25m backstroke. Myli Swindler placed fifth in the 25m butterfly and seventh in the 25m freestyle. Rounding out the youngest age group was Abigail Kulczyk with 12th place finishes in each of her races – the 25m and 50m freestyles.

The girls also finished strong in the 9-10 year-old age group. Kate Parks finished sixth in the 100m IM, Iris McKean placed 10th in the 50m backstroke, fourth in the 50m breaststroke, and seventh in the 100m IM. Ava Reyes finished the weekend with 12th place in the 50m freestyle and eighth in the 100m freestyle. Tarin Vandall claimed ninth place in the 50m breaststroke and seventh in the 50m butterfly. For the boys in the 9-10 year old group, Dalton Sand completed all three of his races in first place, earning him high point for the age group for another week. His races are the 50m freestyle, the 100m IM, and the 50m butterfly.

The girls 11-12 year-old group was well represented with Raelee Dowden taking fifth in the 200m IM, eighth in the 50m breaststroke, and fifth in the 50m backstroke. Madde Swindler claimed solid tenth place wins in both of her races, the 50m butterfly and the 50m backstroke. Tori Pehlke placed seventh in the 50m breaststroke, sixth in the 100m freestyle, and fourth in the 50m backstroke. The 11-12 year-old group has the most boys of any other age group for the Thunder. Bergen Miller placed fifth in each of his three races – the 50m freestyle, the 50m breaststroke, and the 100m freestyle. Tristin Vandall placed eighth in his 50m freestyle and first in the 50m backstroke. Zavier Urbin, a first year swimmer for the Thunder continues to improve in his races. He placed ninth in the 50m freestyle and eighth in the 100m freestyle. Finally, for the boys 11-12 year-old age group, Trevor Johnson claimed high point again with his first place finishes in all of his races. Johnson swims the 200m IM, the 50m butterfly, and the 50m freestyle.

For the girls in the13-14 year old category, Natosha Sand finished with third place finishes in each of her events. Sand swims the 200m IM, the 100m breaststroke, and the 50m butterfly. Mykenzie Eliason finished in eighth place in the 50m freestyle, fifth in the 50m butterfly, and fourth in the 100m breaststroke. Another repeat high point winner is Katie Kaiser. Kaiser claimed first place in each of her events this past weekend. She swam the 100m backstroke, the 50m freestyle, and the 50m butterfly. For the boys in the 13-14 year-old category, Tim Wageman placed fifth in the 50m freestyle, sixth in the 100m freestyle, and second in the 100m backstroke. Jordan Billingsley placed seventh in the 50m freestyle, fifth in the 100m freestyle, and came away with a first place finish in the 100m backstroke. Taylor Johnson continues to be consistent in his races; he placed third in the 50m butterfly, and second in both the 100m butterfly and the 200m IM.

In the final age group, Jordan Kulczyk and Jazmine Foster-Shaw shared the task of earning points for the girls. Shaw earned sixth place in the 50m freestyle, fourth in the 50m butterfly, and third in the 100m backstroke. Kulczyk placed second in the 100m butterfly, and first in both the 400m freestyle and the 100m freestyle.

Tony Kaiser was the lone senior boy swimmer in Scobey. He placed fifth in the 50m butterfly and the 100m freestyle. He also placed third in the 400m freestyle.

Overall, the team placed third behind the strong and more numerous Sidney Tiger Sharks and the consistent powerhouse, Plentywood Dolphins.

Swim season continues in Chinook this weekend – the last regular season event before the divisional swim meet in Plentywood.