Messerly, Amestoy score 34 in Lewistown; Divisionals in Chinook

The Malta swim team showed up 26 strong at the Lewistown swim meet last weekend.

Young Midget Darrow Messerly and Senior swimmer Jenise Amestoy, led Malta in scoring, with 34 points a piece.

Messerly, who was sick for last week's meet bounced back hard, claiming two top finishes and a third place finish.

Messerly won the Men 9-10 100 meter IM, with a time of 1:31.39 and 50 meter breaststroke, with a time of 45.36.

His third place finish was in the 50 meter freestyle, an event in which he posted a time of 32.30 in the final round.

Amestoy seems to be hitting her stride at just the right time, as she put up her biggest numbers of the year so far. She won the Women 15-19 50 meter freestyle with a time of 29.84.

She placed third in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:08.24 and third in the 100 backstroke, with a time of 1:22.06.

Shay Garfield also had a great showing at the meet bringing in 30.5 points.

Garfield took first in the Women 13-14 100 breaststroke (1:21.28), placed fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:20.12) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (1:08.14).

Marcus Woods was another swimmer who left his mark, bringing Malta 30 points.

He took first in the Men 11-12 50 meter backstroke (45.16), and fifth in both the 50 meter breaststroke (47.45) and the 100 meter freestyle (1:24.16).

"We had a really good showing in Lewistown this last weekend," said Coach Lynn. "We all swam well."

He didn't know what to expect of his team this week, due to the fact the team has been training hard.

"We had mixed results," he told the PCN. "Some of them swam faster. Some of them drove slower."

With divisionals kicking off this weekend, Coach Lynn, hopes the training and practices have paid off.

"We're trying to prepare them for divisionals and state," he said. "The Lewistown meet wasn't as important as the divisional meet is."

He went on to say that the plan for this week has been to work the team hard until today, and eventually take some reps off in order for the swimmers to recover in time for Saturday's divisional meet in Chinook.

"This Saturday's prelims are the most important of the year," Lynn told the PCN.

The top twelve in every event will make it to state.

Some swimmers will more than likely qualify for state in two or three events, but all swimmers will have up to three events to try to qualify.

"The important thing to do with that first swim on Saturday is to get a good time and qualify for state," Lynn said.

Divisionals will start this Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m.

The state meet will kick off Saturday August 2 in Conrad.