Malta to take 26 to State Swim Meet

Malta was host to 378 swimmers and their families and coaches this past week-end for the Montana Federation of Swimmer Eastern Divisional. In an event where only the top twelve individual swimmers qualified for the State Meet next weekend in Hamilton, The Malta Swim Team placed 26 of 28 possible.

"I'm happy with the results," Malta Head Coach Cassie Pratt told the PCN. "More people made it and we had a good weekend. I'm very proud of everybody. They worked hard and put in their best effort."

The Sidney Tiger Sharks won the meet with a total of 845 points. The Chinook Li-ons took second with 754. The Lewistown Sea Lions was third with 698. The Scobey Stingrays took four with a total of 498. The Glendive Swim Team took fifth with a total of 438. The Roundup Water Cats took sixth with a total of 419. Malta took seventh with a total of 403. The Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team took eighth with 400.50. The Plentywood Dolphins took ninth with 329.50. The Harlem Swim Team took tenth with 244.

Malta's score of 403 was just enough to push them into Class A's bottom spot at state, While Glasgow who took eighth earned a favorable position atop Class B.

One of Malta's earliest qualifiers was Reese Brown, who qualified in the 50 meter Breaststroke with a time of 1:05, which was one second slower than his fastest time in the event.

"I think it went pretty good," Brown said noting that he needs to keep practicing to get faster.

Chloe Hunter also placed in the 50 freestyle early in the meet taking eighth with a time of 38.09.

"I added a second but I made it for tomorrow, so I go to state," Hunter said.

Hunter has never made it to day two of state but this year she hopes things will be different.

"I just gotta swim harder and faster," Hunter said.

Hunter also qualified in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:27.59 and her favorite event the Fly stroke taking tenth with a time of 45.30.

"I just like the feeling of (the fly stroke)," Hunter said.

Sam Renville qualified in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:18.31 earning him a third place finish. He also took fourth in the 50 fly with a time of 31.68 and fifth in the 400 freestyle with a time of 5:34.54.

Renville joined the swim team after moving from Lewistown earlier this year.

"It's been alright," Renville said. "It's been kind of weird flip-flopping around with different coaches but all in all it's been a pretty productive season."

Renville has made it to state before but his experience doesn't mean he isn't working to improve.

"I've got to stop peaking over at the other lane," Renville said. "That would be a big help. And mostly work on my technique and get my rhythm down."

Coach Pratt expressed pride in how Malta handled hosting the divisional meet.

"I think it went really well," Coach Pratt said. "Malta usually runs a fast meet. And for having 378 kids competing it's pretty impressive with how well we did this. We ended before 6 p.m. yesterday and 3 p.m. today."

Pratt is in her first season as a head coach, which could make any new coach nervous to host such a big time meet.

"It is intimidating with me just coming in and I've got all these veteran coaches around," Coach Pratt said. "I'm proud of myself too. I think I did a wonderful job and I'm happy that this many kids are going. We all worked hard this season."

She is also excited about the trip to Hamilton this week.

"We'll be having a long drive there but I'm very excited to compete against the west side of the state," Coach Pratt said. "I know my kids are nervous but it will be new, good competition."