Swim team in Plentywood

There are only two meets left before the regular season comes to an end for the Malta Swim Team and beyond that, a divisional meet and state meet.

Coach Cassie Pratt hopes to continue getting the team in tip-top shape.

“My approach is more focused on doing their sprints, so we will do those in practice while also focusing on technique,” Coach Pratt said. “It’s just the tinkering you need to do with turns and starts, which is a big part of the stroke as well.”

The swim team had a meet in Plentywood last weekend but only fielded five swimmers.

“I had a very small team of just five kids but it was a lot of quality time for me to spend with them and focus on their races,” Coach Pratt said. “It was good for them and myself.”

Coach Pratt mentioned that Shay Garfield had two-second place finishes, and first place finish.

Carly Garfield also placed second twice and won an event.

In his 50 freestyle, Mathew Hunter took almost seven seconds off.

Eight-year-old Jahmiah Huffman LaBrie impressed his coach.

“He dropped 1.35 second on his backstroke and set a pool record,” Coach Pratt said. “That was very exciting for him. In his 25 fly, he dropped 2.5 seconds.”

She then mentioned Kylie Hunter, who has also had an impressive season thus far.

“Kylie Hunter also had a good 100 free race,” Coach Pratt said. “She ended up placing third right behind Carly (Garfield) but the day before she ended up taking two seconds off.”

The team heads to Glendive this weekend. Coach Pratt doesn’t expect many swimmers given the traveling distance.

“Last year I had only ten or so but it’s a relatively large meet,” she said. “It is a long way away for people to travel, so I can’t expect too big of a team this weekend.”

She also thinks that the heat will be a big factor this weekend.