10 Malta swimmers head to State

The Malta Swim Team is sending ten swimmers to state this weekend in Conrad as the east meets the west in the Montana Federation of Swimmers State Meet this Saturday, August 4 through Sunday, August 5.

There will be close to 540 swimmers trying to place at state.

In the Montana Federation of Swimmer East Divisional last weekend in Chinook, the team continued to work hard.

"The kids swam their hearts out and they stepped it up," Malta Swim Team Assistant Coach Janine Tuss said. "We had athletes taking time off, we had athletes adding time but they were placing as well."

Malta sent thirteen swimmers over to Chinook and ten qualified for state. The divisional meet hosted 360 swimmers.

"Obviously you want everyone to go but that's definitely not bad," Head Coach Shay Garfield said. "I am very happy with how everyone did."

Having been a state performer, Coach Garfield shared what the experience is like.

"They are pretty intense," Coach Garfield said. "As soon as you walk up there, you see all of the tents around and there are teams from every year. It's exciting and you can feel all of the kid's excitement as soon as you get there."

Though the east will be meeting the west, things don't get hostile.

"For the most part everyone is friendly," Coach Garfield said. "Kids from the west will talk to kids from the east. Some of my best friends are from the west."

Though Malta typically brings over a dozen swimmers to state, the state swim meet was booked on the weekend of the P.C. Fair, which is both common and coincidental.

"We are going to make it work and roll with it and we all look forward to heading to Conrad at some point this weekend.

In the East's divisional meet Darrow Messerly took second place in the male 13-14 100 Breaststroke with a time of 1:25.53. He also took fourth place in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:28.96 and fifth in the 200 IM with a time of 3:06.55.

Jillian O'Brien took second in female 15-19 100 Fly with a time of 1:29.68 and fifth in the 100 Breaststroke with a time of 1:35.07.

Jahmiah Huffman LaBrie took fourth place in the male 9-10 100 IM with a time of 1:49.74 and fourth in the 50 Fly with a time of 50.22.

Connor Tuss took second in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:26.34. Tuss also took third in the 200 IM with a time of 3:03.61.

Denvyr Tuss took third in the female 9-10 Backstroke with a time of 45.28.

Lauren Tuss took sixth place in the female 11-12 50 Breaststroke with a time of 49.25.

Danika Wilke took sixth place in the female 9-10 50 Backstroke with a time of 48.85.

Reese Brown took seventh place in the male 11-12 50 Breaststroke with a time of 52.40.

Reba Doucette took seventh in the female 15-19 400 Freestyle with a time of 6:36.14.

Erika Nagy took ninth place in the female 15-19 400 Freestyle with a time of 7:51.50.