There were over 560 swimmers competing for State championship records and we brought a total of 46 to compete. Saturday was hot, but the majority of our swimmers cut time off their best and placed themselves up from where they were seeded. This allowed for a rowdy, yelling Sunday as we were working to dominate in the water. Tiger Sharks who made it to Sunday all were swimming their hardest and cut even more time against some very tough competitors. By the middle of the day, we were only sitting in second place by a few points. The back strokers and flyers continued to work hard and helped secure us a second place victory. We truly consider second place like the championship when looking at the number of swimmers we bring to State compared to the number of swimmers that Bitterroot brings. They almost double our numbers. Our relay teams were hard working and the girls 8 and under freestyle relay team not only took State Championship but they also set a federation and pool record. Overall, we took 3rd in relays.
I’m very proud of our swimmers; they are truly fun to watch. Each week I asked them to beat their “greatest competition” which is them selves, and they did. Their dedication to swimming despite the weather is admirable. This sport teaches all of them about competition, setting goals, pulling it together after a setback, being a good sport, cheering for others and losing graciously. The team this year has had its fair share of upsets with injuries that have pulled out some of our swimmers before the season was over and they were missed at Divisionals and State. The families that support these children are invaluable to the program; it is incredible to see so many smiling, encouraging faces for these athletes before and after a race. They are always there to build them up and cheer them on.
This year ends swimming careers for some fantastic swimmers. Aubrey Kessel will be moving on to college ending her swimming career as a State Champion 50 meter Butterflyer, and State Champion 100 meter Breastroker. Shelby Reidle will also be moving on to Concordia college ending her swimming career with the Tiger Sharks with some personal best times. Autumn Larson ended her swimming career after sustaining an injury that would not allow her to swim at Divisionals or State. The three girls will be greatly missed. Looking into next year, we are always looking to add to the program and are hoping to recruit. We especially need more boys at the 11-14 age group as we don’t have enough to create relay teams and this year for Divisionals only had 3 competing in that age group. It is tough to wipe out competition when you don’t have enough competitors to fill the races.
On behalf of the other coaches Michael Hammer, Kim Martinson, Emily Peters, Caycee Anvick, and I, we would like to say congratulations to the the 2016 Tiger Sharks and thank them for the memories.
Team Rankings – Through Event 86: Girls team: second place; boys team: third place; combined teams, second place.
Individual Rankings - Through Event 86: 8 & Under Girls: Ave’ Norby, third place; Ryleigh Kleinke, fourth place; Morgan Kindopp, fifth place; Zoey Garsjo, eighth place; 8 & Under Boys: Ryan Unruh, fourth place; 9-10 Boys: Corben Holler, ninth place; Aren Larson, ninth place; 13-14 Girls: Hadley Garsjo, fifth place.
13-14 Boys: Seth Dodds, ninth place; 15-19 Girls: Aubrey Kessel, second place; Torey Dahl, fourth place.
Girls 8 & Under 100 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, first place.
Boys 9-10 100 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, third place.
Girls 9-10 100 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, eighth place.
Boys 11-12 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, tenth place.
Girls 11-12 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, eighth place.
Girls 13-14 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, second place.
Boys 15-19 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, fourth place.
Girls 15-19 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: A relay, third place.
Boys 8 & Under 100 Yard IM: Ryan Unruh, fifth place.
Girls 8 & Under 100 Yard IM: Ryleigh Kleinke, second place; Ave’ Norby, third place.
Boys 9-10 100 Yard IM: Corben Holler, sixth place; Kale Witt, thirteenth place; Ethan Erickson, fifteenth place.
Girls 9-10 100 Yard IM: Marett Schieber, fourteenth place; Ella Norby, fifteenth place.
Girls 11-12 200 Yard IM: Avery Unruh, fifteenth place.
Boys 13-14 200 Yard IM: Seth Dodds, fifth place.
Girls 13-14 200 Yard IM: Gwyneth Arthur, sixth place; Maysen Mindt, tenth place; Josie Yockim, twelfth place; Shea Roberts, twentieth place.
Boys 15-19 200 Yard IM: Connor Fink, eighth place.
Girls 15-19 200 Yard IM: Torey Dahl, third place; Shelby Reidle, thirteenth place.
Girls 8 & Under 25 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Morgan Kindopp, second place; Ryleigh Kleinke, third place; B-final, Zoey Garsjo, seventh place.
Boys 9-10 50 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Corben Holler, sixth place.
Girls 11-15 50 Yard Freestyle: B-final, Taylor Stewart, eighth place.
Girls 13-14 50 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Hadley Garsjo, fourth place.
Boys 15-19 50 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Michael McGinnis, fourth place.
Girls 15-19 50 Year Freestyle: Aubrey Kessel, fourth place.
Boys 8 & Under 25 Yard Breaststroke: Ryan Unruh, fourth place.
Girls 8 & Under 25 Yard Breaststroke: A-final, Cara Henson, sixth place; B-final, Maddie Schieber, eleventh place; Amara Iversen, twelfth place.
Boys 9-10 50 Yard Breaststroke: A-final, Aren Larson, third place; B-final, Hunter Sanders, eighth place; Kale Witt, eleventh place.
Girls 11-12 50 Yard Breaststroke: B-final, Taylor Stewart, ninth place.
Boys 13-14 100 Yard Breaststroke: B-final, Seth Dodds, seventh place.
Girls 13-14 100 Yard Breaststroke: A-final, Hadley Garsjo, first place; B-final, Shea Roberts, twelfth place.
Boys 15-19 100 Yard Breaststroke: A-final, Michael McGinnis, sixth place; B-final, Connor Fink, ninth place.
Girls 15-19 100 Yard Breaststroke: A-final, Aubrey Kessel, first place; B-final, Hollye Blekestad, eleventh place.
Girls 8 & Under 50 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Ryleigh Kleinke, second place; Morgan Kindopp, third place; Zoey Garsjo, sixth place.
Boys 9-10 100 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Corben Holler, fifth place; B-final, Ethan Erickson, eleventh place.
Boys 11-12 100 Yard Freestyle: B-final, Ryan McGinnis, ninth place.
Boys 13-14 100 Yard Freestyle: A-final, Seth Dodds, fourth place.
Girls 13-14 100 Yard Freestyle: B-final, Gwyneth Arthur, ninth place.
Boys 15-19 100 Yard Freestyle: B-final, Alec Lovegren, seventh place; Trev Stewart, eleventh place.
Girls 8 & Under 25 Yard Backstroke: A-final, Ave’ Norby, first place; B-final, Cara Henson, eleventh place.
Boys 9-10 50 Yard Backstroke: A-final, Aren Larson, second place.
Girls 9-10 50 Yard Backstroke: B-final, Ella Norby, eleventh place.
Girls 13-14 100 Yard Backstroke: Gwyneth Arthur, seventh place; Hadley Garsjo, eighth place.
Boys 15-19 100 Yard Backstroke: A-final, Benjamin Brodhead, sixth place; B-final, Cole Roberts, eleventh place.
Girls 15-19 100 Yard Backstroke: A-final, Torey Dahl, second place.
Boys 8 & Under 25 Yard Butterfly: A-final, Ryan Unruh, second place; B-final, Lucas Hill, tenth place.
Girls 8 & Under 25 Yard Butterfly: A-final, Ave’ Norby, second place; Zoey Garsjo, third place; Morgan Kindopp, fourth place.
Boys 9-10 50 Yard Butterfly: B-final, Hunter Sanders, eleventh place; Izaak Yockim, twelfth place.
Girls 9-10 50 Yard Butterfly: B-final, Ella Norby, eleventh place.
Girls 11-12 50 Yard Butterfly: A-final, Taylor Stewart, sixth place; B-final, Elizabeth Langwald, twelfth place.
Girls 13-14 50 Yard Butterfly: A-final, Maysen Mindt, sixth place.
Boys 15-19 50 Yard Butterfly: A-final, Michael McGinnis, third place; B-final, Alec Lovegren, eighth place; Trev Stewart, ninth place.
Girls 15-19 50 Yard Butterfly: A-final, Aubrey Kessel, first place.
Boys 15-19 400 Yard Freestyle: Benjamin Brodhead, eighth place.
Girls 11-19 400 Yard Freestyle: Hollye Blekestad, eleventh place.
Boys 8 & Under 100 Yard Medley Relay: Sidney Tiger Sharks, fourth place.
Girls 8 & Under 100 Yard Medley Relay: Sidney Tiger Sharks, first place.
Girls 11-12 200 Medley Relay: Sidney Tiger Sharks, tenth place.
Girls 13-14 200 Yard Medley Relay: Sidney Tiger Sharks, second place.
Boys 15-19 200 Yard Medley Relay: Sidney Tiger Sharks, fourth place.
Girls 15-19 200 Yard Medley Relay: Sidney Tiger Sharks, third place.
Girls 13-14 100 Yard Butterfly: Maysen Mindt, seventh place; Josie Yockim, eleventh place.
Boys 15-19 100 Yard Butterfly: Trev Stewart, fourth place.
Girls 15-19 100 Yard Butterfly: Torey Dahl, fourth place; Shelby Reidle, twelfth place.
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