The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Big Sandy Swim Team brought home more hardware this weekend, placing third place overall at the western divisional swim meet. The team scored 538 points, falling just 11 points short to the Conrad swim team. The western divisional champions, the Bitterroot Swim Team, scored 1443 points. The team will move onto the state meet in Lewistown, competing in the class A division. Placement in divisions is based upon team points scored at the divisional meet the week before. The top five point scoring teams in the state are placed in class AA. The next six point scoring teams are placed in class A, with the next six in class B and the lowest five in class C. Big Sandy is the smallest school district by enrollment in the state federation, but fielded a team of 42 swimmers this year. Six years ago, when the team was formed, they swam in the class C division, but have steadily moved up through the ranks to bring home a second place trophy in class A in 2016. 34 swimmers competed at divisionals, with 31 qualifying for state.

The team saw big performances this weekend from Amiya Griffith, who raced to victory in all three of her individual races (50 free, 50 fly and 50 back) to win her first ever high point trophy. The 11-12 girls free relay team (Mace Bachoco, Amiya Griffith, Laynee Ophus & Daisy LaBuda) swam to an impressive victory in the 200 m free.

Brady Pleninger maintained his steady streak of victory, winning all three of his races (50 free, 100 free & 100 back) to grab another high point trophy. Brady also set new pool records in all three of his events this week! Kade Strutz posted two victories in the 200 IM and 100 breast to cruise to a second place finish in overall points for the 13-14 boys. Cam Schwarzbach set a new pool record in his 200 meter free and cruised to a third place finish in overall points. Rounding out the 13-14 boys power team was Dillin Geyer, who won the 100 m fly and fourth place in overall points. These four boys also set new pool records in the 200 m free and 200 m medley relays.

Free Relays: Boys 9-10: 3rd, Girls 9-10: 6th, Girls 11-12: 1st, Boys 13-14: 1st ***new pool record***, Girls 13-14: 3rd, Girls 15-19: 2nd

Medley Relays: Boys 9-10: 3rd, Girls 9-10: 6th, Girls 11-12: 2nd, Boys 13-14: 1st ***new pool record***, Girls 13-14: 4th, Girls 15-19: 2nd

Individual results:

Girls 8-under: Astrid Ketchum; 25 free: 19th, 50 free: 20th, 25 back: 7th; Harley LaBuda: 25 free: 12th, 50 free: 16th, 25 back: 18th; Kierra Oats: 25 free: 10th, 50 free: 10th, 25 back: 3rd; Daijalin SunChild: 25 free: 43rd, 50 free: 36th, 25 back: 16th

Boys 8-under: MJ Griffith: 25 free: 7th, 50 free: 8th, 25 back: 4th; Henry Merrill: 25 free: 16th, 50 free: 22nd, 25 back: 16th; Dolan SunChild: 25 free: 15th, 50 free: 12th, 25 back: 8th

Girls 9-10: Jai Baumann: 100 IM: 16th, 50 breast: 14th, 50 back: 25th; Lindsey Cline: 50 free: 28th, 100 free: 21st, 50 back: 27th; Brianna Terry: 50 free: 29th, 100 free: 22nd, 50 back: 33rd

Boys 9-10: Ryder Oats: 50 free: 5th, 100 free: 5th, 50 back: 6th; Darrell SunChild: 50 free: 3rd, 100 free: 4th, 50 back: 7th

Girls 11-12: Mace Bachoco: 200 IM: 7th, 50 breast: 3rd, 50 back: 7th; Josalyn Genereux: 50 free: 18th, 50 breast: 12th, 100 free: 18th; Amiya Griffith: 50 free: 1st, 50 fly- 1st, 50 back- 1st; Daisy LaBuda: 50 free: 9th, 100 free: 10th, 50 fly: 6th; Laynee Ophus: 50 free: 9th, 100 free: 12th, 50 back: 10th; Malaysia Philips: 50 free: 14th, 100 free: 22nd, 50 breast: 19th; Caydence Pleninger: 200 IM: 10th, 50 breast: 15th, 200 free: 9th; Kylee Sternberg: 50 free: 16th, 100 free: 20th, 50 back: 8th

Boys 11-12: Tannin Baumann: 50 free: 15th, 100 free: 17th, 50 back: 10th; Kody Strutz: 50 free: 4th, 50 breast: 2nd, 100 free: 3rd

The boys 13-14 relay team with Coach Baumann.

Girls 13-14: Anna Allderdice: 50 free: 7th, 100 free: 5th, 50 fly: 6th; Jozlyn Baumann: 200 IM: 9th, 100 breast: 7th, 50 fly: 8th; Savannah Jerrel: 50 fly: 10th, 200 free: 12th, 100 fly: 3rd;

Madison Terry: 50 free: 8th, 100 free: 6th, 200 free: 8th

Boys 13-14: Dillin Geyer: 200 IM: 2nd, 100 fly: 1st, 50 fly: 4th; Brady Pleninger: 50 free - 1st ***new pool record***, 100 free: 1st ***new pool record***, 50 back ***new pool record***; Cam Schwarzbach: 50 free: 2nd, 100 free: 2nd, 200 free: 1st ***new pool record***; Kade Strutz: 200 IM: 1st, 100 breast: 1st, 50 fly: 2nd

Girls 15-19: Lainey Gregory: 200 IM: 5th, 50 fly: 8th, 100 fly: 5th; Jenna Leader: 50 free: 5th, 50 fly: 3rd, 100 fly: 3rd

Boys 15-19: Tyler Schwarzbach: 50 free: 9th, 100 free: 6th, 100 back: 3rd