The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Big Sandy Swim Team ended their 2017 season with a second place finish in the Class A division at the state meet in Lewistown. The Barracudas scored 358 individual points, but fell short of the championship to western division rivals, Conrad swim team. This is the second year in a row that the team has won second place honors in the Class A division at the state meet.

Class designation in the Montana Swim Federation is determined at the divisional meet, rather than the school enrollment formula used by the Montana High School Association. Total points scored from both divisional meets are combined. The top 5 point scoring teams are designated Class AA. Places seven through 11 are Class A, with twelve through 17 competing in the Class B division and the remaining five teams are Class C. The Big Sandy Swim Team draws from the smallest school district in the swim federation, but has competed in the Class A division for three of its six years at the state meet. The Barracudas scored more points at the 2017 state meet than MHSA Class A schools Columbia Falls and Glendive, and outpaced eight MHSA Class B designated towns.

Since their formation, the Barracudas have moved up steadily through the swim federation ranks. 2012 was the team's debut at the state meet, where they placed 3rd in the Class B division with twelve qualifying swimmers. The following year, the team placed 1st in the Class B division. 2014 marked the first time the Barracudas competed in Class A, bringing home 4th place honors. 2015 was a return to the Class B division, with the team swimming to a third place finish. The Barracudas have since remained a Class A powerhouse with two second place finishes in 2016 and 2017.

Lewistown recently completed the construction of their new pool facility. As a result, all swimmers who won an event at the state meet also earned a pool record. The Barracudas combined to set 9 pool records at the state meet; Jenna Leader in the 100m fly and the remaining eight coming from the 13-14 boys.

On the girls' side of the action, the senior division swimmers (ages 15-19) combined for 50 points. Jenna Leader proved again that she is a formidable force in the butterfly races, winning 100m fly, placing 3rd in the 50m fly. She also placed 2nd in the 50m free. Lainey Gregory qualified and placed in all three of her individual events, while Grace Finke added 5 points to the team effort in the breaststroke.

The 13-14 boys proved their dominance in the pool, scoring148 points between the four swimmers. Brady Pleninger brought home high point honors, scoring 42 points by winning three events. He set a federation record in the 50m free (26.18 seconds). Kade Strutz and Cam Schwarzbach tied for second place high point swimmer, both scoring 38 points. Kade won the 200m IM and 100m breaststroke and placed 3rd in the 50m fly. Cam won the 200m free and placed second in the 50m free and 100m free. Rounding out the team was Dillin Geyer, who added 30 points to place 6th in overall points, brought home a 2nd place finish in the 100m fly, 3rd in the 200m IM and 5th in the 50 fly. The boys also won the 200m free relay and 200m medley relay.

The Barracudas also proved they have a bright future in our younger swimmers. Kody Strutz scored 28 points and earned his first state medal by placing 2nd in the 50m breaststroke. He also placed 4th in the 50 free and 6th in the 100 free. Amiya Griffith tossed in 28 points of her own, swimming to two 3rd place finishes and a 5th place finish.

Girls Free Relays: 9-10: 12th, (Jai Baumann, Lindsey Cline, Brianna Terry, Keirra Oats); Girls 11-12: 3rd, (Mace Bachoco, Amiya Griffith, Daisy LaBuda, Laynee Ophus); Girls 13-14: 9th (Jozlyn Baumann, Savannah Jerrel, Caydence Pleninger, Anna Allderdice); Girls 15-19: 4th (Grace Finke, Madison Terry, Lainey Gregory, Jenna Leader)

Girls Medley Relays: Girls 9-10: 10th (Jai Baumann, Lindsey Cline, Brianna Terry, Keirra Oats); Girls 11-12: 4th (Laynee Ophus, Mace Bachoco, Amiya Griffith, Daisy LaBuda); Girls 13-14: 10th (Jozlyn Baumann, Josalyn Genereux, Anna Allderdice, Savannah Jerrel); Girls 15-19: 2nd (Grace Finke, Madison Terry, Lainey Gregory, Jenna Leader)

Boys Free Relays: Boys 9-10: 6th (Dolan SunChild, Darrell SunChild, Ryder Oats, MJ Griffith); Boys 13-14: 1st *new pool record* (Kade Strutz, Dillin Geyer, Cam Schwarzbach, Brady Pleninger)

Boys Medley Relays: Boys 9-10: 5th (Dolan SunChild, Darrell SunChild, Ryder Oats, MJ Griffith); Boys 13-14: 1st *new pool record* (Kade Strutz, Dillin Geyer, Cam Schwarzbach, Brady Pleninger)

Individual Results:

Girls 8-under: Astrid Ketchum: 25 back – 18th; Harley LaBuda: 25 free – 24th; Keirra Oats: 25 free – 18th, 50 free – 21st, 25 back – 13th

Boys 8-under: MJ Griffith: 25 free – 15th, 50 free – 20th, 25 back – 14th; Dolan SunChild: 50 free – 19th, 25 back – 18th

Boys 9-10: Ryder Oats: 50 free – 14th, 100 free – 16th, 50 back 10th; Darrell SunChild: 50 free – 17th, 100 free – 17th, 50 back – 14th

Girls 11-12: Mace Bachoco: 50 breast – 5th, 50 back – 11th, 200 IM – 13th; Josalyn Genereux: 50 breast – 15th; Amiya Griffith: 50 free – 5th, 100 free – 3rd, 50 back – 3rd; Daisy LaBuda: 50 free – 14th, 100 free – 15th, 50 fly – 8th' Laynee Ophus: 50 free – 18th, 100 free – 21st, 50 back – 15th; Caydence Pleninger: 200 IM – 15th, 200 free – 15th ; Kylee Sternberg: 50 back – 14th

Boys 11-12: Tannin Baumann: 50 back – 15th; Kody Strutz: 50 free – 4th, 50 breast – 2nd, 100 free – 6th

Leslie Gregory

These girls came in 2nd place in their 200 M medley relay. top to bottom: Lainey Gregory, Grace Finke, Jenna Leader, and Madison Terry.

Girls 13-14: Anna Allderdice: 50 free – 11th, 100 free – 7th, 50 fly – 12th; Savannah Jerrel: 50 fly – 21st, 200 free – 20th, 100 fly – 7th; Madison Terry: 50 free – 18th, 100 free – 17th, 200 free – 15th; Jozlyn Baumann: 100 breast – 16th, 50 fly – 16th, 200 IM – 14th

Boys 13-14: Dillin Geyer: 200 IM – 3rd, 50 fly – 5th, 100 fly – 2nd; Brady Pleninger: 50 free – 1st new federation & pool record*, 100 free – 1st* new pool record*, 50 back – 1st new pool record; Cam Schwarzbach: 50 free – 2nd, 100 free – 2nd, 200 free – 1st * new pool record*; Kade Strutz: 200 IM – 1st * new pool record*; 50 fly – 3rd, 100m breaststroke – 1st * new pool record*

Girls 15-19: Grace Finke: 50 free – 15th, 100 breaststroke– 7th, 100 free – 16th; Lainey Gregory: 200 IM – 11th, 50 fly – 12th, 100 fly – 8th; Jenna Leader: 50 free – 2nd, 50 fly – 3rd, 100 fly – 1st * new pool record*

Boys 15-19: Tyler Schwarzbach: 50 free – 17th, 100 free – 14th, 100 back – 6th