The Big Sandy swimmers placed second at the Western Divisional Swim Meet held in Conrad this weekend. The team scored 559 points, which qualified 26 of the 27 Barracudas to swim in the AA division at the state meet next weekend in Columbia Falls.

Unlike school sports, divisions in the Montana Swimming Federation are determined by the number of points scored at the two divisional meets. The top 5 points scoring teams are classified in AA, with the next 5 point scorers in A, following by the bottom 11 teams in classes B and C. This is the first time that the Barracudas have qualified for the AA division. This pits them against Sidney, Columbia Falls, Lewistown and Scobey for the AA title.

Earning first place high point honors this week for the Barracudas were senior swimmers Daisy Labuda and Cam Schwarzbach, who both swept the freestyle events. Dillin Geyer won the 50 m butterfly to bring home a 3rd place high point award. Jaihven Baumann won the 100 breast and placed 5th in the 13/14 girls division. Astrid Ketchum won the 50 free and placed 3rd and Mackenzie Werk and Henry Merrill both placed 4th in the 9/10 divisions. Rounding out the high point placers were T'Gan Ketchum (2nd) and Cassia Butler (3rd), who both won the 50 free in the 8-under division.

The divisional meet is also the first of two meets that recognize our graduating/finishing senior swimmers. Senior swimmers are eligible to "walk" if they have graduated high school or are completing their final year of swimming. This year's senior walk featured Jozlyn Baumann, Dillin Geyer, Cam Schwarzbach, Kade Strutz & Caydence Pleninger. Brady Pleninger was there in spirit and cardboard cutout, as he is currently stationed in Georgia for military training.

Relay results: Girls 8-under 100 free - 4th (L. Butler, S. Butler, V. Demontiney, D. Merrill); Girls 9-10 100 free - 2nd (C. Butler, D. Sunchild, A. Ketchum, M. Werk) Girls 9-10 100 medley - 2nd (C. Butler, D. Sunchild, A. Ketchum, M. Werk ); Boys 11-12 200 free - 4th (J. Demontiney, H. Merrill, E. Sherburn, D. Sunchild); Girls 13-14 200 free - 3rd (H. Labuda, D. Sunchild, J. Baumann, L. Cline); Girls 13-14 200 medley - 3rd (H. Labuda, D. Sunchild, J. Baumann, L. Cline); Girls 15-19 200 free - 1st (J. Baumann, M. Baumann, D. Labuda, C. Pleninger); Girls 15-19 200 medley - 2nd (J. Baumann, M. Baumann, D. Labuda, C. Pleninger)

Individual results:

8-under: Amara Butler: 25 free -30th; Cassia Butler: 25 free - 6th, 25 breast - 3rd, 50 free - 1st; Lila Butler: 25 free - 22nd, 50 free - 21st, Sienna Butler: 25 free - 15th, 50 free - 12th, 25 back - 20th; Veliua Demontiney: 25 free - 25th, 50 free - 23rd; T'Gan Ketchum; 25 free - 2nd, 50 free - 1st, 25 back - 5th; Dorothea Merrill: 25 free - 16th, 50 free - 11th, 25 back - 19th; D'Aree Sunchild: 25 free - 5th, 50 free - 7th, 25 back - 9th

9-10: Joseph Demontiney: 50 free - 13th, 100 free - 9th, 50 back - 10th; Astrid Ketchum: 100 IM - 2nd, 50 free - 1st, 50 fly - 2nd; Henry Merrill: 50 free - 3rd, 100 free - 3rd, 50 fly - 4th; Eden Pansch: 50 free - 19th, 100 free - 12th; Raea Pansch: 50 free - 15th, 100 free - 9th, 50 back - 7th; Mackenzie Werk: 50 free - 4th, 100 free - 2nd, 50 fly - 3rd

11-12: Harley Labuda: 200 IM - 5th, 50 free - 2nd, 200 free - 4th; Eyon Sherburn: 50 free - 6th, 100 free - 6th, 50 back - 8th; Daijalin Sunchild: 50 fee - 18th, 50 breast - 11th, 50 back - 10th; Dolan Sunchild: 100 free - 7th, 50 back - 2nd, 200 free - 4th

13-14: Jai Baumann: 200 IM - 3rd, 100 breast - 1st, 100 back - 3rd; Lindsey Cline: 100 breast - 8th, 100 free - 11th, 200 free - 5th; Darrell Sunchild: 100 free - 4th, 200 free - 3rd

15-19: Jozlyn Baumann: 200 IM - 3rd, 100 breast - 3rd, 100 back - 3rd; Malaysia Baumann: 50 free - 3rd, 100 free - 3rd, 50 fly - 4th; Dillin Geyer: 200 IM - 2nd, 50 fly - 1st, 100 fly - 2nd; Daisy Labuda: 50 free - 1st, 100 free - 1st, 400 free - 1st; Caydence Pleninger: 100 free - 4th, 100 back - 4th, 400 free - 3rd; Cam Schwarzbach: 50 free - 1st, 100 free - 1st, 400 free - 1st