Big Sandy Barracuda took 3rd in class A with 17 swimmers. The state swim meet was held in Sidney last week, and the western division's best faced the eastern division's best. The state meet consists of 19 teams. The teams that competed were Big Sandy, Bitterroot, Chester, Chinook, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Conrad, Cut Bank, Fort Benton, Glasgow, Glendive, Harlem, Lewistown, Malta, Plentywood, Roundup, Scobey, Sidney, and Shelby. There were 451 swimmers from around the state. The Barracuda's had a couple of swimmers win individual state medals! Harley Labuda was a state champion in the 50-meter free, and Henry Merrill won the state championships in three races: the 50-meter free, 200-meter free, and the 50-meter fly!
Travis Baumann, head coach, summed it up this way. "Our team's performance at the state meet was truly remarkable. Despite having only 17 swimmers, we managed to secure the 3rd position in Class A. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of each team member. Our swimmers put up some outstanding performances at the state meet. Notable time cuts were made, including Cassia Butler's impressive 16-second cut in the 200 IM, 5.75-second cut in the 200 free, Henry Merrill's 4.87-second cut in the 200 free, and Daijalin Sunchilds 4.33-second cut in the 200. These achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication. It was a very long trek to Sidney but the kids swam great and the parents kept things moving right along."
The female swimmers that made it to state were: Jai Baumann, Amara Butler, Cassia Butler, Lila Butler, Sienna Butler, Brookelyn Cline, Harley Labuda, Dorthea Merrill, Eden Pansch, Raea Pansch, Bentlee Parker, D'Aree Sunchild, Daijalin, and Mackenzie Werk .
The male swimmers that made it to state were Henry Merrill, T'Gan Ketchum, and Kayden Parker.
Girls Results:
Jai Baumann: (15-19) ~Scored 16 points for the team
50 Meter Free: 7th place 31.35 ~dropping .68 seconds
100 Meter Breast: 5th place 1:33 ~dropping .01 seconds
50 Meter Fly: 11th place: 37.56
Amara Butler: (8U) ~Scored 2 points for the team
25 Meter Free: 11th place 22.54 ~dropping 1.58 seconds
Cassia Butler: (11-12) ~Scored 17 points for the team
100 Meter Free: 7th place 1:11 ~dropping 1.23 seconds
200 Meter Free: 8th place 2:54 ~dropping 5.75 seconds
200 Meter Free Relay: 3rd place 2:17 ~dropping 1.12 seconds
Lila Butler: (8U) ~Scored 28 points for the team
25 Meter Free: 3rd place 19.62 ~dropping .02 seconds
50 Meter Free: 2nd place 44.56
25 Meter Back: 7th place 24.58 ~dropping 2.44 seconds
Sienna Butler: (9-10) ~Scored 22 points for the team
50 Meter Free: 5h place 41.16
50 Meter Breast: 6th place 54.94
100 Meter Free: 6th place 1:33
100 Meter Medley Relay: 8th place 1:34 ~dropping 1.58 seconds
Brookelyn Cline: (9-10)
100 Meter Medley Relay: 8th place 1:34 ~dropping 1.58 seconds
D'Aree Sunchild (9-10) ~Scored 18 points for the team
50 Meter Free: 7th place 38.26 ~dropping 1.65 seconds
100 Meter Free: 7th place 1:27 ~dropping 3.54 seconds
50 Meter Back:: 7th place 49.94 ~dropping 3.79 seconds
100 Meter Medley Relay: 8th place 1:34 ~dropping 1.58 seconds
Dorothea Merrill (9-10) ~Scored 1 point for the team
50 Meter Free: 12th place 42.72
100 Meter Medley Relay: 8th place ~dropping 1.58 seconds
Eden Pansch (11-12)
200 Meter Free Relay: 3rd place 2:37
200 Meter Medley Relay: 4th place 3:13
Raea Pansch: (13-14) ~Scored 2 points for the team
200 Meter Free Relay: 3rd place 2:37
100 Meter Back: 11th place 1:38 ~dropping 3.18 seconds
200 Meter Medley Relay: 4th place 3:13
Mackenzie Werk (9-10) ~Scored 25 points for the team
100 Meter Free: 3rd place 1:13 ~dropping 1.50 seconds
200 Meter Free: 3rd place 2:43 ~dropping 1.66 seconds
200 Meter Medley Relay: 3rd place 2:17 ~dropping 1.12 seconds
Daijalin Sunchild (13-14)
200 Meter Free Relay: 3rd place 2:37
200 Meter Free: 14th place 3:18 ~dropping 4.33 seconds
200 Meter Medley Relay: 4th place 3:13
Harley Labuda (13-14) ~Scored 34 points for the team
200 Meter Free Relay: 3rd place 2:37
50 Meter Free: 1st place 32.00
100 Meter Breast: 3rd place 1:38 ~dropping 1.42 seconds
100 Meter Free: 3rd place 1:10 ~dropping .01 seconds
200 Meter Medley Relay: 4th place 3:13
Boys Results:
Kayden Parker (8U) ~Scored 4 points for the team
25 Meter Back: 9th place 28.11 ~dropping 2.67 seconds
T'Gan Ketchum (11-12) ~Scored 4 points for the team
200 Meter Free: 9th place 3:16 ~dropping 1.66 seconds
Mixed 200 Meter Medley Relay: 3rd place 2.17 ~dropping 1.12 seconds
Henry Merrill (11-12) ~Scored 42 points for the team
50 Meter Free: 1st place 29.61
50 Meter Fly: 1st place 32.60
200 Meter Free: 1st place 2:34 ~dropping 4.87 seconds
Mixed 200 Meter Medley Relay: 3rd place 2:17 ~dropping 1.12 seconds
