By Tiffany L. Rehbein
There's a reason why last chances are offered.
In the case of the Havre swim team, this last chance, at the Helena High Invitational Swim Meet, will enable seven swimmers the chance to qualify for the state meet to be held at Hardin, Feb. 4-5.
"This is our last meet that we get to see our competition, especially our Class A competition, before we head to state," said Chris O'Donnell, Havre head coach. "It's a good gauge for state."
Tyler Abdallah, Skye Sinclair, Jen Beckstead, Jen Dibblee, Jen Vaughn, Brittney O'Connell, and Alicia Rundquist are still vying for a qualifying berth.
The Class AA schools at the meet will be Helena High, Helena Capital, all three Missoula schools (Big Sky, Sentinel, Hellgate), Butte, Bozeman, and Kalispell.
The Class A schools will be Hardin, Dillon, Anaconda/Butte Central, Havre, and Billings Central.
"There is a very high caliber of competition," O'Donnell said. "It is good for our kids to swim against that caliber going into state, especially on the boys' side. I think we have a good chance of placing high in some individual events."
The boys and girls team scores will be combined. Havre will travel with 30 kids.
The Missoula schools, Bozeman, and Kalispell boast some tough competition.
Races to watch for Havre include Dibblee in the 50 free style and 100 backstroke, and Rundquist in the 100 breast stroke.
The boys' 200 medley and 200 free relay will feature Ryan Bennett, Tyler Croft, Donovon Ewing, and Nick Porter.
The boys' 400 free will feature JJ Albertson, Cliff Cunningham, Brian Ehlert, and James Howland.
On the girls' side, Cara Holmquist, Erin Lynch, Maureen Porter, and Elizabeth Stuker will get the call in the 200 medley.
In the 200 free, Christy Franson, Maria Gilleece, Holmquist, and Kathy McShane will go, and, in the 400 free, Gilleece, Lynch, Porter, and Stuker will swim.
Stuker should look to improve in the 100 breast stroke and 100 butterfly.
Maureen Porter will look to improve in the 50 free and 100 butterfly. Both have qualified for state in other events.
Nick Porter should look to do well in the 200 free, Ryan Bennett in the 100 butterfly, and Croft in the 100 breast stroke.
"If we place in the top four or five, we will be doing really well," O'Donnell said.
Girls' Events Jen Beckstead, 200 Medley Relay, 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay; Jen Dibblee, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Backstroke; Jen Forsyth, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Breaststroke; Jen Vaughn, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Backstroke; Christy Franson, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay; Maria Gilleece, 50 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay; Jamie Habeger, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay; Cara Holmquist, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle Relay; Bethanie Keim, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay; Erin Lynch, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Backstroke, 400 Freestyle Relay; Kathy McShane, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay; Brittany O'Connell, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay; Maureen Porter, 200 Medley Relay, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay; Alicia Rundquist, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Breaststroke; Elizabeth Stuker, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke, 400 Freestyle Relay; Carly Toldness, 200 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay. Boys' Events Tyler Abdallah, 100 Backstroke, 400 Freestyle Relay; JJ Albertson, 200 Medley Relay, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay; Ryan Bennett, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Backstroke; Tom Billingsley, 50 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Backstroke, 400 Freestyle Relay; Tyler Croft, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Breaststroke; Cliff Cunningham, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 100 Breaststroke, 400 Freestyle Relay; Brian Ehlert, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay; Donovan Ewing, 200 Medley Relay, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle Relay; James Howland, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 400 Freestyle Relay; Joey Howland, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay; Mario Pizzini, 200 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Breaststroke; Nick Porter, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay; Skye Sinclair, 200 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay.
