By Kim Staudinger
While swimming is usually thought of as an individual sport, the Havre High team proved otherwise this weekend at the Havre Invitational Meet.
Every swimmer who competed for the Ponies this weekend scored points for the Havre team, leading to third place finishes for both the boys' and girls' teams.
"It was awesome," head coach Chris O'Donell said. "This is the first time that I can remember that everybody who swam at this meet scored points for the team in some way."
According to O'Donnell, nearly 95 percent of the Havre swimmers swam personal bests this weekend, improving even from the Kalispell meet.
Scott Robinson raced to first-place finishes in both the 100 free and the 50 free, earning a personal best time in the 50 free with a 24.18.
Earning second-place finishes for the Ponies were Elizabeth Stuker in the 100 butterfly and in the 100 breaststroke. The relay teams also were strong, taking second in the girls 200 medley, girls 200 freestyle and boys 200 freestyle. The boys' 200 medley relay team placed third.
"We had an outstanding meet," O'Donnell said. "It was awesome. Our kids swam excellent. It was nice to see a lot of our new swimmers and young swimmers swim so well. I saw many of our new kids and younger kids swim some incredible times."
The Pony swimmers are in Great Falls Saturday, competing at the Great Falls Invitational. O'Donnell said her team has some things to improve upon before the next meet, but swimming at the Great Falls pool as often as the Ponies do, she expects good things from her team.
"We know now what we need to work on," she said. "Conditioning is a must. We'll get there. These kids are great and it's an honor to coach such a great group of kids.
"We're just like one big happy family."
The following are the results from the Havre swimmers who competed at the Havre Invitational Meet Saturday at the MSU-Northern pool:
Girls 200 medley relay:
2. Havre A (Danielle Barton, Gwen Porter, Elizabeth Stuker, Maureen Porter) 2:05.63.
8. Havre B (Emily Kostelecky, Alicia Rundquist, Brittne Zimmer, Bethanie Keim) 2:27.47.
9. Havre C (Stephanie Mariani, Rylee O'Connell, Brittany O'Connell, Katie Toldness) 2:45.32.
Boys 200 medley relay:
3. Havre A (Ryan Gilbreath, Sam Soyer, Scott Robinson, Joey Howland) 1:59.87.
4. Havre B (Philip Schatzka, Mario Pizzini, Andrew McLain, Tyler Thompson) 2:25.40.
Girls 200 freestyle:
5. Maureen Porter, 2:42.78; 7. Gwen Porter, 2:21.20; 14. Bethanie Keim, 2:32.91.
Boys 200 freestyle:
7. Mario Pizzini, 2:42.78; 8. Andrew McLain, 2:42.88.
Girls 200 IM:
6. Katie Hartman, 2:49.44; 7. Brittne Zimmer, 2:54.75.
Girls 50 freestyle:
5. Maureen Porter, 27.66; 8. Kasie Teske, 29.78; 16. Alicia Rundquist, 32.90; 18. Rylee O'Connell, 34.19; 20. Katie Toldness, 34.53; 24. Stephanie Mariani, 35.50.
Boys 50 freestyle:
1. Scott Robinson, 24.18; 3. Ryan Gilbreath, 25.41; 6. Chris Chandler, 28.13; 7. Brian Childree, 29.12; 14. Philip Schatzka, 33.44; 16. Tyler Thompson, 41.53.
Girls 100 butterfly:
2. Elizabeth Stuker, 1:09.31; 7. Brittany O'Connell, 1:36.66.
Girls 100 freestyle:
6. Kasie Teske, 1:07.97; 9. Danielle Barton, 1:12.63; 10. Emily Kostelecky, 1:14.09; 15. Katie Toldness, 1:19.50; 18. Stephanie Mariani, 1:22.84; 22. Rylee O'Connell, 1:27.71.
Boys 100 freestyle:
1. Scott Robinson, 55.53; 4. Joey Howland, 59.69; 6. Andrew McLain, 1:05.94; 7. Brian Childree, 1:06.88.
Girls 500 freestyle:
9. Brittany O'Connell, 8:28.34
Girls 200 freestyle relay:
2. Havre A (Elizabeth Stuker, Gwen Porter, Kasie Teske, Maureen Porter) 1:53.63.
7. Havre B (Alicia Rundquist, Danielle Barton, Emily Kostelecky, Katie Hartman) 2:10.03.
Boys 200 freestyle relay:
2. Havre A (Joey Howland, Scott Robinson, Andrew McLain, Ryan Gilbreath) 1:43.50.
4. Havre B (Brian Childree, Tyler Thompson, Chris Chandler, Mario Pizzini) 2:02.93.
Girls 100 breaststroke - 1:
8. Bethanie Keim, 1:17.72; 10. Brittne Zimmer, 1:19.38; 11. Danielle Barton, 1:20.57; 12. Emily Kostelecky, 1:32.27.
Boys 100 breaststroke - 1:
4. Ryan Gilbreath, 1:11.27; 5. Philip Schatzka, 1:24.94.
Girls 100 breaststroke - 2:
2. Elizabeth Stuker, 1:17.81; 3. Gwen Porter, 1:18.87; 9. Katie Hartman, 1:29.19; 10. Alicia Rundquist, 1:30.50.
Boys 100 breaststroke - 2:
4. Mario Pizzini, 1:17.81; 6. Sam Soyer, 1:24.14; 8. Chris Chandler, 1:38.94.
Girls 400 freestyle relay:
4. Havre A (Brittne Zimmer, Katie Hartman, Kasie Teske, Bethanie Keim) 4:36.31.
7. Havre B (Rylee O'Connell, Brittany O'Connell, Stephanie Mariani, Katie Toldness) 5:35.47.
Boys 400 freestyle relay:
5. Havre A (Brian Childree, Philip Schatzka, Chris Chandler, Sam Soyer) 4:48.25.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES:
1. Flathead High 138; Great Falls High 82; Havre High 50; C.M. Russell High 38.
BOYS TEAM SCORES:
1. Flathead High 134, Great Falls High 77, Havre High 66, C.M. Russell High 11.
