Bulldog girls swim to title in Polson, boys place third

POLSON — Butte High’s girls captured the team title Saturday at the Big Fork Invitational.

The Bulldog boys also had a big day, placing third in the meet that saw 12 teams compete.

On the girls’ side, the Bulldogs chalked up 288 points. Helena Capital placed second at 253, and Whitefish finished third at 240.

Freshman Adalie Grochowski led the way for the Butte girls. She won the 100-yard freestyle and took second in the 100 backstroke.

Junior Alaina Grochowski won the 100 breast stroke and took second in the 100 butterfly, and senior Tatum Trefts took second in the 100 breast stroke. Senior Olivia Thurmond placed second in the 500 free and third in the 500 freestyle. Sophomore Bella Corrales took eighth in both the 200 and 50 freestyle, and freshman Bryher Fitzpatrick posted her best time to place sixth in the 200 individual medley.

Sophomore Elly Rumler dropped four seconds of her personal best to place 10^th in the breast stroke.

Butte High’s girls were strong in the relays, too. All three teams picked up a victory.

Thurmond, Trefts and the Grochowskis won the 200 medley relay. Thurmond, Corrales and the Grochowskis won the 200 freestyle, and Corrales, Fitzpatrick, Rumler and Trefts captured the title in the 400 free relay.

Helena High won the boys’ title with 302 points. Polson took second at 259, and Butte High scored 229, four more than fourth-place Whitefish.

Senior Nathan Stone won the 100 butterfly and took third in the 100 breast stroke to lead the Bulldog boys.

Junior Gage Plum placed fifth in the 500 free style and eight in the 1009 back stroke. Freshman Alex Sonnemann placed ninth in the 50 freestyle and swam his best time in the 500 to place fourth.

Sophomore Grayson Lynch placed seventh in the 200 free and eighth in the 200 individual medley. Sophomore Tucker Kissell placed fifth in the 200 free, and sophomore Gunnar Benson competed in the 100 butterfly for the first time and placed sixth.

Junior Ayvahn Mann placed seventh in the 200 individual medley.

Sonnemann, Elgin Hoar, Stone and Kissell placed fourth in the 200 medley relay. Plum, Alex Cranny, Hoar and Lynch finished fifth in the 400 freestyle relay.

The big day for the Bulldogs closes out the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule. Butte High’s teams will look to pick up where they left off Jan. 10 at the Butte Inivitational at the Butte Family YMCA.