Wave Ryders strong at Invite

by Matt Baldwin / Whitefish Pilot
| January 28, 2010 11:00 PM

The Wave Ryders Swim Club sent 39 racers to the KATS Winter Invitational in Kalispell on Jan. 16-17 and took home 170 personal-best times.

The Ryders swept the boys 10-year-old division in points, with Jamie Bouda, Trevor Woodward and Joseph Loyda taking first, second and third respectively.

Caroline Dye snagged six first-place finishes to lead all girls 8-and-under in points. She raced to a 43.02 finish time in the 50-yard butterfly for a gold.

Jessica Loyda took second place for girls 9-10 years old in points, with five first-place finishes, including a 6:48.54 time in the 500-yard freestyle.

Cole Szymanski, Emily Sullivan, Joshua Loyda and Natalie Kragh each took third place in their age division for point total.

The team produced 70 state-qualifying swims and two Northwest Age Group Sectional Championship swims. Nine new team records were set.

The club awarded Taylor Fortin, 9, as male swimmer of the meet and Sarah Perez as female swimmer of the meet.