Swim team practicing at The Wave, first meet next week

The Columbia Falls swim team hopes to make waves this season as it looks to repeat as state champions.

Coach Mike Nelson said the roster includes about 45 swimmers. Practice started last week at The Wave in Whitefish and will transition to the Columbia Falls city pool when it opens June 13.

Nelson, in his fourth year as head coach, said about one-third of the team is new swimmers. The league runs from June 1 to Sept. 30 and has swimmers from age 5 to 18 from small towns across Montana.

The team will rely on returning swimmers to score points, including Karyssa Nelson, Colton Babcock, Katie Donner and Vincent Erickson.

Some swimmers come into the program barely able to keep their head above the water. But by the time they're done, most are improved swimmers. Last year, for example, Henry Chisholm could barely swim. By the end of year, he finished fourth at state in the breaststroke.

The league is a family affair and social event, with families camping at venues. Competition starts June 11-12. The Columbia Falls home meet will take place July 2-3. The state meet will take place in Chinook on July 30-31.

Nelson is assisted by Zach Levitt. Once the city pool opens, the team will practice there from 6 to 9:30 a.m. Nelson, who works at Plum Creek, said the company gives him a flexible schedule so he can coach.

"They're very gracious," he said.