High school swim team gets new life

Plans for a Columbia Falls High School swim team are back on track, and organizers are working cooperatively with Whitefish High School and community members.

Organizer and coach Mike Nelson said last week that the school boards from both districts gave the program a green light, but unlike other school-sanctioned sports, the swim program will need to raise all its own funds — no school money will be used.

The two teams will practice together at The Wave in Whitefish, Nelson said, but they’ll compete separately. Activities directors from both schools surveyed students and found more than 50 interested in the program.

The swim team program needs to raise $14,000 to $17,000 each year. Nelson said the hope is to raise all the money through fundraisers rather by athletes having to “pay to play.” Organizers have already raised $2,000 in donations, according to Nelson.

He said there was some concern by school board trustees that the swimming would draw athletes away from other sports, but Nelson said that isn’t likely — most students interested in swimming are not playing other sports. If there was any conflict, it was with speech and debate, he said, but there was no reason why a student couldn’t compete in both swimming and debate.

Under Montana High School Association rules, teams from two school districts can share the same coach, as well as travel and practice together, but they can’t compete together as a single team.

Schools with combined programs that compete separately are common in swimming — Missoula and Kalispell schools do just that. The swim team program has until May 1 to apply to MHSA for approval.

Columbia Falls will employ the coach and oversee the program’s funds. Under the agreement, athletic directors at both high schools will be involved in hiring swim coaches.

Several organizers and potential athletes for the program come from those who already participate in the Columbia Falls swim club and the Whitefish Wave Ryders swim club. The Columbia Falls team competes during summer with all age levels, and the Wave Ryders team competes year-round and is made up of mostly elementary and junior high age swimmers. 

Previous attempts to create a joint Columbia Falls and Whitefish swim team program were not successful. Two ago, organizers had trouble arranging practice time at The Wave. Last year, they had problems with MHSA because a combined team would have been too big for Class A, and a key fundraiser moved out of town just before their funding deadline.

Organizers will meet April 15. For more information, mail Mike Nelson, c/o CF-WF High School Swim Team 500, 12th Avenue West, Columbia Falls MT 59912, or call 406-871-2489.