Swimmers work to improve technique and times

High school swimming opened Saturday with the Kalispell Invitational at the Summit. 

Bigfork High School sophomore Celeste Rehbein was the only Valkyries swimmer with enough practices to compete. She swam a 1:16 in the 100 freestyle and 1:36 in the 100 breaststroke. Her freestyle time was four seconds faster than last year, and her breast stroke was five seconds faster.

“I am so proud of Celeste,” head coach Charlie Ball said. “She really has been working hard and I see such an improvement from last year at this time. She is in incredible shape from soccer and it is paying off. With such a good start to the season I imagine her times only getting faster from here.”

Rehbein is joined this season by five other returning swimmers and two new swimmers. This is the second year Bigfork has offered girls’ swimming, which was initiated to balance out adding a wrestling club sport for the boys.

This year’s team is smaller than last year and as a result Ball said the girls are dedicated and working hard. “They are very serious about the work they put into their events,” Ball said. “They continue to get better each practice and are such a fun group to be around.” 

Senior Cienna Degele competed in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke at state last year. Ball hopes to see her compete in the 200 IM this season.

Kayleigh Beaulieu-Henion, Jessica Young and Gabriella DiPaulo are all returning swimmers. 

Beaulieu-Henion competed at state in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Ball is looking to see her start swimming the 100-butterfly.

Young competed in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke at state last year, despite missing part of the season with an injury. DiPaulo started last season as a beginning swimmer and competed in the 100-meter freestyle at state. 

New senior Chelsey Murphy, who competed for Flathead High School last year, is currently out with an injury but will hopefully be back in the water by January for Bigfork.

Freshman Catelynn Henion is new to swimming, but Ball thinks she will be best in backstroke and freestyle.

“I’m really pleased with the work they did last year and am excited to see them all make personal improvements and relay bests this year,” Ball said.