Vals swimmers take 3rd in Polson, 9th at Butte’s Montana Classic

The Valkyries’ swim team had a busy weekend, taking third at a meet in Polson Friday before earning ninth at the Montana Classic in Butte Saturday.

Erika Dowlin had the top individual finish for the Vals in Polson Friday, earning third in the 200 individual medley with a time of 3:23.52 while also taking 14th in the 100 freestyle.

Danika Bucklin swam the 100 freestyle in 1:06.57 take fourth and was also sixth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 29.51 seconds while Kylie Kinslow was fourth in the 200 IM with a time of 3:35.05 and 13th in the 100 backstroke.

Maci Pickens earned eighth in the 100 freestyle while also finishing 12th in the 100 backstroke and Alexandra Cash rounded out Bigfork’s top-10 finishers, taking 10th in the 200 freestyle and also placing 21st in the 50 freestyle.

Anna Thompson took 11th in the 200 freestyle and 16th in the 100 while Ashlyn McGill was 12th in the 100 freestyle and 15th in the 50, Gillian Sanford took 22nd in the 50 freestyle while Emma Benn was 23rd.

In the relay races, Bigfork took second in the 400 freestyle with a time of 4:58.91 while also finishing fifth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 200 medley relay.

The girls were back in action at Butte Saturday as the squad took 11th, 12th and 13th in the 500 freestyle with Ellena Peterson, Dowling and Thompson.

Bucklin was 12th in the 200 freestyle while Pickens took 14th.

Bucklin also earned 18th in the 100 freestyle.

Other finishes for the Vals included Peterson taking 31st in the 50 freestyle, Cash was 32nd, Kinslow took 34th, Dowling 35th, Thompson 37th, Sanford 46th and Benn was 49th.

Cash took 30th in the 100 freestyle, Kinslow was 32nd, Sanford was 44th and Benn was 45th.

The Vals will be in action close to home Saturday as they swim against Flathead at the Summit in Kalispell.