The Butte High swim teams put together a strong performance at the Butte High December Splash at the Butte YMCA, with the girls finishing second overall and the boys placing fourth in a competitive early-season meet.
On the girls side, senior Olivia Thurmond led the way with a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle. Freshman Adalie Grochowski continued an impressive start to her high school career, placing third in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 butterfly.
Fellow freshman Bryher Fitzpatrick finished eighth in the 100 breaststroke and made one of the biggest improvements of the meet, dropping 11 seconds in the 100 butterfly to take sixth. Junior Alaina Grochowski added points with a fifth-place finish in the 500 freestyle, while senior Tatum Trefts turned in a strong showing with a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 IM. Sophomore Bella Corrales rounded out the scoring with a seventh-place finish in the 50 freestyle and 10th in the 100 freestyle.
Relay teams were also a highlight for the Bulldog girls. The 200 medley relay of Adalie Grochowski, Trefts, Alaina Grochowski, and Thurmond finished second, while the 400 freestyle relay of Adalie Grochowski, Fitzpatrick, Alaina Grochowski, and Thurmond placed fourth. The 200 freestyle relay team of Fitzpatrick, Trefts, Elaine Fuller, and Corrales finished eighth.
The boys team finished fourth overall, led by senior Nathan Stone, who placed fifth in both the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Freshman Alex Sonnemann finished fifth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 100 backstroke, while sophomore Elgin Hoar placed fifth in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 breaststroke.
Sophomore Grayson Lynch took sixth in the 200 IM and ninth in the 100 backstroke, Tucker Kissell finished seventh in the 200 freestyle, and junior Gage Plum added a sixth-place finish in the 500 freestyle.
In relay action, the 200 medley relay of Plum, Hoar, Stone, and Sonnemann placed fourth, while the 200 freestyle relay of Lynch, Ayvahn Mann, Jorden Sonnemann, and Kissell finished sixth. The 400 freestyle relay team of Sonnemann, Plum, Hoar, and Stone placed fifth.
Butte High head coach Lynn Shrader said the meet showed progress early in the season and highlighted improvement across the board, particularly from the younger swimmers, as the Bulldogs continue to build depth and confidence moving forward.
The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, December 20, when they travel to compete at the Missoula Invitational.
