Brady, Jenna Thiel, girls 200 freestyle relay seeded first for today's finals

HARDIN - Flathead didn't necessarily sink the competition on the opening day of the state swim meet Friday, but the Bravettes and Braves did make some impressive waves.

"The kids swam incredible," said FHS coach Paul Stelter.

"Of 35 possible swims, 34 were best times. You can't ask for more than that."

Flathead had 11 girls and eight boys competing on the first day. Today, eight girls will be in the pool and seven boys.

"It's real, real rare we don't swim great at state," said Stelter.

"They know how to do this, they know the tradition of doing this. They are warriors."

Seeded first for today's championship finals, which begin at 11 a.m., are Brian Brady in the 50 freestyle, Jenna Thiel in the 100 breaststroke and the girls 200 freestyle relay - Jenna Thiel, Jessa Thiel, Sammie Hammett and Liz Myers.

Brady is the defending state champion in the 50 freestyle while Jenna Thiel swam on the Bravettes' state championship 200 medley relay in 2005.

The Bravettes will have three in the 50 freestyle championship finals. Jenna Thiel is seeded third, Jacey Stahlberg fourth and Myers sixth.

Other championship finals qualifiers are: Stahlberg, seeded second in the 100 freestyle; Brady, third in the 100 freestyle; and Hammett, sixth in the 100 backstroke.

Flathead will have four more relays in the top finals today: (girls) 400 freestyle - Kacie West, Aska Hokazono, Hammett, Myers - is seeded fourth; 200 medley - Jessa Thiel, Jenna Thiel, Stahlberg and Myers - is seeded second; (boys) 200 medley - Dan Browne, Taylor Streit, Bryce Fischer and Brady - is seeded third; and 200 freestyle - Brady, Fischer, Andrew Unterreiner and Streit - is seeded third.

Flathead swimmers making the consolation finals are: Jessa Thiel in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Fischer in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Unterreiner in the 100 butterfly, Hammett in the 100 freestyle, West in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, Browne in the 100 backstroke, Streit in the 100 breaststroke and Heather Wallis in the 100 breaststroke.

Streit, 100 breaststroke, West, 100 backstroke, and Jessa Thield, 100 freestyle, posted the seventh fastest times in those events, missing out on a spot in the championship finals by one place.

Brady, Jessa Thiel, Jenna Thiel, Stahlberg and Myers are all swimming in their fourth state meet.

The Bravettes and Billings West shared the girls state title a year ago. Bozeman's boys are defending state champs.