HARDIN - Jenna Thiel captured a state swim championship Saturday in the 100 breaststroke and also swam on two winning relays, helping the Flathead High School girls finish third in the team standings.

Thiel, competing in her fourth state meet, posted the top time in the 100 breaststroke during Friday qualifying (1:11.26). Her winning time Saturday was 1:11.13.

"She swam an incredible race," said FHS coach Paul Stelter. "No one expected her to swim the thing, let alone winning it. She's such a good freestyler."

Flathead's two winning relay teams were the 200 medley and 200 freestyle. Jenna Thiel, Jessa Thiel, Jacey Stahlberg and Liz Myers swam on both relays.

The 200 freestyle came into the finals seeded first by virtue of Friday's qualifying time (1:42.52). Their winning time Saturday, 1:40.38.

Jenna Thiel also placed third in the 50 freestyle, with Stahlberg fifth, Myers six and Jessa Thiel seventh.

Stahlberg also placed second in the 100 freestyle.

The Bravettes were defending state champions along with Billings West.

The Bravettes have won two state titles and finished third twice in the last four years.

The Flathead boys, sixth a year ago, settled for seventh this time despite scoring 30 more points.

"I couldn't be happier," said Stelter. "We did as well as we possibly could with what we had. They even swam better today (than Friday). These guys swam to their potential."

Flathead senior Brian Brady, the defending state champ in the 50 freestyle, finished third this time around. He was also third in the 100 freestyle and swam on the third place 200 freestyle relay along with Bryce Fischer, Andrew Unterreiner and Taylor Streit.

Brady had the top qualifying time in the 50 freestyle on Friday (22.28). His Saturday time was 22.53.

The Braves' 200 medley relay - Browne, Streit, Fischer and Brady - placed third.

The Bravettes added a fourth place in the 400 freestyle relay with Kacie West, Aska Hokazono, Sammie Hammet and Myers. The Braves finished eighth in that relay - Dan Browne, Aaron Rold, Unterreiner and Streit.

Also for Flathead, Streit was seventh and Heather Wallis 10th in the 100 breaststroke; Hammett finished sixth, West seventh and Browne 11th in the 100 backstroke; Unterreiner was 12th in the 200 IM and also placed in the 100 butterfly; Fischer was seventh in the 100 butterfly and 11th in the 50 freestyle; and Hammett was eighth, West ninth and Jessa Thiel 11th in the 100 freestyle.

See Page B6 for individual results.