Maxie Scroggs' journey to competitive swimming has been a process, of sorts, of elimination.

"I tried volleyball, I'm not very good at it," she admitted.

She also gave running a shot, but that didn't work out so well either.

But when it comes to her time in the pool, something magical always seems to happen.

"In the water, it completely changes," she said.

"I'm very graceful."

As a result, Scroggs has been making some pretty big waves in pools all over Montana and the Pacific Northwest this prep and amateur season.

"I'm not a land person," she says when it comes to sporting endeavors.

"I'm the most awkward person on land every day."

The 17-year-old Scroggs, a junior, has developed into one of the Wolfpacks' top individuals thanks to her dedication and patience in the water. Also having a breakout season for the Wolfpack are 16-year-old sophomores Jordan Loyda, Logan Streit and MaKenna Siebenaler.

"I just like to rely on myself," Scroggs said of her attraction to participating in individual sports.

"I feel bad when people have to rely on me. You don't want to let them down."

Scroggs was a double winner in the first meet last December at The Summit (100 individual medley and 50 butterfly), and the following week in Butte she placed first in the 100 backstroke (1:03.59).

On the first meet after the holiday break, she won the 500 freestyle.

She says the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle are the two most difficult events one can compete in at the high school level.

"I like the toughest because no one else swims them," she said.

"And it gives more more opportunity to do well.

"A lot of kids stick with one (event) they like," she continued.

"I swim everyting. I haven't really focused on one."

Scroggs calls the 100 butterfly her most challenging event.

"I'm pretty good at it because I can sprint well," she said.

Scroggs has a shot, along with Loyda, of becoming the first Wolfpack to win a state individual swim title on Feb. 11-12 in Hardin. Her best chance to do that will be in the 100 backstroke.

"This year, I'm going for first, the top," she said.

To accomplish that, she will have to beat Jordan Denny of Billings West, who has won the event the last two years with times in the 58 second range.

Scroggs' best time for the 100 butterfly is 1:02, which she posted in amateur competition.

"Yea, it would be so exciting if I could be the first state champion," she said.

"It's been pushing me to work harder."

How much more time she can drop between now and state will depend on her training. She currently practices twice-a-day several times a week.

"She has phenomenal dolphin kick off the wall," Glacier coach Brandon Rannebarger said.

"We want her to improve her turnover and arm speed, and bringing it home the last 15 yards."

Loyda is in his first year with the Wolfpack. Last year he swam for Flathead, where he went to state in the 200 and 500 freestyle and two relays - 200 medley, which finished fourth, and 400 freestyle.

"That's one of my goals," he said of being a state champion for the Wolfpack.

"I like them all," he said of the freestyle races.

"Where ever Brandon (Rannebarger) puts me, I'll swim hard."

"He's very talented, leading Montana (high school boys) in scoring," Rannebarger said.

"He's just a very, very nice guy; very coachable. If I need him to swim the 500, he'll say: ‘OK! I'll do it.'"

Loyda has finished first in the 50, 100 and 500 freestyle at meets this season. He also swims on Glacier's super fast three relay teams.

"I've been dumping time," he said in the 200 freestyle.

"Last year I hit 1:52 in the 200, 1:53. I'll try for 1:40s (this year)."

Loyda has been swimming since the age of seven and initially regarded it as a fun activity.

Now it's serious business.

"(Winning a state title) gives me an inspiration to practice harder," he said.

Streit, 16, competes in the 50 and 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

"If you work hard at it, want to be good, you have to swim every day," he said.

"If you take a lot of time off from swimming, it's hard on your body. You get tired really fast."

That explains why Streit swims almost year-round. Has been competing since the age of 8 with the KATS.

"I get tired during practice, but I never get tired of swimming," he said.

"It's almost like a thing to do. I've been swimming for a long time so I know what to do. I can always get better."

He says the "people and racing them," is what keeps him fresh.

This season, he's devoted more attention than ever to the breaststroke.

"My brother was a breaststroker and he was really good," he said.

"My dad suggested I do it."

Streit's goals for the season - "take top four in events and hopefully win state as a team."

Streit last year swam on the 400 freestyle relay at state, which finished third.

This year he's placed first in the 50 and 100 freestyle and swims with Loyda on all three relays.

"He's the say way (as Loyda), very coachable," Rannebarger said.

"If we ask him to try something new, he will do it. He's always paying attention. He wants to get comfortable (swimming) other events because he is so talented."

Siebenaler excels in the 50 and 100 freestyle and also swims the relays.

"A powerhouse," Rannebarger said of Siebenaler.

"She powers through the water, has a phenomenal kick, very strong. She"ll grab the water at the catch and won't let go of it."

Last year Siebenaler finished sixth at state in the 50 freestyle (26.47).

"I want to swim in college," she said.

"I just love it, enjoy it."

Siebenaler has dominated the 50 freestyle this season with times nearly matching her state effort from last year.

"I'm hoping by the end of the season I'll be in the low 25s," she said.

"My turns, finishing and breath control," she said of what she's concentrating on.

"Little things that make a big difference.

"I'm hoping by my senior year I will be a state champion," she added.

"My goal for the year is to place in the top three."

"She's always exceeding expectations," Rannebarger said.

"She's a very, very strong girl. I just love having her on the team."