Glacier, Flathead swimmers battle at state; Valley teams earn A/B trophies

Kalispell's AA schools see personal bests at State Swim Meet, while Polson and Columbia Falls earn podium finishes in Class A/B

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The State Swim Meet in Great Falls over the weekend saw strong performances from Kalispell's Glacier and Flathead high school swimmers, with every swimmer on both squads achieving personal bests. While the team scores were not as high as hoped, first-year coach Tori Homer was proud of the effort and progress shown by her athletes. In the Class A/B divisions, Polson and Columbia Falls earned second and third place finishes among boys teams, while the Whitefish girls took second overall.

Why it matters

High school swimming is a popular sport in Montana, with teams from across the state competing at the annual state championships. The results from this meet showcase the talent and dedication of swimmers from the Flathead Valley region, highlighting the growth of the sport in the area and the continued competitiveness of local programs.

The details

At the AA level, the Bozeman Hawks won the boys title with 307 points, while Billings West narrowly edged Gallatin for the girls crown. Glacier's girls scored 34 points to tie for 10th, led by juniors Ainsley McGuaghy and Ella Hummer, who both made individual event finals. Glacier's boys 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays also reached the finals. Flathead's boys 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays also made the finals, with Nicholas Taylor finishing 13th in two individual events. In Class A/B, Polson was second among boys teams with 58 points, led by Teague McElwee's wins in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle. Columbia Falls was third with 40 points. On the girls side, Whitefish was second with 56 points, paced by Liesel Klein's 200 freestyle victory.

  • The State Swim Meet took place over the weekend of February 14-16, 2026 in Great Falls, Montana.

The players

Tori Homer

The first-year head coach of the Glacier and Flathead high school swim teams.

Ainsley McGuaghy

A junior swimmer for Glacier High School who made finals in multiple individual events and relays.

Ella Hummer

A junior swimmer for Glacier High School who made the finals in the 100 backstroke and contributed to the team's relay finishes.

Teague McElwee

A swimmer for Polson High School who won the boys 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle events at the state meet.

Liesel Klein

A swimmer for Whitefish High School who won the girls 200 freestyle event.

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What they’re saying

“Every swimmer on both squads went at least their personal best time at State, which is an amazing win as a coach. It was a privilege to see all the hard work they have been doing all year pay off and see all that come to fruition.”

— Tori Homer, Head Coach (Daily Inter Lake)

“Ainsley has been batting shoulder injury all season long and finally had a breakout meet. She was able to be a finalist for not only both Glacier relays but two personal events, the 100 fly and 100 breaststroke. She is the foundation of the Glacier women's team.”

— Tori Homer, Head Coach (Daily Inter Lake)

“Ella is an amazing dual sport athlete. She is an incredible volleyball player and swimmer. She made finals in the 100 backstroke, swimming a personal best. Ella was also a great asset to both the 200 free and medley relays.”

— Tori Homer, Head Coach (Daily Inter Lake)

The takeaway

The strong performances by swimmers from Glacier, Flathead, Polson, Columbia Falls, and Whitefish at the state meet showcase the depth of talent and dedication in the Flathead Valley region. Despite some lower team scores, the individual accomplishments and personal bests achieved by these athletes demonstrate the continued growth and competitiveness of high school swimming in Montana.