CMR and Great Falls High will go head-to-head this week in the annual Crosstown Clash. While the meeting is typically one of the biggest events of the year for the dueling sports teams, head coach Ed McNamee said it’s just another way to get better ahead of state.
Hailey Sutton / SWX
“I’m the only coach in Great Falls that doesn’t worry about Crosstown. I’m undefeated every year, and I’ve never lost a Crosstown meet,” he joked.
That’s because McNamee is in charge of both Electric City squads. The two teams practice together every day, which they say is a good way to build a competitive spirit.
“Our practices are competitive. We’re always racing, and he has us set up so that we’re swimming next to people who are as fast as us, so we always race with everything we do,” said Great Falls High senior Isabelle Earl.
With Crosstown coming up this Thursday, the teams are preparing just like every other week. However, this meet isn’t your typical Crosstown. The program has put a unique spin on the event.
Rather than focus on the competition itself, the swimmers get to have a little bit more fun in preparation for State next week.
“Crosstown’s a lot more fun because you race against people you know and people you like and so, I don’t wanna say it’s more competitive but it’s funner to race against people you race against every day and see who’s faster and who’s better, and who’s made a bigger impact,” said CMR senior John Shaw.
It’s also senior night, and McNamee says the team started a new tradition to honor those leaving the program.
“The very last race, the very last heat they do wait for each other and they try to tie it at the end. It doesn’t take away from the integrity of the sport, you still get to do your stuff, we still get everything we need out of it as coaches, and they get to have kinda like that one last show of unity before we get ready for state,” said McNamee.
The meet will begin at 6:00 on Thursday at the Great Falls High pool.
