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Best of Preps – Fall 2013

By Beacon Staff
FOOTBALL
Sean Foley
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Whitefish
POSITION: Wide Receiver | Running Back | Cornerback | Return Specialist
HT/WT: 5’9’’, 160 lbs

The history books will have quite a story to tell about the 2013 football season in
the Flathead Valley. This was a year when local teams at all corners of the valley revived proud traditions or established new ones. In Whitefish, a lively and talented group of Bulldogs put together one of the best seasons in recent memory. A year after finishing 3-6, Whitefish went 7-2 in the regular season and won its first-round playoff game. Sean, the team’s versatile three-year starter, combined for 1,511 yards and 16 touchdowns, totaling a team-high 92 points.


“We really came together as brothers. I’m definitely proud of all our guys and what we did this season.”

FOOTBALL
Boyd Rieke
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Bigfork
POSITION: Running back
HT/WT: 5’10’’, 195 lbs

The classic gridiron strategy is to power the football one yard at a time. That gameplan works well when you’ve got a bruising steamroller like Boyd. Bigfork’s physically imposing senior running back rushed for 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns, earning Class B all-state honors. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and the Vikings continued their metamorphosis as a powerhouse. Bigfork achieved its first undefeated regular season in 25 years and finished 9-1 after falling in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.


“Throughout the four years, (the Bigfork football team) turned into a powerhouse in Class B. It was an honor to be on the team and be a part of it.”

FOOTBALL
Jared Trinastich
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Columbia Falls
POSITION: Quarterback
HT/WT: 6’4’’, 215 lbs

In a season that won’t be forgotten in Columbia Falls, the Wildcats’ senior quarterback wrote himself into the record books. Jared passed for 2,891 yards, breaking the school record he set last year by more than 1,000 yards. His 34 touchdowns were another school record and 24 more than last year’s total. While his cousin, Glacier quarterback Brady McChesney, led the Wolfpack to their own landmark season, Jared and his teammates will be remembered as the stalwart squad that led Columbia Falls to its first unbeaten regular season since 1976 and only the second conference championship in three decades.


“It was pretty amazing being the first team since the ’70s to go 8-0 and to make Columbia Falls a powerhouse again in football.”

FOOTBALL
Noah James
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Glacier
POSITION: Running back
HT/WT: 6’1’’, 200 lbs

When opposing coaches and fans were predicting a down year for the Glacier Wolfpack, Noah became a vocal leader preaching belief in a better fate. The senior running back put words into action, rushing 169 times for 1,073 yards and 17 touchdowns and helping lead Glacier to a milestone season. He suffered a serious leg injury in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, but could still be seen leading from the sidelines as Glacier mounted an historic run to its first championship game. Noah earned all-state honors along with 13 teammates, including Evan Epperly, who garnered three first-team selections and the Western AA Offensive MVP.


“We showed that people can say it’s a rebuilding year, but we were right back in the playoffs, right back in the semifinals and now we were in the championship.”

FOOTBALL
Caleb McCracken
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Flathead
POSITION: Linebacker | Punter
HT/WT: 5’10’’, 190 lbs

Caleb only needed one year of varsity to leave his mark. The senior linebacker
went to work in the offseason and earned his first varsity starting role with the Braves this fall. He recorded 110 total tackles, including 83 unassisted, which ranks sixth all-time for a single season at FHS. He was named Flathead’s Defensive MVP and earned the Warrior Award, an honor voted upon by players that goes to the athlete who best exemplifies a warrior mentality and is a leader who everyone can count on.


“I’ve always loved football. Missing a whole year made me realize how much I really liked it. I wanted to do anything I could to get back on the field.”

GOLF
Teigan Avery
CLASS: Sophomore
SCHOOL: Glacier

Teigan experienced the ultimate déjà vu at the Class AA state golf tournament, watching her lead vanish to defending state champion Kortney McNeil. Teigan made sure the season ended differently this time and performed masterfully in the final holes. She carded one of her best rounds ever, 72-73—145, and broke the 2003 AA state record held by Darah Newell of Helena. Winning the high school championship by one stroke, Teigan added another impressive trophy to sit alongside her recent Montana State Golf Association Junior Championship and the MSGA Junior Worlds Qualifier title. She has two years to pursue her next goal: breaking Maggie Crippen’s all-class state record score of 143.


“Those were my two best scores of the year and they couldn’t have come at a better time.”

GOLF
Arthur Doorn
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Whitefish

Arthur and his Whitefish teammates brought home hardware from the Class A state golf tournament for the second year in a row. The 6-foot-4 senior narrowly finished runner-up again, carding a score of 72-75—147 at the Polson Bay Golf Course, one stroke shy of the state champion. He led the Whitefish boys team to its second consecutive runner-up trophy. Outside of high school events, Arthur has successfully competed in competitive tournaments across the country, including the Junior America’s Cup and the Callaway Junior Worlds.


“A good leader leads by example … When things get tough, he’s there to bring up the team and tell the team that we can do this.”

SOCCER
Caroline Carbo
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Whitefish

Captain of the girls soccer team the past two seasons, Caroline has been a major part of carrying on Whitefish’s tradition of excellence. A four-year varsity player, she led a talented Bulldogs squad to a second-place state trophy, its best season since 2010. The girls reclaimed the conference crown and advanced to the state championship match for the sixth time in a decade. In the state finale, the Bulldogs ran into an old nemesis, Billings Central, which held off Whitefish 4-1 and won its sixth consecutive Class A title.


“It’s so rewarding to see your team do well. That’s why I love soccer, because it’s so team oriented.”

SOCCER
Nathan Boone
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Whitefish

Between third grade and senior year, Nathan only missed two of Whitefish’s home soccer matches. As the team’s ball boy, he watched the Bulldog dynasty develop, sometimes even traveling with his father to road matches. Some day he wished to don a green jersey and help Whitefish win a state championship, and that’s exactly what happened. Twice. Described by his coach as the best player in Montana, Nathan capped his remarkable career with 14 goals and 18 assists, the most points in the state. On the side, he also kicked field goals for the football team, once hitting a 42-yarder during a game.


“Growing up I wanted to be a player and a captain of that team … My childhood dream for high school was exactly what I got to experience.”

VOLLEYBALL
Timi Severson
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Flathead

Timi is the latest in a long line of talented Bravette spikers. Surprisingly, she didn’t pick up the sport until high school, yet in only four years she developed into one of the best hitters in Montana. After moving back from Minnesota and rejoining Flathead this fall, Timi notched the most kills in Class AA (193) and ranked No. 1 in both hitting efficiency and kills per set, earning a first team all-state selection. Flathead joined Glacier, the Western AA conference champs, at the state tournament as the fourth-ranked team. It was the 11th year in a row the Bravettes qualified for state.


“I didn’t even know how to hit a volleyball until the eighth grade.”

VOLLEYBALL
Haley Belgarde
CLASS: Senior
SCHOOL: Columbia Falls

Haley’s talent ascended to all-state status and vaulted Columbia Falls to one of its best volleyball seasons in years. She even became somewhat of an Internet sensation. At the divisional tournament, she fired a spike that dropped an opposing player in the back row. A family member captured the explosive moment on camera and loaded it online. Last week the short video clip approached 13,000 views. The Wildkats’ powerful captain led her team to its first division title in more than 10 years, an impressive achievement for a program that won only three total matches between Haley’s freshman and sophomore seasons.


“We’ve come so far. Everyone worked so hard to build the program up to be the best that it can be.”

CROSS COUNTRY
Kade McCutcheon
CLASS: Junior
SCHOOL: Glacier

Kade caught up to the lead pack of Montana runners this fall, shedding more than a minute off his fastest time while helping his teammates set a new pace for Glacier’s cross country program. At the largest meet in the state, the Mountain West Classic, he placed ninth overall and led the Wolfpack to a team victory for the first time. At the state championship race, Kade turned up the tempo even more and clocked 15:37, earning fourth place while Glacier brought home its first trophy, a runner-up plaque.


“I keep running because I like the improvement and seeing how fast you can really be.”

CROSS COUNTRY
Makena Morley
CLASS: Junior
SCHOOL: Bigfork

This continues to be a milestone year for Makena, who last weekend passed the top runners in the region and won the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Western Regional in California. Despite muddy conditions and rainy weather, the Bigfork junior ran her fastest time at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut and captured the 5K title in 18 minutes, six seconds. She won by 20 seconds to claim her first Foot Locker regional victory after placing third both as a sophomore and freshman. The victory vaulted Makena into this weekend’s national championship race in San Diego, where she will attempt to become only the second Montana runner, girl or boy, to win a national title. Zoe Nelson of Flathead won the national championship in 2002. Earlier this fall Makena broke Zoe’s 2002 all-class state record in Montana, clocking 16:50 at the championship meet in Missoula and shattering the old mark by 15 seconds. It earned Makena her third consecutive Class B title as well as a shout out in the Nov. 11 edition of Sports Illustrated. The fleet-footed junior hasn’t missed a step since the high school season ended. She qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals after placing second at the Nike Northwest Regional in Boise. She ran the 5,000-meter championship race in 17 minutes, 36 seconds, finishing nine seconds behind first-place Alexa Efraimson of Oregon. A total of 158 runners from seven states competed in the elite race. Makena foregoed the Nike race for this weekend’s Foot Locker event, which is the longstanding de facto national championship among prep athletes. She has qualified for the premier event the past two years, placing ninth as a freshman and 24th as a sophomore.


Other athletes from the Flathead Valley
who earned all-state this fall

FOOTBALL
Class AA
Evan Epperly, senior, Glacier, CB/RS/WR, first team
Josh Hill, junior, Glacier, linebacker/special teams, first team
Logan Jones, junior, Glacier, WR / RS, first team / second team
Todd Ogden, senior, Glacier, punter / linebacker, first team / second team
Jess Beaman, junior, Flathead, safety / special teams, second team / honorable mention
Orie Mann, senior, Glacier, safety, first team
Zach Dennehy, senior, Glacier, offensive lineman, first team
Tucker Rauthe, junior, Glacier, safety, second team
AJ Robinson, senior, Glacier, defensive lineman, second team
Brady McChesney, junior, Glacier, quarterback, second team
Brendan Windauer, senior, Glacier, defensive lineman, second team
Cody Nelson, senior, Glacier, offensive lineman, second team
Hunter Kauffman, junior, Glacier, offensive lineman, second team
Axel Bladholm, senior, Flathead, defensive lineman, honorable mention
Truman Pisk, junior, Glacier, offensive lineman, honorable mention
Adam Bradley, senior, Flathead, offensive lineman, honorable mention
Levi Brenneman, junior, Flathead, long snapper, honorable mention
Class A
Alex Presnell, senior, Columbia Falls, wide receiver
Ty Morgan, junior, Columbia Falls, wide receiver
Zach Darling, senior, Columbia Falls, running back
Spencer Ross, junior, Columbia Falls, defensive lineman
Ike Schweikert, junior, Columbia Falls, linebacker
Josiah Osborne, senior, Columbia Falls, safety
Calub Thilmony, senior, Whitefish, linebacker
Gage Smith, senior, Whitefish, offensive lineman
Dave Rizzollo, senior, Whitefish, cornerback
Class B
Cameron Nissen, senior, Bigfork, defensive end
Josh Sandry, junior, Bigfork, quarterback

VOLLEYBALL
Class AA
Emma Andrews, senior, Flathead, outside hitter, first team
Nouf Al-Rashoodi, senior, Flathead, defensive specialist, first team
Iris Matulevich, senior, Flathead, libero, first team
Cassi Hashley, senior, Glacier, middle hitter, first team
Katie Wiley, junior, Glacier, right side hitter, first team
Hannah Liss, junior, Glacier, setter, first team
Tessa Krueger, junior, Glacier, outside hitter, second team
Jessica Simmons, junior, Flathead, setter, second team
Hannah Atlee, senior, Glacier, defensive specialist, honorable mention
Kayla Russell, junior, Glacier, libero, honorable mention

BOYS SOCCER
Jon Dittman, senior, Whitefish, defense, Class A
Tommy Murphy, senior, Whitefish, midfielder, Class A
Caleb Baumann, senior, Columbia Falls, forward, Class A
Kyle Thomson, junior, Bigfork, midfielder, Class A

GIRLS SOCCER
Madison Zirker, senior, Glacier, midfielder, Class AA
Kendal Halliburton, senior, Glacier, forward, Class AA
Madison Grady, senior, Whitefish, defense, Class A
Piper Greenwood, senior, Whitefish, goalkeeper, Class A
Haley Purdy, senior, Columbia Falls, forward, Class A
Tavia Bechtel, sophomore, Columbia Falls, midfielder, Class A
Meagan Seliger, junior, Columbia Falls, defense, Class A

BOYS GOLF
Cooper Donahue, sophomore, Whitefish, Class A fifth place
Tom Mann, sophomore, Glacier, Class AA ninth place
Ryan Keenan, sophomore, Flathead, Class AA 10th place (tied)
Cody Sherrill, junior, Glacier, Class AA 10th place (tied)
Scott Larson, junior, Glacier, Class AA 15th place (tied)

GIRLS GOLF
Erin Tabish, senior, Whitefish, Class A champion
Jenna Jensen, junior, Flathead, Class AA 11th place
Katie Fyall, junior, Whitefish, Class A sixth place
Simone Craft, senior, Whitefish, Class A 10th place
Malia Morris, junior, Whitefish, Class A 13th place

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Logan Morley, sophomore, Bigfork, Class B second place
Logan Harmon, sophomore, Glacier, Class AA 15th place

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Samantha Mundel, senior, Columbia Falls, Class A ninth place