Anglers caught 3,000 lake trout on the opening weekend of the Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake. This year’s popular fishing tournament drew 680 anglers March 16-18 who are vying for $150,000 in cash and prizes. The tournament, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, continues until May 20.

Anglers brought in 998 trout on the rainy opening day, March 16. Saturday’s total was 1,246 and Sunday’s total was 756.

Chuck Forgey from Arlee, the 2010 spring winner, is the current leader with 150 trout. Mike Benson from Lonepine is runner-up with 131.

Terry Biere of Butte leads the ladies with 37 trout. Susan Martin of Polson is second with 24. Connor Kowalski of Florence is the youth leader with 34.

The Mack Days events are used as a tool by fisheries managers to reduce the number of lake trout in Flathead Lake. Anglers receive one ticket for each lake trout entered in the event for the drawings that begin at $1,000 and go down to $100.

There are over 4,000 tagged lake trout with values from $10,000-$100. In the first weekend, 19 tagged lake trout were turned in totaling $2,300.

Event organizers passed along a reminder to anglers about correctly identifying the fish. Any bull trout turned in during Mack Days events will be transferred to the authorities. Organizers posted bull trout information online.

For more information on Mack Days, visit http://www.mackdays.com/.

Spring Mack Days Leaderboard
After First Weekend
Men
Chuck Forgey, Arlee, 150
Mike Benson, Lonepine, 131
Terry Krogstad, Kalispell, 129
Scott Bombard, Missoula, 124
Danny Smith, Hot Springs, 116
Steven Benson, Four Lakes, Wash., 100
David McDaniel, Polson, 87
Marty Noyd, Missoula, 81
Alvin Haase, Stevensville, 71
Jason Mahlen, Kalispell, 69

Women
Terry Biere, Butte, 37
Susan Martin, Polson, 24
Michelle Slyder, Billings, 18
Kathryn Cox, Rollings, 8
Autumn Powers, Billings, 7

Youth (13-17)
Connor Kowalski, Florence, 34
Keegan Noyd, Missoula, 11
Wyatt Jensen, Polson, 6
Eric Sams, Polson, 6
Roger Guillory, Kalispell, 6

Youth (12 and under)
Garett Vaughan, Kalispell, 28
Dylan Hodgson, Kalispell, 9
Autumn Powers, Billings, 7
Danner Shima, Kalispell, 2
Cole Gilleard, Charlo, 2
Brianna Stone, Polson, 1

 

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Flathead High senior Tess Brenneman recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at the University of Montana next fall, the school announced last week.

Brenneman has been a three-sport all-state standout for the Bravettes the past four years, excelling in soccer, track and basketball. Brenneman will join fellow Kalispell native Maddey Frey on the Griz roster. Last fall, Montana won its first Big Sky Conference Championship in 11 years.

Joel Carlson with the University of Montana released a nice write-up about Brenneman being recruited by UM.

It's a good read about a great local athlete.

Modern-day recruiting in NCAA Division I women’s soccer is a two-step process. One, identify the prospect as early as her freshman or sophomore year of high school. Two, pressure said player to make an early commitment.

In the current era of early-identification, high-pressure recruiting, Montana coach Mark Plakorus is proving to be an antagonist. How else to describe the recruitment of his latest signee?

Tess Brenneman, a senior at Kalispell’s Flathead High, had options. When you’re a three-time all-state soccer player, a track and field state champion and a second-team all-state basketball player, plus you rank near the top of your graduating class academically, coaches and colleges are going to want you on their campus.

Instead of taking the tack so many other coaches would have, Plakorus, who is secure in both his program and his university, gave Brenneman all the time and space she needed to make her decision. And it paid off.

When asked about the timing of Brenneman’s signing, which came nearly a month after Plakorus’s original group of six prep players signed their NLIs in early February, Plakorus responded in a way that few Division I soccer coaches would.

“I want all the players we’re recruiting to go see what else is out there, because I’ll put what we’re doing as a program and what we have at the University of Montana up against any school out there,” he said.

“Players who choose to come here are going to have an unbelievable experience, but I want them to come here because this is definitely where they want to be. They can’t do that until they’ve seen everything they’ve needed to see.”

Brenneman’s athletics resume reads like someone who would be on the speed-dial end of a number of coaches’ phones.

She was a three-time all-state soccer selection while playing for the Bravettes, who finished fourth at the 2010 and ’11 Class AA state tournaments after falling by a single goal each year in the semifinals to the eventual state champion.

Brenneman’s state championship in track and field came in the long jump in 2010, when she edged future Griz soccer teammate and rival Glacier High graduate Maddey Frey.

At last spring’s state meet, Brenneman scored in five individual events – the 100, 200 and 400 meters, the 300-meter hurdles and long jump – and ran on two scoring relays.

After looking at what was available, Brenneman, a 5’ 8” defender, chose the Grizzlies.

“I’ve been looking to play soccer the entire time,” she said. “I love basketball, but I thought I would have better opportunities in soccer, and I enjoy competing in soccer more than I do track.

“I looked around the Northwest and realized I really like this area. I like the size of the University of Montana and I like the campus, and I’ve always been a Griz fan.

“I’ve known Mark for a while, so I’m excited about the opportunity to get to play for him. I’m excited to take my soccer game to the next level and see what kind of player I can become and what I can accomplish.”

Though Plakorus was hired just over a year ago from TCU, he’s known Brenneman for years because of his summertime work at the Flathead Soccer Camp. It was their previous relationship through the camp that allowed Plakorus to confidently step back and give Brenneman the freedom to choose her future.

“I’ve known Tess for a long time, so I told her from the get-go that that I’m always going to be here and that when she was ready to move forward in the recruiting process and ready to find out more about our program, let me know,” Plakorus said.

“We had her down, and I told her I’d like her to be part of the program. A few weeks later she called me and told me she wanted to be a Grizzly.”

Brenneman ups Plakorus’s 2012 recruiting class to seven and gives the second-year coach two incoming athletes from the state of Montana. He signed Savannah Witt of Billings in his initial group, plus two players from Texas, two from California and one from Alberta.

“Like the other players we signed, Tess is extremely competitive. She loves to win, and she works incredibly hard in everything she does,” Plakorus said. “She is tough to deal with on the field because she is so athletic.

“Right now she is stretched between a lot of sports. I’m excited to see how she can blossom and get better once she starts concentrating on one thing.”

 

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Following another pair of successful seasons in District 7B, Bigfork had three seniors earn all-state for basketball.

Taylor Peck and Melissa VanDerveer both made the all-state girls team for Class B after helping the Valkyries win District 7B and advance to the state tournament. Eureka junior Cassidy Morgan also earned top honors from District 7B.

The Vikings’ Ian Lorang made the boys all-state team after leading the team to another district title and a third-place finish at the Western B divisional. Eureka’s Ryan Holder joined Lorang from District 7B earning top honors.

Complete honors from District 7B are listed below.

District 7B
Boys
All State
Ian Lorang, Bigfork, Senior
Ryan Holder, Eureka, Senior
Cory Orr, Troy, Senior

First-Team All-Conference
Ian Lorang, Bigfork, Senior
Austin Jordt, Bigfork, Junior
Ryan Holder, Eureka, Senior
Cory Orr, Troy, Senior
Ryan Rayson, Troy, Senior

Second-Team All Conference
Jackson Boese, Bigfork, Senior
Tanner Peterson, Eureka, Senior
Jaron Laws, Thompson Falls, Senior
Garrett Reinschmidt, Thompson Falls, Senior
Cody Orr, Troy, Senior

Honorable Mention
Cody Dopps, Bigfork, Senior
Chris Landon, Bigfork, Junior
Tanner Blankers, Eureka, Junior
Bryton Guckenberg, Eureka, Senior

Girls
All State
Melissa VanDerveer, Bigfork, Senior
Taylor Peck, Bigfork, Senior
Cassidy Morgan, Eureka, Junior

First-Team All Conference
Taylor Peck, Bigfork, Senior
Melissa VanDerveer, Bigfork, Senior
Cassidy Morgan, Eureka, Junior
Kelsey Fitchett, Thompson Falls, Junior
Jordan Williams, Troy, Junior
Diamond LaDeaux, Plains, Senior

Second-Team All Conference
Tessa Robertson, Bigfork, Sophomore
Logan Beckman, Thompson Falls, Freshman
Alyssa White, Eureka, Junior
Allison Vaught, Thompson Falls, Junior

Honorable Mention
Kelsey Beagley, Plains, Senior
McKinze Shults, Bigfork, Senior
Felicia Earhart, Plains, Sophomore
Alex Holland, Eureka, Junior
Kayla Revier, Plains, Senior

 

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Registration is now open for the third annual spring soccer academy in Whitefish.

The Montana Flathead Rapids have teamed up with Glacier United Soccer Club to host the eight-week program at Smith Fields this spring.

The academy runs from April 17-June 5 for players in the following groups: U-10 boys and girls; U-11 boys and girls; and boys and girls ages 6-8.

Training sessions will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Four games will be played locally and across Western Montana with other academy clubs. The program includes age-appropriate training, player development, skill building and technical focus.

The registration deadline is April 6. For more information, call 509-991-6909. Visit the Flathead Rapids website to download a registration form.

 

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Postseason high school basketball honors have been announced for Class AA and A.

Flathead’s George Sherwood and Glacier’s Ryan Edwards made the Class AA all-state team from the West. Glacier’s Nicole Heavirland was named all-state on the girls side.

In Class A, Columbia Falls had two all-state selections – Austin Barth and Parker Johnson. Also from Northwestern A, Gage Vasquez from Whitefish and Tyler Krell from Polson earned top honors. For girls, Riley Kenney from Polson was all-state along with Frenchtown’s Sarah Lester and Emma Oostdyk.

Coaches nominate their own players and then vote on the top 10. Coaches cannot vote for their own players.

The complete list of postseason honors are listed below. Class B has not been released yet.

Class AA
Boys
Western AA
All State/First Team All Conference
George Sherwood, Flathead, Senior
Ryan Edwards, Glacier, Junior
Riley King, Missoula Sentinel, Senior
Zach Peevey, Missoula Hellgate, Senior
Slaton Long, Helena Capital, Senior

Second-Team All Conference
Evan Epperly, Glacier, Sophomore
Kyle Griffith, Glacier, Junior
Matt McLean, Flathead, Senior
AJ Wilson, Helena Capital, Senior

Honorable Mention
Dylan Simac, Helena High, Senior
Brendan Jones, Missoula Hellgate, Junior
Brad Corntassel, Missoula Sentinel, Senior
Alec Bray, Missoula Sentinel, Senior

Girls
Western AA
All State/First-Team All Conference
Nicole Heavirland, Junior, Glacier
Elle Tinkle, Missoula Big Sky, Senior
Kyndal Williams, Helena High, Senior
DJ Reinhardt, Missoula Sentinel, Senior (Tournament MVP)
Kaitlyn Oliver, Helena High, Junior
Olivia Roberts, Missoula Sentinel, Sophomore

Second-Team All Conference
Cassidy Hashley, Sophomore, Glacier
Tess Brenneman, Flathead, Senior
Kaye Bignell, Helena Capital, Junior
Liz Harper, Missoula Sentinel, Junior
Jasyn Harper, Helena Capital, Senior
Julia Anderson, Helena Capital, Junior
Dani Baker, Missoula Big Sky, Sophomore

Honorable Mention
Emma Andrews, Flathead, Sophomore
Mallory Grimsrud, Helena High, Junior
Amanda Bear Medicine, Missoula Sentinel, Junior

Northwestern A
Boys
All State
Austin Barth, Columbia Falls, Senior
Gage Vasquez, Whitefish, Senior
Parker Johnson, Columbia Falls, Senior
Tyler Krell, Polson, Senior

First-Team All Conference
Austin Barth, Columbia Falls, Senior
Gage Vasquez, Whitefish, Senior
Parker Johnson, Columbia Falls, Senior
Tyler Krell, Polson, Senior
Anthony Correa, Columbia Falls, Senior
Jared Winslow, Libby, Sophomore

Second-Team All Conference
Austin Blank, Frenchtown, Senior
Luke Kazlauskas, Columbia Falls, Junior
Cooper Olson, Whitefish, Junior
John Chapman, Frenchtown, Sophomore
Zack Camel, Polson, Junior

Honorable Mention
Cody Fischer, Polson, Senior
Jace Kalbfleisch, Whitefish, Senior
Jake Slaybaugh, Whitefish, Junior
Daniel Lebsock, Frenchtown, Junior
Micah Germany, Libby, Senior

Girls
All State
Riley Kenney, Polson, Senior
Sarah Lester, Frenchtown, Senior
Emma Oostdyk, Frenchtown, Senior

First-Team All Conference
Riley Kenney, Polson, Senior
Sarah Lester, Frenchtown, Senior
Emma Oostdyk, Frenchtown, Senior
Kayla Blood, Frenchtown, Sophomore
Mariah Hamel, Polson, Senior
Madison Sandefer, Columbia Falls, Senior
Vanessa Stavish, Frenchtown, Sophomore

Second-Team All Conference
Haley Belgarde, Columbia Falls, Sophomore
Ashlee Brewer, Whitefish, Junior
Hope Burlage, Columbia Falls, Junior
Holly Jacobs, Frenchtown, Junior
Heidi Rausch, Polson, Junior
Kim Tangen, Libby, Senior

Honorable Mention
Mackenzie Banner, Polson, Junior
Anna DiGiallonardo, Polson, Junior
Abby Inderland, Frenchtown, Junior
Angel Lowry, Frenchtown, Senior
Cortney White, Columbia Falls, Senior

 

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The hunt for the $10,000 lake trout begins Friday.

The spring Mack Days Fishing Event kicks off on Flathead Lake on March 16, with cash and prizes totaling roughly $150,000 this year. The contest, which runs through May 20, is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Mack Days is used as a management tool to slowly reduce the number of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

In preparation for this year's event, fisheries staff and FWP officials have been tagging lake trout with prize amounts. One trout is worth $10,000, five are worth $5,000, and ten at $1,000. There are also over 3,500 other trout worth $100-500. Bonus amounts are also given to anglers who turn in 20 or more lake trout during the event. There are also youth prizes.

The event is held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for 10 weekends. New this year, there will be 10-straight eligible fishing days between May 11-20. Final prizes will be awarded to the top 10 anglers ($700-$200) based on their best 18 day average.

In the 2011 fall event, top angler Wes Shockley of Plains twice caught the daily limit of 100 trout. Steve Biere of Butte turned in the high for last spring's event with 95. Averages in the fall event for the top five were: Wes Shockley- 63.4; Mike Benson- 57.4; Scott Bombard- 54; Max Martz- 41.7; and Craig Morigeau- 34.4. The top five averages at last year's spring event were: Chuck Forgey- 52.8; Mike Benson-40.7; Scott Bombard- 39.8; Wes Shockley-36.8, and Jerry Benson-33.8-Plains.

Jim Bilodeau of Kalispell caught the largest fish last spring. The trout weighed 25.8 pounds, was 40.25 inches long and landed Bilodeau $500.

Entries are taken until the last day of the event. Anglers can enter online or by visiting local sporting goods stores or tackle shops for entry forms.

Campgrounds at Westshore, Wayfarers, Big Arm, and Blue Bay have been opened for the event.

 

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Three local boxing clubs have banded together and are ready to compete in this weekend’s Montana Golden Gloves Boxing Championships at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell.

For the second straight year, the highly renowned Golden Gloves tournament is back in town, with 15 to 20 bouts scheduled for youth and adult boxers. Doors open at 5 p.m. and fights begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 10. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and VIP tables are $250 for 10 seats. Children 10 and under are $5 at the door. For tickets, call 393-2247 or 871-1181, or visit Burton Boxing. USA Boxing has sanctioned the event.

The bouts will include members from Flathead Boxing, Burton Boxing and Westshore Boxing, whch have united under one organization that will run out of the Burton Boxing gym on Center Street.

Flathead Boxing head coach Phillip Moore said the unification of the three organizations made sense.

“We all have the same goal, which is to change lives through boxing,” Moore said. “It just makes sense to bring all of these kids and adults together under one roof.”

Moore said the organization has roughly 24 competitors ranging all ages. Sixteen of those fighters are scheduled to compete on Saturday. Winners at the Golden Gloves event will advance to the regional competition.

Westshore coach Jesse Uhde and Burton coach Shelley Burton are joining Moore and others in managing the newly organized club. A chance for folks to check out the new Burton Boxing gym is scheduled for March 24, Moore said.

 

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No matter what happens on Friday at the Class AA boys state basketball tournament, a team from Kalispell will be playing in the Saturday night championship game.

Flathead and Glacier both won their first-round games on Thursday, setting up a semifinal matchup on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The tournament is held in Bozeman at Montana State University.

The Braves, the third seed from the West, opened up the tournament with a 50-47 victory over Eastern No. 2 Billings Senior in an early afternoon game on Thursday. In the next game, Western No. 1 Glacier beat Eastern No. 4 Great Falls 59-52 to set up the Kalispell cross-town showdown.

The victory was the first at state in Glacier school history. Coming into the game, the Wolfpack were 0-6 in their previous three trips to state.

The tournament's other semifinal matchup isn't known yet. Western No. 2 Helena Capital plays Eastern No. 3 C.M. Russell in a first-round game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, followed by Eastern No. 1 Billings West against Western No. 4 Missoula Hellgate.

Also on Thursday, Western No. 2 Bigfork fell to Southern No. 1 Townsend in the first round of the Class B girls state tournament in Hamilton. The Valkyries play Southern No. 4 Columbus in a loser-out game at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

 

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